Show Your Road Bike to City Bike Conversions
12-29-20, 03:26 PM
#51
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
12-29-20, 09:26 PM
#52
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Location: Manhattan & Woodstock NY
Posts: 2,736
Bikes: 1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, early '70s Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Raleigh International, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mk1
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But, does it plane? 
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1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
1987 Mercian Pro, 1985 Shogun 500, 197? Falcon San Remo, 1972 Peugeot PX-10, 1972 Schwinn Paramount P13-9, 1971 Peugeot PX-10, 1971 Raleigh International, 1970 Raleigh Professional Mark I
Curator/Team Mechanic: 2016 Dawes Streetfighter, 1984 Lotus Eclair, 1975 Motobecane Jubile Mixte, 1974 Raleigh Sports, 1973 Free Spirit Ted Williams, 1972 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Philips Sport
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01-04-21, 01:57 PM
#53
Junior Member
Show your road bike to city conversions.
01-18-21, 05:19 PM
#54
Senior Member
I have two bikes in my fleet that were road bikes converted into city/town bikes.
1984 Shogun touring bike, converted to 650B. I originally built it up as a 650B randonneur-type bike but it never planed well with its touring-spec tubing (Tange 9/6/9) and I wasn't happy riding it on long rides. But after swapping out the bars for VO Postinos and throwing a VO porteur rack on it, it became a really delightful commuter / around-town bike with just the right seating position and just about the right frame rigidity for handling loads now and then. the cushy 42mm rubber keeps my teeth intact on these horribly bumpy Boston roads. I've been commuting on it and making PO runs for eight years in this configuration. It's got a mix of new and vintage parts-- VO Zeppelin fenders, VO Porteur rack, VO Postino bars, mixed-vintage Shimano 105 8-speed mechs with Paul Thumbies, vintage TA cranks, and dynamo lighting with SP hub and internal wiring. The taillight is a Soubitez Catalux 6 retrofitted with a modern LED with standlight. The VO rack was modified with a welded half-circle tubular brace and crown bolt to mount directly to the fork crown instead of using that flimsy adjustable rack tang that allows too much rack twist, and also a welded headlight mount.
And my 1972 Jeunet 630, converted from noodly Reynolds 531 road bike that definitely planed to 3-speed 700C porteur that doesn't do a very good job as a city bike. The bike was never a good candidate for proper conversion to 650B or for carrying loads, with a low BB and not a lot of room under the crown for more rubber, and too flexy a frame to handle any loads as a true porteur-type bike. The Shogun is so much better at being a porteur and all-around town bike. I had to make do with 700x28s on the Jeunet and a lot of careful hardware trimming under the fenders to avoid rub. HOWEVER, if I'm just cruising without any load, it's quite spritely and fun! Ubiquitous 3-Speed SA-AW, Honjo fenders, lots of mixed French parts (including an "Aludur" chain guard and a retrofitted 40's Soubitez taillight, Belleri porteur bars, MAFAC racers, TA cranks, Lyotard 460D pedal), dynamo lighting. Had to use an interesting mix of parts to play with the French threading, for example a Shimano UN72 BB with French Phil rings... I may eventually ditch the front rack and throw on some drop bars and try it as a road bike again (but keep it as a 3-spd).
1984 Shogun touring bike, converted to 650B. I originally built it up as a 650B randonneur-type bike but it never planed well with its touring-spec tubing (Tange 9/6/9) and I wasn't happy riding it on long rides. But after swapping out the bars for VO Postinos and throwing a VO porteur rack on it, it became a really delightful commuter / around-town bike with just the right seating position and just about the right frame rigidity for handling loads now and then. the cushy 42mm rubber keeps my teeth intact on these horribly bumpy Boston roads. I've been commuting on it and making PO runs for eight years in this configuration. It's got a mix of new and vintage parts-- VO Zeppelin fenders, VO Porteur rack, VO Postino bars, mixed-vintage Shimano 105 8-speed mechs with Paul Thumbies, vintage TA cranks, and dynamo lighting with SP hub and internal wiring. The taillight is a Soubitez Catalux 6 retrofitted with a modern LED with standlight. The VO rack was modified with a welded half-circle tubular brace and crown bolt to mount directly to the fork crown instead of using that flimsy adjustable rack tang that allows too much rack twist, and also a welded headlight mount.
And my 1972 Jeunet 630, converted from noodly Reynolds 531 road bike that definitely planed to 3-speed 700C porteur that doesn't do a very good job as a city bike. The bike was never a good candidate for proper conversion to 650B or for carrying loads, with a low BB and not a lot of room under the crown for more rubber, and too flexy a frame to handle any loads as a true porteur-type bike. The Shogun is so much better at being a porteur and all-around town bike. I had to make do with 700x28s on the Jeunet and a lot of careful hardware trimming under the fenders to avoid rub. HOWEVER, if I'm just cruising without any load, it's quite spritely and fun! Ubiquitous 3-Speed SA-AW, Honjo fenders, lots of mixed French parts (including an "Aludur" chain guard and a retrofitted 40's Soubitez taillight, Belleri porteur bars, MAFAC racers, TA cranks, Lyotard 460D pedal), dynamo lighting. Had to use an interesting mix of parts to play with the French threading, for example a Shimano UN72 BB with French Phil rings... I may eventually ditch the front rack and throw on some drop bars and try it as a road bike again (but keep it as a 3-spd).
Last edited by southpawboston; 01-18-21 at 05:32 PM.
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01-18-21, 10:02 PM
#55
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Bikes: 2005 Orbea Spirit + 2018 Specialized Diverge + 1974 Raleigh Competition + 1983 Centurion Pro Tour 15
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'74 Grand Prix. Moved the Pletscher and the bags over from a '74 Sports, and this thing feels super nimble by comparison! Seems to me one quality of a town bike is that you won't miss it terribly if it disappears one day. I would miss those tires, though.
01-19-21, 01:11 AM
#56
(rhymes with spook)
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Bikes: '83 univega gran turismo x2, '85 schwinn super le tour,'89 miyata triple cross, '91 GT tequesta, '90 yokota grizzly peak, '94 GT backwoods, '95'ish scott tampico, '98 bonty privateer, '93 mongoose crossway 625, '98 parkpre ariel, 2k'ish giant fcr3
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01-19-21, 04:25 PM
#57
Bike Butcher of Portland
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The legs are long enough for 700c x 35 without fenders, which is what I'm sporting currently on my zero bike, which is stored at a friend's house in the People's Republic of Berkeley (ergo the lack of fenders).
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If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
01-19-21, 04:45 PM
#58
(rhymes with spook)
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Thanks!
The legs are long enough for 700c x 35 without fenders, which is what I'm sporting currently on my zero bike, which is stored at a friend's house in the People's Republic of Berkeley (ergo the lack of fenders).
The legs are long enough for 700c x 35 without fenders, which is what I'm sporting currently on my zero bike, which is stored at a friend's house in the People's Republic of Berkeley (ergo the lack of fenders).
35's was my other guess....(no, really
). paselas, i presume? also, if you don't mind, i'm quite curious as to your footwear. occasionally i run across cycling shoes at thrift stores nudging me to consider going with some spd's. is that what you're using ...and what shoes? izumi? they look comfortable enough and attractive vs "road" shoes
01-19-21, 09:51 PM
#59
resykler
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Motobecane Super Mirage
Tektro r556 Front
Z Nervar chaining, crankset arms
Quando Hubs
Freedom by WTB Thickslicks
Wellgo pedals
1970 Super Mirage Frame
Love it
Z Nervar chaining, crankset arms
Quando Hubs
Freedom by WTB Thickslicks
Wellgo pedals
1970 Super Mirage Frame
Love it
Last edited by brixxton; 01-19-21 at 09:56 PM.
01-19-21, 11:02 PM
#60
Pedal On
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Lots of good stuff here.
The latest iteration of my Varsity roadside find, from roughly a year ago:
I strapped two pizzas to the rack on my ride home from work today.
The latest iteration of my Varsity roadside find, from roughly a year ago:
I strapped two pizzas to the rack on my ride home from work today.
01-20-21, 01:06 PM
#61
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My only city bike is not quite vintage but I think is still classic. A 2007 Rivendell AHH that came to me with drop bars but the upright bars have been much better for carrying loads in the front basket.
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80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
80 Mercian Olympic, 92 DB Overdrive, '07 Rivendell AHH, '16 Clockwork All-Rounder
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01-20-21, 01:32 PM
#62
Senior Member
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Bikes: 1964(?) Frejus Tour de France, 1967(?) Dawes Double Blue, 1979 Trek 710, 1982 Claud Butler Dalesman, 1983 Schwinn Paramount Elite, 2014 Brompton, maybe a couple more
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Nishikii
Circa 1974 Nishiki Olympic & 1982 Nishiki International
01-20-21, 01:41 PM
#63
buy my bikes
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Super LeTour 12.2
Does this count?
$50 Frameset that was my gritty road single speed for a couple years.
Then when i was thinking of just hanging left over parts on it to sell it. But I accidentally started spending money on it and I like it nicely.
The 12.2 referred to the complete bike weight in kg.
$50 Frameset that was my gritty road single speed for a couple years.
Then when i was thinking of just hanging left over parts on it to sell it. But I accidentally started spending money on it and I like it nicely.
The 12.2 referred to the complete bike weight in kg.
01-20-21, 02:53 PM
#64
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Perhaps my most drastic conversion, I started with a St. Etienne road bike, one size up from this one pictured, but same color scheme, 27" wheels, and general state of disarray:
And turned it into a French porteur with 650B wheels, a front rack, and upright bars:
IMAGE_6313C651-AA06-4125-B14C-BA63FF20DEFA.JPG
And turned it into a French porteur with 650B wheels, a front rack, and upright bars:
IMAGE_6313C651-AA06-4125-B14C-BA63FF20DEFA.JPG
01-20-21, 05:32 PM
#65
Bike Butcher of Portland
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yeah, truly splendid looking bike. and, you're welcome
35's was my other guess....(no, really). paselas, i presume? also, if you don't mind, i'm quite curious as to your footwear. occasionally i run across cycling shoes at thrift stores nudging me to consider going with some spd's. is that what you're using ...and what shoes? izumi? they look comfortable enough and attractive vs "road" shoes
35's was my other guess....(no, really
). paselas, i presume? also, if you don't mind, i'm quite curious as to your footwear. occasionally i run across cycling shoes at thrift stores nudging me to consider going with some spd's. is that what you're using ...and what shoes? izumi? they look comfortable enough and attractive vs "road" shoesI use SPD's on most of my bikes. I mostly ride shoes that don't look like cycling shoes, and that I can easily walk in.
These are the third pair of this type I've purchased, when they start getting worn and dishelved I wait for a sale for 40-50% off.
__________________
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
If someone tells you that you have enough bicycles and you don't need any more, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
01-20-21, 08:27 PM
#69
(rhymes with spook)
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Tires are Compass Rene Herse 700x35's - they ride significantly nicer than Paselas. They'd better at the price I paid for them!
I use SPD's on most of my bikes. I mostly ride shoes that don't look like cycling shoes, and that I can easily walk in.
These are the third pair of this type I've purchased, when they start getting worn and dishelved I wait for a sale for 40-50% off.
I use SPD's on most of my bikes. I mostly ride shoes that don't look like cycling shoes, and that I can easily walk in.
These are the third pair of this type I've purchased, when they start getting worn and dishelved I wait for a sale for 40-50% off.
i hear the gravelking slicks are nice and reasonably priced. i might have to try them. although, the gravelking sk's i got a couple of years ago started cracking early on. so, meh....and, what brand of shoes are those? they're rather up my alley in terms of looks. i also travel gravel (hehe...hehe) a lot. traction is nice on the hills where pushing is necessary
01-20-21, 10:14 PM
#70
Not lost wanderer.
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I really liked my Centurion Pro-Tour with the rando bars and 105 10 speed brifters but it seemed too long even with a riser stem. I found Ultegra level flat bar shifters and tried a rear shifter working with a DT front shifter on my Fuji Stratos. I have since acquired a comparative left shifter for the front. I took the riser bars and flat bar shifter along with The ultegra level brake levers and put them on my 81 Pro Tour.
This has been a game changer for me with a bunch of degenerated discs and now a bunch of busted ribs from a nasty motorcycle crash in Apr of 2020.
Here it is as a drop bar bike
Here it is now with wide riser bars and the same riser stem.
I did not like the real wide bars and changed them while dropping off the bar"ends" , these have a bit more sweep back.
This has been a game changer for me with a bunch of degenerated discs and now a bunch of busted ribs from a nasty motorcycle crash in Apr of 2020.
Here it is as a drop bar bike
Here it is now with wide riser bars and the same riser stem.
I did not like the real wide bars and changed them while dropping off the bar"ends" , these have a bit more sweep back.
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