Convert old race bike to 650b
#1
I’m a little Surly
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Near the district
Posts: 2,422
Bikes: Two Cross Checks, a Karate Monkey, a Disc Trucker, and a VO Randonneur
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 699 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times
in
647 Posts
Convert old race bike to 650b
So when I was hanging out at the LBS today after work and the owner came out and said he just got something in that I might like..I was an oldish re-powdered* Pinarello w/8 speed Chorus. Since I must own all old Italian steel and my wife is a thousands miles away I said let me give it some thought. I have precisely zero need for another bike that won't take fenders but old..Italian..steel..cheap which led me to 650b and some 38's with fenders.
Does anyone have old Italian steel converted to 650b and fenders?
*yes I know they were painted but this was powder coated and I might buy some decals and have it re-done
Does anyone have old Italian steel converted to 650b and fenders?
*yes I know they were painted but this was powder coated and I might buy some decals and have it re-done
Last edited by Germany_chris; 07-09-19 at 08:11 PM.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Medford MA
Posts: 2,089
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Mentioned: 80 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 964 Post(s)
Liked 1,451 Times
in
723 Posts
*in heavy-metal German accent* "DOO IITT"
Seriously. And if you redo the finish, maybe get some canti posts and other braze-ons while you're at it.
Seriously. And if you redo the finish, maybe get some canti posts and other braze-ons while you're at it.
#3
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,634
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,793 Times
in
2,280 Posts
I take it you've test fit some 650b x 38's? If so, why not? Typically, however old Italian racing bikes won't make the fit unless they're early70's or older vintage.
The first 650b conversion I did for someone else was a '61 Bianchi Specialissima.
The first 650b conversion I did for someone else was a '61 Bianchi Specialissima.
__________________
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.
#4
I’m a little Surly
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Near the district
Posts: 2,422
Bikes: Two Cross Checks, a Karate Monkey, a Disc Trucker, and a VO Randonneur
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 699 Post(s)
Liked 1,294 Times
in
647 Posts
I take it you've test fit some 650b x 38's? If so, why not? Typically, however old Italian racing bikes won't make the fit unless they're early70's or older vintage.
The first 650b conversion I did for someone else was a '61 Bianchi Specialissima.
The first 650b conversion I did for someone else was a '61 Bianchi Specialissima.
#5
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,634
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,793 Times
in
2,280 Posts
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18370 Post(s)
Liked 4,507 Times
in
3,350 Posts
I take it you've test fit some 650b x 38's? If so, why not? Typically, however old Italian racing bikes won't make the fit unless they're early70's or older vintage.
The first 650b conversion I did for someone else was a '61 Bianchi Specialissima.
The first 650b conversion I did for someone else was a '61 Bianchi Specialissima.
#7
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I have a 1970-ish Bottecchia set up as a fixed gear randonneuring bike. 650b, fenders, front rack, dynamo lighting.
Likes For rhm:
#8
2k miles from the midwest
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 1,964
Bikes: ~'75 Colin Laing, '80s Schwinn SuperSport 650b, ex-Backroads ti project...
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 931 Times
in
446 Posts
Eighties stuff starts getting really tight in the rear triangle. I haven't done any Italian frames, but I tried several frames when I had a nice 650b wheelset that were too tight in the chainstays.
#9
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,634
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,793 Times
in
2,280 Posts
#10
www.theheadbadge.com
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Southern Florida
Posts: 28,513
Bikes: https://www.theheadbadge.com
Mentioned: 124 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2421 Post(s)
Liked 4,390 Times
in
2,092 Posts
-Kurt
#11
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
#12
Bike Butcher of Portland
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 11,634
Bikes: It's complicated.
Mentioned: 1299 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4678 Post(s)
Liked 5,793 Times
in
2,280 Posts
__________________
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.
#13
Half way there
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 2,956
Bikes: Many, and the list changes frequently
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 986 Post(s)
Liked 880 Times
in
527 Posts
I converted an early 90s Bianchi to 650b. I had to dimple the chain stays and 40-622 tires were still a tight fit. Fenders are a possibility; however it would be really tough to fit them with enough clearance.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chriskmurray
Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling
2
07-20-14 12:21 PM