specialmonkey

I came across this interestingly setup bike -- it appears the front wheel may be 24" and the rear 26" but the bike didn't seem lower or to slope in the front.

The bike says Braun on the downtube but has familiar diagonal stripes near the name (I thought they looked like Bianchi, but apparently they do not) ... interesting chainstay foil sticker looks to say Seals ... big SKS fenders, racks, etc., possible replacement fork, cool bars and shifters. I don't recognize the Shimano rear derailleur with an A on it. There appears to be an Ishiwata tubing sticker, possibly EXO. Rear brake bridge looks a little like Miyata.

specialmonkey

Found some info here: https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/he...laster.109870/

apparently this bike was built by Braun's Bike Shop in Kitchener Ontario Canada, it may be higher end to the one in the referenced thread (see tubing).

obrentharris 

The chainstay "Seals" sticker probably originally read "Sedis."
Brent

dedhed

RD is Alivio.
I like the P clamps under the braze ons.

specialmonkey

I think that makes sense. Thanks for info.

Thanks for info, yeah -- clamps under braze ons -- I guess the rack didn't work with those. When buying those older Jim Blackburn racks with struts, I have found it's a bit of a crapshoot to know if they'll fit the braze ons.

specialmonkey

I like the looks of the Alivio, seems modern and functional but with a more classic styling (though is a bit boxy). Anyone shifted with it? Looks like RD-MC16 -- anyone know what year this one is from, its reputation, etc.?

clasher

I've seen a few Braun branded bikes come through the local co-op in the last while... seemed like most of them were mid-range bikes. As far as I know the Braun's shop was never a framebuilding shop, they just sold bikes.

thumpism 

Rack stays can be bent to reach braze-ons. Done that with a few racks.

specialmonkey

Thanks for the info. It looks like you're in the same area as the old shop. Apparently they closed in less than ideal circumstances, leaving some customers holding the bag.

https://www.therecord.com/news-story...ppy-customers/

It does seem mid-range, the setup was what made me take notice.

specialmonkey

Good to know! I'm not sure I'd like to do it. Bending adjustable / sliding struts is one thing, but to do it to integrated struts would be an other for me.

clasher

Yeah, I was never a huge fan of that shop... heard quite a few bad experiences from folks over the years. We've had a bit of a bike boom here over the last 5 years and other local shops were more than happy to take up the slack left behind from them. I know at least one new bike shop opened up near their old location and has a really great following from being great at customer service.

non-fixie 

I have bought several sets of Alivio brifters, to convert drop bar bikes to flat bars. Cheap, looks decent and works like a charm. Paid around $30 for a set, IIRC. Came in 7 and 8 speeds.

My whizz-around R900:



Carbon-and-aluminum Koga:

specialmonkey

Thanks for the info and pix! I agree, shifting is where it's at

cudak888 

I'm going to take a guess that this frame started out as a 26"/ISO559 MTB with equally sized wheels at each end.

At some point, the owner/builder/mechanic/whoever realized they could create a low CG cargo bike - and maintain the same frame geometry with a level top tube - by installing a 700C/27" fork combined with a 24" wheel. Then they had the extra brilliance of figuring out that they could mount a U brake on the canti/V-brake studs to reach the much smaller rim.

It's surprisingly well thought out; definitely not a slap-dash kludge.

-Kurt

specialmonkey

Thanks for the insights. I hadn't noticed if it was a U Brake (like those mounted under chain stays).

I'm now curious about the fork and wheel sizes, is it likely to be 24" 26" or maybe 650b in rear? Interesting how the setup would lower the CG, I take it that is beneficial to a cargo bike?

Just noticed what looks like a pump peg on the rear side of the seat tube.

tricky 

That's some next level stuff right there. Not something I would have ever figured out.

cudak888 

It's basically a centerpull, but it's installed on the V-brake studs.

Looks like you've got to seek out this bike again to get the wheel sizes. Rear wheel fits with standard cantis, so I'd guess that it is a conventional 559.

-Kurt