Bridgestone RB-T Light Tourer/Rando Build
03-16-20, 03:55 PM
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Bridgestone RB-T Light Tourer/Rando Build
I had been keeping an eye out for a frame with canti posts that fit 700c, vertical drops (for easy fender/wheel access), lightweight tubing, good tire clearance, and a good fit, to make a Jan Heine style light touring/rando build. I found this Bridgestone RB-T that #thumpism was selling here, and it ticked all the boxes. I picked it up in person last week, and spent my first social distancing weekend building it up. The parts all came from my stash, many of which I had picked up at last years' VO Garage sale.
It's my first canti build, and first experience with Mafac levers. I have to say, their lever clamp design is genius - hinged to open up for easy installation. The Mafac canti brakes needed a thin washer under the spring to fit correctly on the Bridgestone studs. But they work great. Currently wearing 28mm tires, but there's room under there for maybe 32s. Fender-line and cable housing length need a little tweaking, but it rides great, and I couldn't be happier. As built, even with the fenders, rack, and Brooks Pro, it weighs in at just over 23 lbs.
It's my first canti build, and first experience with Mafac levers. I have to say, their lever clamp design is genius - hinged to open up for easy installation. The Mafac canti brakes needed a thin washer under the spring to fit correctly on the Bridgestone studs. But they work great. Currently wearing 28mm tires, but there's room under there for maybe 32s. Fender-line and cable housing length need a little tweaking, but it rides great, and I couldn't be happier. As built, even with the fenders, rack, and Brooks Pro, it weighs in at just over 23 lbs.
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Last edited by jeirvine; 03-16-20 at 08:49 PM.
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03-16-20, 04:07 PM
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That is a heck of a good looking bike. I suspect social distancing will give us all more time to build bikes.
03-16-20, 04:10 PM
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Neat! Glad you like it.
03-16-20, 06:00 PM
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Looking really nice and that's a really good weight- the catalog listed over 25 lbs for the smaller 56cm size AND without a rack and fenders! It also says 35mm tires will fit, but that is probably without fenders.
I'm curious to how it rides. The catalog shows 73.5 degrees for the head tube angle. That seems steep for a sports tourer. Does the steeper angle mean it will work better with a front rack like you've put on it?
I'm curious to how it rides. The catalog shows 73.5 degrees for the head tube angle. That seems steep for a sports tourer. Does the steeper angle mean it will work better with a front rack like you've put on it?
Last edited by CroManganMan; 03-16-20 at 06:05 PM.
03-16-20, 06:25 PM
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I checked the Sheldon catalog archive, and it looks like it's actually a '94, which spec'd Tange double butted tubing, and that's what the frame decal shows. My guess is the Stronglight headset, Mafac brakes, and wheels are lighter than stock. Or my scale is off. 
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03-16-20, 06:53 PM
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Don't forget that great looking crankset with the drillium! You did a great job with the build. Is it Tange Infinity tubing? Reading those catalogs made me think Bridgestone used Tange Infinity around 94. It looks like they used Ishiwata a lot too.
03-16-20, 09:02 PM
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Decal just says "Cro-Mo Tange Double Butted Tubing", and the catalog doesn't specify. I think Infinity would probably be labeled as such(?) I weighed it with my wife's kitchen scale, and it's indeed 23.4 lbs.
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03-17-20, 03:20 AM
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I love what you've done with the RB-T
Pretty close to my 1982 Bridgestone Eurasia from Japan that I have here in Cambodia - but I guess that isn't surprising.
I wish I had my Eurasia in your RB-T frame size!
Pretty close to my 1982 Bridgestone Eurasia from Japan that I have here in Cambodia - but I guess that isn't surprising.
I wish I had my Eurasia in your RB-T frame size!
Last edited by AliH; 03-17-20 at 03:22 AM. Reason: Typo
03-17-20, 04:20 AM
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Impressive!
03-17-20, 06:37 AM
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Very nice! I also have a ‘94 RB-T, bought as a frame plus a bunch of original parts from a forum member about 10 years back. It’s in my commuter fleet and also is my main grocery hauler as I have it set up with Ortlieb rear racks and bags and a front Wald basket. It’s a great bike.
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03-17-20, 02:26 PM
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Beautiful and amazing weight!
03-17-20, 06:18 PM
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Yeah, I was kind of surprised when I finally weighed it. I have a vague sense of being weight conscious during the build, and used semi random stuff from the stash. But the choices turned out to be pretty darn light.
- Mafac canti brakes.
- Stronglight alloy headset
- 1st gen Suntour Cyclone
- VO drillium 110 rings.
- Fairweather Traveler 28 tires are actually lighter than the same size Compass/Herse regular weight tires.
- Kusuki Medallion 1000 stem is lighter than a Cinelli
- 7s Tricolor 28h wheels
- Jim Backburn aluminum front rack
I could go with a lighter saddle and post, and I have a set of 3ttt Superleggero bars I could swap in, but they are 26.0, and wouldn't work with the stem. This stuff is fun to think about.
- Mafac canti brakes.
- Stronglight alloy headset
- 1st gen Suntour Cyclone
- VO drillium 110 rings.
- Fairweather Traveler 28 tires are actually lighter than the same size Compass/Herse regular weight tires.
- Kusuki Medallion 1000 stem is lighter than a Cinelli
- 7s Tricolor 28h wheels
- Jim Backburn aluminum front rack
I could go with a lighter saddle and post, and I have a set of 3ttt Superleggero bars I could swap in, but they are 26.0, and wouldn't work with the stem. This stuff is fun to think about.
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03-17-20, 08:05 PM
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It's gonna be hard to social distance with that one! Good choices on components all around. Good on ya to figure out how to make those brakes work.
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03-17-20, 08:14 PM
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Very nice. What freewheel range with the short cage and 48/34?
03-18-20, 09:17 AM
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It's currently 48/36 and 7s 12-28, because that's what I had on hand. The Cyclone has a mid-cage added from a Vx-T. It looks like it could handle a 30t big gear in terms of wheel clearance, and could go to maybe 34 in front in terms of handling the chain length. I'm also considering going 9 or 10 speed, since the frame is spaced at 128, and I could swap in an axle and freehub.
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03-23-20, 01:41 PM
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Awesome! I'll bookmark this thread cause I'm pretty sure something along this line will be my next build. Do any long rides on it before US lockdown?
03-23-20, 02:01 PM
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03-25-20, 08:08 AM
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Beautiful bike!!!
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03-28-20, 06:21 PM
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Slight update. I got a VO mini-rando bag, and made an adapter for it to mount onto the decaleur receiver. Rather than being strapped to the bars, it now stands off a bit to allow riding the tops, which I do a lot. Also swapped Gravel King 32s in for the Fairweather 28s. I think she's done for now.
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Last edited by jeirvine; 07-11-20 at 05:33 AM.
07-10-20, 09:59 PM
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great looking bike. I happen to be installing those mafac brakes on my 1992 Rbt, daily rider, occasional tourer (and only bike) since 2008. any other tips or tricks on the brakes? enjoy!
