The Small bike thread. 50cm and under.
02-23-22, 08:55 PM
#51
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Laurie's circa-1990 Davidson "racer" (built after she stopped racing, so it never got used in an actual race, but she did hammer it!)
49 cm to top, about 47.5 cm ctc.
Frame a hair under 2.5 lb, fork a hair under one lb, which is very light for steel.
That was its second paint job, after it had been thrashed for ten years or so. Triple crank and touring derailers show that her racing days were well behind her by then.
Here's the first paint job, shown where it was written up in Bicycle Guide magazine:
I have a couple nits to pick with that article.
Mark B
49 cm to top, about 47.5 cm ctc.
Frame a hair under 2.5 lb, fork a hair under one lb, which is very light for steel.
That was its second paint job, after it had been thrashed for ten years or so. Triple crank and touring derailers show that her racing days were well behind her by then.
Here's the first paint job, shown where it was written up in Bicycle Guide magazine:
I have a couple nits to pick with that article.
- He says the frame is under 3 lb, which is true, but it's also under 2.5 lb, which I think is worth mentioning! It was lighter than most Ti, Al or carbon frames you could buy up until then.
- He quotes me as using the word "gobbledygook", which I don't think I ever said! The interview was conducted in a loud bar over beers and he didn't take notes, so some mistakes are to be expected, but then I sent him the frame to photograph, so he could have verified the weight at least!
Mark B
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02-24-22, 01:37 AM
#52
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Something I put together for my daughter. The frame is 531 double-butted throughout with Campagnolo dropouts, but the builder remains a mystery:
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02-24-22, 04:50 AM
#53
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02-24-22, 09:59 AM
#54
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First, 5’4” tall isn’t “small” for a woman. It’s average…as in the middle of the height range. Half of all women are smaller than that. I wonder what men would say if bicycle manufacturers said we can’t build bikes for men shorter than 5’9”.
A far better article on the problem with solutions is Georgena Terry’s post on frame design. At least she suggests solutions.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
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Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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06-12-22, 03:18 PM
#56
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I just put a shorter stem on my daughter’s 710 and thought of this thread. It now has the 32mm GK that I used at Nova Eroica. She’ll ride some with her Triathlete Fiancé when they come out next month to be married.
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06-18-22, 01:27 PM
#57
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06-18-22, 02:00 PM
#58
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$5 yard sale find
$70 garage sale
$70 garage sale
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08-21-22, 03:51 PM
#60
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Hi there,
I am looking for a 50 cm c-c frame. A Bianchi Specialissima or a De Rosa would be great.
Cheers,
NR
I am looking for a 50 cm c-c frame. A Bianchi Specialissima or a De Rosa would be great.
Cheers,
NR
Last edited by Nuovo Record; 08-21-22 at 03:55 PM.
08-21-22, 03:55 PM
#61
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08-21-22, 04:20 PM
#63
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I just built up a 50 cm Fuji Royale II for a friend. It has an avocet woman's saddle and tektro brake levers for smaller hands. She loves it. I believe it's an '83.
08-22-22, 07:28 AM
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I have this very small Gangl that I need to sell one of these days. I have it stripped down to frame, fork, and campy headset. It's beautiful bike.
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08-22-22, 06:52 PM
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My wife's Terry's,
Late 80's Symmetry 50cm 650x25c tires.
Mid 90's Jacaranda, 45cm 26" wheels and group from another mtb.
01 or 02 Isis 50cm 650x28c tires
Late 80's Symmetry 50cm 650x25c tires.
Mid 90's Jacaranda, 45cm 26" wheels and group from another mtb.
01 or 02 Isis 50cm 650x28c tires
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08-22-22, 07:01 PM
#67
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My Sprint project bike is a 48cm.
09-02-22, 01:39 PM
#69
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I've been trying to get my wife off of her carbon fiber bike and back on to a steel bike. I just took her Marinoni down from the rafters and cleaned it up for her. It's about 44-45cm CTC with 650 wheels. We bought this new for her in the late 90's.
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09-03-22, 05:38 PM
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This is my wife's "old" bike. It's about 50cm CTT. I built it up DA 9 speed for my sone to take it off to college in 2 weeks.
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09-04-22, 06:05 PM
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This is a new bike I'm building up for an Eroica compliant build for my wife. It will be a "French Fit" with the seat post slammed to make it work. I had to change out the seat post for the set ride since the one that came with the bike couldn't go low enough. I'm thinking it's an '82 or '83 since it has the brazed on FD, but doesn't have the Ten Speed Imports brake bridge.
09-04-22, 08:43 PM
#72
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48 cm Witcomb, early-'70s I think
This is for sale at Recycled Cycles in Seattle. Not mine, I was just shopping there and took some pics. More pics here
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11-13-22, 01:52 PM
#74
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This is for sale at Recycled Cycles in Seattle. Not mine, I was just shopping there and took some pics. More pics here
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11-13-22, 03:24 PM
#75
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