Dylansbob 

Racquets are such a pain to ride with. Backpacks don't work since the handles hit your helmet, maybe front loading is what I should do.

DorkDisk

94 trek 750 conversion

bikemig 

Great pics and a fine looking drop bar conversion.

imcorn

Cool build! I'm wrapping one up oddly similar to yours.

What crank and chainring sizes are you running? I have the same 750 frame and tried to use my spare Shimano 105 5600 crankset (53/39) and it didn't clear the chainstay. I did, however, decide to run a 2.5mm spacer to get just enough clearance to get the bike running. I'll eventually swap for a 46/36 (CX gearing) when one pops up used and local.

Also how do you feel about the short stem? I'm running a tall 60mm riser stem and find it a bit too twitchy (responsive) than I'm used to. This is something I'll likely swap for a 80mm - 100mm 90 degree stem instead.

mechanicmatt

Crank is a Shimano FC-R600 175mm length, 50-34 gearing with no spacers, it clears, but its tight for sure. Although I do think it needs a spacer, I can't really run 34 front to the smallest 2 rear cogs, but I'm not sure if I should anyway. I think my stem is likely equivalent to yours in size, it's not twitchy though. The headtube geometry is more slack than normal though so whenever I just stand it up on its own unmounted, it wants to slam to the side. That said I am still messing with fit. I put shortish reach bars on it recently and I think I like it better. The "ride" of the frame is super comfy though so I am trying to keep fiddling with the fit to make it work.

Try a wider short reach bar if yours feels twitchy, it may sort that out. Mine is a Nitto Randonneur, it's okay, but I wish slightly wider.

fabiofarelli

ctak

2 Centurion Pro Tours set up for long rides, both with ample clearance for 700x38mm (up to 42mm depending on manufacturer). Takes me 90 min to get out to most gravel / logging trails from where I live Seattle so most of the time I'm running Schwalbe G One rubber in the 700x35-40mm range; occasionally 32mm GP5000s if in the right mood..


1983 Centurion Pro Tour 15

1983 Centurion Pro Tour 15

1980 Centurion Pro Tour

1980 Centurion Pro Tour

ctak

One more with the 700c treatment, pictured near the Cedar River Watershed a few weeks ago

mgermca

Great stuff guys, subscribed!

liquid_liquid 

1983 Centurion Pro Tour 15 and 1980 Pro Tour

Looking good. What kind of handlebars are on the black bike? I'm looking myself for some non-black bars with flare.

mechanicmatt

I really like this bike, I actually had this version of the 750 and the lugged one that I kept and have shown here. It took me 5 years to decide what to do with the both of them and I sold the one I had like this last year, but it was light and lively. Seeing yours makes me glad I didn't wait any longer cause I probably would have mulled over the decision another 5 years before doing something. That colorway is awesome, and that frame is totally perfect for steel, awesome build.

Roger M

If the handlebars make a 'gravel bike', then I'll play.

Nitto RM-013 Dirt Drops

imcorn

My 750 has gone through so many iterations (Bullmoose bars, Jones H Loop bars, and now a drop), so I'm figuring out which I like still.
Good to know a 50t up front will clear. I already have 45cm bars on there (Simworks Misrilou). I was leaning towards just swapping the stem for a Velo Orange 90deg tall stem (similar to a Technomic, but 90deg) or similar. Maybe I just need to ride it more, the twitchiness was from an observation on an initial around the block ride. I definitely either need to swap the stem style completely or raise the stem further as my legs can hit the bar ends in some positions anyways.

Thanks for your thoughts!

ctak

Soma Portola - excellent bars. Given the design the brake lever body will sit slightly lower than with traditional bars so a long quill stem might be helpful

daverup 

95 Schwinn Crosscut, hybrid then, now seems more of a gravel bike. Stock tire size 700x38, would fit wider without fenders.

Stevensb 

that’s an interesting looking frame and drive train. Can you provide some more info and and a few more pics? Thanks.

cheers.

Brad

fabiofarelli

Thanks, I will do so.

fabiofarelli

The bike is in storage now so this is the stuff I got now for you. The red frame is the original, as it was.










Empella is a Dutch brand, those days most active in cyclocross. They did the Froglegs-brakes too. Frames are build in Belgium, far as I know by Martens and Weymans.

gaucho777 

'72 Cilo Pacer



'72 Gitane Gran Tourisme



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bikemig 

How fat a tire on that Cilo pacer? I'm getting one sent to me in the next week or so. It started out life the same color as your bike but it may be a little later model.

gaucho777 

@bikemig - 32mm (knobby cyclocross tubulars) pictured. It can just barely fit 34mm Tufo cyclocross tubs, but I have to mount the front wheel Just a couple mm low in the front dropout/fork tips to clear the front brake. It clears 27 x 1-1/4 tires with ease.

I love my Cilo. Nice, comfortable, versatile and handles really well, too. Generous top tube suits my body, too. Expect Swiss threading. Hope you like yours as much as I do mine.

LarryBSky

Austro Daimler Inter 10 after a wet ride.


w 700 x 35

Krazyistkarl

Anyone have suggestions for vintage gravel bars?

texaspandj

My '84 Centurion Comp TA gravel bike. The frame was a a gift from Robbie Tunes. It's the precursor to the first year Ironman. Currently this is my most fun bike to ride.
I wasn't sure what to do with the frame as I was pretty content with my Ironman one bike for each year available Ironman collection. However, my cycling buddy signed us up for a Gravel Ride. The ride will be at the end of May 2021. So the build ideas were set in motion. In the end I only had to purchase chain, stem and tires as I had all parts in my stash.
It's a 1×7. 42 biopace chainring (wish I had a 39) 14-34 cassette. Eventually I may go with a 10 speed however I would have to get some modern wheels as the current ones are off a '89 Ironman and will only accept 7 speed. The Crankset, front derailleur, and shifter are Shimano 600 off my '85 Ironman. The rear derailleur is a Shimano Deore LX.
On to pics.

Fun bike.

texaspandj