Help sourcing vintage short-top-tube steel
#29
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1976 Super Course, "needs TLC":
Bikes it will be competing with for my favors:
63 x 56 Union Sapporo
64 x 58 Jonkers Super
63.5 x 59 Austro-Daimler Inter 10
Bikes it will be competing with for my favors:
63 x 56 Union Sapporo
64 x 58 Jonkers Super
63.5 x 59 Austro-Daimler Inter 10
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#30
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I started to do a covid-19 parts bin build and then I put a tape on the TT and discovered I would need a 170mm stem to get my normal reach.
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59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
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59 Allegro Special -- 72 Bob Jackson -- 74 Motobecane Grand Jubile -- 74 Sekine SHS 271 -- 80 Nishiki International
85 Shogun 800 -- 86 Tommasini Super Prestige -- 92 Specialized Rockhopper -- 17 Colnago Arabesque
#31
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ctak
I know we talked a bit about some of this in the other thread. I think you are on the right track with a Raleigh. They also have another caveat of having a great feel and ride for many.
I know from my own experience that some bikes are bigger but don't "have" a great feel to them, some can be finessed into better compliance with varying degrees of success, some are far more difficult, some easier with little rhyme or reason at times.
As you already know this can be very subjective, some that should fit on paper, won't, some that shouldn't will and sometimes "miles" in between.
I firmly believe feel, character, and other less tangible factors can have much more to do with it than numbers and such when the rubber meets the road in many cases.
I know we talked a bit about some of this in the other thread. I think you are on the right track with a Raleigh. They also have another caveat of having a great feel and ride for many.
I know from my own experience that some bikes are bigger but don't "have" a great feel to them, some can be finessed into better compliance with varying degrees of success, some are far more difficult, some easier with little rhyme or reason at times.
As you already know this can be very subjective, some that should fit on paper, won't, some that shouldn't will and sometimes "miles" in between.
I firmly believe feel, character, and other less tangible factors can have much more to do with it than numbers and such when the rubber meets the road in many cases.
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#35
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Way too small but I rode it around a bit and knew it could easily be one of those that were it at least one size bigger it could be a rider despite being way too small.
Some you just know, some you have to work at to find out, this one spoke right up.
It will be a serious upgrade for my son when I get around to it.
Have a 56 Specialized Allez Jim Merz edition that is also a 56, was given to me since I am the Merz "guy".
Same thing as the Paisley so I now have a same in 62 and a 3R as well frames that will get built up someday.
Last edited by merziac; 07-10-20 at 04:43 PM.
#36
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I have a Paisley that a is 56 and was dirt cheap, bought it just to see.
Way too small but I rode it around a bit and knew it could easily be one of those that were it at least one size bigger it could be a rider despite being way too small.
Some you just know, some you have to work at to find out, this one spoke right up.
It will be a serious upgrade for my son when I get around to it.
Way too small but I rode it around a bit and knew it could easily be one of those that were it at least one size bigger it could be a rider despite being way too small.
Some you just know, some you have to work at to find out, this one spoke right up.
It will be a serious upgrade for my son when I get around to it.
#37
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Yeah he will, not a C+V fanatic by any stretch but he gets it. His bike before the one he has now was a Raleigh SC that he helped with the hands on overhaul.
He loved that bike but let it get stolen off the front of a bus, he was devastated even having had numerous others stolen.
It garnered as much attention as a Merz at L'eroica in 2017 when he went with me, both at the motel and at the concourse despite being a bit on the ratty side cosmetically.
They are very well revered by most as they punch way above their station.
He loved that bike but let it get stolen off the front of a bus, he was devastated even having had numerous others stolen.
It garnered as much attention as a Merz at L'eroica in 2017 when he went with me, both at the motel and at the concourse despite being a bit on the ratty side cosmetically.
They are very well revered by most as they punch way above their station.
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I had a '86 Ironman 62cm CTT with a 57 CTC top tube. Later, I had an 58cm with a 56.5 top tube. It seems for that year, the bigger ones had shorter topmtubes.
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#39
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Thanks for sharing the dimensions, which are quite close to what I'm looking for. Champion no. 1 = good tubes. I built up a 50cm '86 Ironman in anthracite/silver for my gf last year and was pleasantly surprised to find it had clearance for 32mm gp5000s.
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#40
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Cool, I don't really understand Pedal Room and it seems a bit like a gallery without any visitors most of the time. What do you use it for?
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#43
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When I ordered my Mercian "King of Mercia" touring bike, I had to custom order a longer top tube. The standard 64cm frame had only a 56.5cm top tube. I seem to recall that the Bob Jackson 'World Tour' had similar geometry. I'm willing to extrapolate to a conclusion that many British touring bikes have relatively short top tubes. At the very least, there's a couple more brands to look at.
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#44
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My 1974 Raleigh Super Course was 63 x 56-57 with a 20cm head tube.
#45
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This Bob Jackson has been for sale for quite some time, from the bike shop on Bainbridge and what looks to be also private party. The seller says 63.5cm, the bike shop guy lists it as 63cm on his website. All that to say the top tube looks definitely shorter than normal for the seat tube height/length. With the saddle setback you have, it would nullify what looks like a fairly slack seat tube angle.
#46
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Here's a rare opportunity: nice big RIH frame on the bay. Made in 1973 and according to the shop's records it's a 64 x 55.
RIH FRAME AND FORK 62 CM REYNOLDS 531 TUBING CAMPAGNOLO DROPOUTS BRITISH THREAD
I hope someone here grabs this one.
RIH FRAME AND FORK 62 CM REYNOLDS 531 TUBING CAMPAGNOLO DROPOUTS BRITISH THREAD
I hope someone here grabs this one.
Last edited by non-fixie; 07-17-20 at 04:04 AM. Reason: added shop record
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There's this on Paceline.
ST 62.0cm c-c, 63.5cm c-t
TT: 56.0cm c-c
HT: 200mm
Saddle height in photos: 81.5cm (stem/post are at min insertion in pix)
ST 72.8-deg, HT 74.0-deg
Chainstay: 41.5cm, wheelbase 97.5cm
BB drop: 66mm
Standover: 86.0cm/33.8"
Rear spacing: 126mm
Tire clearance: 26-27mm actual
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=254636
ST 62.0cm c-c, 63.5cm c-t
TT: 56.0cm c-c
HT: 200mm
Saddle height in photos: 81.5cm (stem/post are at min insertion in pix)
ST 72.8-deg, HT 74.0-deg
Chainstay: 41.5cm, wheelbase 97.5cm
BB drop: 66mm
Standover: 86.0cm/33.8"
Rear spacing: 126mm
Tire clearance: 26-27mm actual
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=254636
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#48
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Here's a rare opportunity: nice big RIH frame on the bay. Made in 1973 and according to the shop's records it's a 64 x 55.
RIH FRAME AND FORK 62 CM REYNOLDS 531 TUBING CAMPAGNOLO DROPOUTS BRITISH THREAD
I hope someone here grabs this one.
RIH FRAME AND FORK 62 CM REYNOLDS 531 TUBING CAMPAGNOLO DROPOUTS BRITISH THREAD
I hope someone here grabs this one.
Last edited by ctak; 07-17-20 at 05:14 PM. Reason: Updates
#49
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There's this on Paceline.
ST 62.0cm c-c, 63.5cm c-t
TT: 56.0cm c-c
HT: 200mm
Saddle height in photos: 81.5cm (stem/post are at min insertion in pix)
ST 72.8-deg, HT 74.0-deg
Chainstay: 41.5cm, wheelbase 97.5cm
BB drop: 66mm
Standover: 86.0cm/33.8"
Rear spacing: 126mm
Tire clearance: 26-27mm actual
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=254636
ST 62.0cm c-c, 63.5cm c-t
TT: 56.0cm c-c
HT: 200mm
Saddle height in photos: 81.5cm (stem/post are at min insertion in pix)
ST 72.8-deg, HT 74.0-deg
Chainstay: 41.5cm, wheelbase 97.5cm
BB drop: 66mm
Standover: 86.0cm/33.8"
Rear spacing: 126mm
Tire clearance: 26-27mm actual
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=254636
#50
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There's this on Paceline.
ST 62.0cm c-c, 63.5cm c-t
TT: 56.0cm c-c
HT: 200mm
Saddle height in photos: 81.5cm (stem/post are at min insertion in pix)
ST 72.8-deg, HT 74.0-deg
Chainstay: 41.5cm, wheelbase 97.5cm
BB drop: 66mm
Standover: 86.0cm/33.8"
Rear spacing: 126mm
Tire clearance: 26-27mm actual
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=254636
ST 62.0cm c-c, 63.5cm c-t
TT: 56.0cm c-c
HT: 200mm
Saddle height in photos: 81.5cm (stem/post are at min insertion in pix)
ST 72.8-deg, HT 74.0-deg
Chainstay: 41.5cm, wheelbase 97.5cm
BB drop: 66mm
Standover: 86.0cm/33.8"
Rear spacing: 126mm
Tire clearance: 26-27mm actual
https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=254636