Thoughts on modern mass produced 650B randonneurs

[singlespeedscott]

Ok I finally got my Raleigh Royal frame built up and running. As suggested I have left it as a 700c. After getting Joe Cosgrove to fix the alignment it will comfortable fit 32mm tyres with plenty of mudguard clearance.

The build is -
1986 Raleigh Royal frame and fork built with 100% Reynolds 531 “Special Tourist”
Headset - Odessey Pro needle bearing
Stem - Nitto Pearl 90mm
Handlebar - Nitto B185 40cm
Seat post - 27.2mm Campagnolo Record
Saddle - Brooks Swift
Brakes - Dia-Compe 980 cantilevers
Brake levers - Dia-Compe DC204QC with white hoods
Cables - Campagnolo in White
Shifters - Shimano 105 7 speed running in friction mode
Rear Derailleur - Shimano XT shadow 9 speed
Front Derailleur - Campagnolo Victory
Chain - Shimano 9 speed XT
Cassette - 14-32 Hg 50 7 speed
Bottom Bracket - Campagnolo Centaur 111mm
Crankset - Campagnolo Victory with 46/35 chainrings
Mudguards - SKS
Pedals - Shimano R600
Bottle cages - King Iris
Bar tape - Shellaced white cotton
Tyres - Front - Compass Stampede Pass, Rear - Panaracer Gravel King file tread 32mm
Front rack - Nitto M12
Handlebar Bag - Gilles Berthoud













Its still a work in progress and I have plenty of changes to make -
Replace the plastic SKS mudguards with metal.
Replace the Shimano 105 7 speed shifters with Suntour Sprint retro friction.
A taller handlebar bag so I can use my Compass Decaleur (I got it new for half price ) currently it’s held in place with a couple of leather toe straps and two zip ties to stabilise it .
Swap the Brooks Swift for my B17 Narrow, I’m just breaking in the Swift for my Noosa Strade Bianche bike
A new set of wheels are to be built using some NOS Shimano DX hubs converted to 126mm and Pacenti Brevet rims or polished Sun CR18’s, I cant decide yet.
Replace the cable hangers with some Rene Herse ones
Some Nitto lamp mounts so I can move the headlight, and the other headlight I have on order, down onto the rack.

[10speedsemiracer]

it's beautiful

[ldrcycles]

Lovely, will that be your Strade mount this year?

[singlespeedscott]

Lovely, will that be your Strade mount this year?

No..well maybe, it depends if I can get my "new" Gazelle frame built up in time.

[familyguy]

Are you only allowed to ride that wearing SPD sandals?

Very nice. Very beard. Should be a ripper. I have a Clamont* built from 531ST, no real weight penalty over 'regular' 531 but touted as a loaded touring tubeset.

Jim

* may or may not be a Clamont, have not yet asked enough.

[singlespeedscott]

Are you only allowed to ride that wearing SPD sandals?

Very nice. Very beard. Should be a ripper. I have a Clamont* built from 531ST, no real weight penalty over 'regular' 531 but touted as a loaded touring tubeset.

Jim

* may or may not be a Clamont, have not yet asked enough.

From what I understand, there are two versions of 531ST. The first version is "Special Tourist", which is used on this Raleigh.

Essentially it is identical to regular 531c except the chain stays are and down tube have are slightly thicker butting, exactly where you want it IMO.

The other version is "Super Tourist" which uses heavier graded tubing with thicker butts all round.

[familyguy]

That's what I was led to believe too. 531ST (aka 'Special Tourist') came first, then evolved into 531 Super Tourist, the later decals dropped the ST and were named fully. My decal is the same as yours, so it is likely to be the older, original tubeset. The later touring frames with the full 'SUPER TOURIST' decal all appear to be beefier.

[Thoglette]

Saw a Breezer Doppler yesterday, set up with a SON dyno system. Rather neat.

And being imported into Aus (for sub $2K see here)

[singlespeedscott]

Saw a Breezer Doppler yesterday, set up with a SON dyno system. Rather neat.

And being imported into Aus (for sub $2K see here)

Looks interesting. I’m not so sure why they used the why oversized steerer if they are using a steel fork. Im not a fan fork of straight bladed forks either. Give me a nice j bend every time.

[wqlava1]

Pacenti has a 10% off code this month so I bought 2 pair of 32 hole 650b Brevet rims so as to get the free freight from the US on orders over USD200. I only need one pair immediately though, so if anyone wants the other it’s $225 (Aussie dollars) plus postage from Melbourne - a pretty cheap way to build a high quality 650B wheel set.

Andrew

[singlespeedscott]

So tempting

[wqlava1]

And I’ll also offer up the pair of Ambrosio Keba 650B rims that I’ve had on my Stag. Very little wear that I can see - there are wear indicator holes but the brake track looks pretty near new still. 36 hole, around 590g each on our kitchen digital scales. The Compass tyres I had on them mounted easily and concentrically without me putting in any special effort. So not all that light and not tubeless compatible, but none of the problems that many other rim brake 650b rims have been known for. $70 the pair, and the first buyer of these or the Brevets can have the DT Comp spokes from this wheelset at $10/wheel, sized for SP PV-8 front and Novatec F162 rear hubs. I can measure if you’re serious that they may be of use for your hubs.

The front hub’s bearings had problems and I sent it to Taiwan to be fixed by SP who are easy to deal with and pretty cheap. Now that I have to rebuild one wheel anyway I’m going to use the 36hole Brevets I got ages ago which has freed up the Kebas. My history has been to accumulate but these days I’m trying to pass things along so that someone else gets use/enjoyment.

[Thoglette]

Give me a nice j bend every time.

Agreed. Much better looking and the forks have a hope in hell of working properly

[Rob74]

Enjoyed this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsuCXW2z54A
Custom Steel Bicycle All Road Bike: The Complete Build
Feb 7, 2019
Goal: Bike suited to long distance self-supported rides with clearance for large tires, but also light enough for mixed terrain races.

Outcome: 23lb = 10.43kg Total

&
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-8guJd5qnY
Fitz Cycles Custom Bike 1 Year Review
Jan 24, 2020

Rob

[singlespeedscott]

Follow Chapman cycles on Instagram. Brian is constantly putting up some amazing construction videos

https://www.instagram.com/chapmancycles/

[WyvernRH]

I've recently acquired an early 1950's MotoConfort randonneur frameset. Unsurprisingly the canti bosses are set up for 650B rims.
So... I need to buy a pair of 36h 650B rims of 'traditional' section that can take sidewall brakes. I thought this would be easy since MTB's now use this size (erm, sorry, 27.5" ) but it is proving a lot harder than I thought as most are for disk brakes or have a deep section.

Can anyone suggest a source for a set of 650B rims that would not look amiss on a 1950's bike? I would prefer alloy but I'll consider steel.

EBay has not proven very helpful so far....

Richard

[wqlava1]

Richard, Pacenti Brevet rims would be good. They are USD99 from Rene Herse (who have them in stock but tend to use expensive shipping) or USD75 from Pacenti’s website (but not in stock for another month or 2).

Andrew

[Thoglette]

Can anyone suggest a source for a set of 650B rims that would not look amiss on a 1950's bike? I would prefer alloy but I'll consider steel.

Pm coming..

[10speedsemiracer]

I've recently acquired an early 1950's MotoConfort randonneur frameset. Unsurprisingly the canti bosses are set up for 650B rims.
So... I need to buy a pair of 36h 650B rims of 'traditional' section that can take sidewall brakes. I thought this would be easy since MTB's now use this size (erm, sorry, 27.5" ) but it is proving a lot harder than I thought as most are for disk brakes or have a deep section.

Can anyone suggest a source for a set of 650B rims that would not look amiss on a 1950's bike? I would prefer alloy but I'll consider steel.

EBay has not proven very helpful so far....

Richard

Maybe the Velocity Quill in 36h 650b,

or the Cliffhanger in 36h 650b.

Both come in all silver with machined sidewalls. For cost-effective rims, Velocity are my go to.

I think, in silver and devoid of decals, either of these may be in keeping with the build ..

[LG]

I've recently acquired an early 1950's MotoConfort randonneur frameset. Unsurprisingly the canti bosses are set up for 650B rims.
So... I need to buy a pair of 36h 650B rims of 'traditional' section that can take sidewall brakes. I thought this would be easy since MTB's now use this size (erm, sorry, 27.5" ) but it is proving a lot harder than I thought as most are for disk brakes or have a deep section.

Can anyone suggest a source for a set of 650B rims that would not look amiss on a 1950's bike? I would prefer alloy but I'll consider steel.

EBay has not proven very helpful so far....

Richard

I've got a single alloy araya rim from the 70s-80s, if you happen to source another individual.

[baabaa]

Araya still make traditional rims for many Japanese bikes that run 26 in such as....

http://www.arayathailand.com/index.php/ ... randonneur

been looking for the same thing to do a rim swap away from 650c
https://www.somafabshop.com/shop/produc ... tegory=807
32 or 36 hole
or
https://alexscycle.com/products/araya-t ... incher-rim
ARAYA TX-310F 650B Clincher Rim
Size: 650B / 27.5"
23mm wide x 14.7 deep
Spoke Holes: 36H
Machined Braking Sidewalls
Eyeletted Spoke Holes
Pinned Joint
Weight: 475g

[Imwit]

I've recently acquired an early 1950's MotoConfort randonneur frameset. Unsurprisingly the canti bosses are set up for 650B rims.

How are you going with the other bits required?
I bought a 50’s French velo de ville frame a few years ago. It hasn’t been a priority (the frame is still at my cousins in the Blue Mountains) but finding the appropriate parts locally seems rare and French postage is pretty pricey.

[WyvernRH]

I've recently acquired an early 1950's MotoConfort randonneur frameset. Unsurprisingly the canti bosses are set up for 650B rims.

How are you going with the other bits required?
I bought a 50’s French velo de ville frame a few years ago. It hasn’t been a priority (the frame is still at my cousins in the Blue Mountains) but finding the appropriate parts locally seems rare and French postage is pretty pricey.

Thanks all for the suggestions!
Well, Thoglette has helped me out with rims and I think I've accumulated most of the other 'French' parts from wrecked Peugeots over the years except ...the chain guard... which is pretty important as the frame has three braze-ons to support one (like it has for everything else, never seen a bike from the period with so many braze-on fittings!) I think I will have to bite the bullet and get one in from Europe as it looks like it was one of the 'short' fancy alloy types - not common here in Oz. However if anybody does know of one locally I would be interested. On first twiddle the bottom bracket feels OK which is fortunate as I believe MotoConforts of this time used Swiss threading.

Also, any suggestions as to reference sources or parts much appreciated. I'm finding less about MotoConfort bicycles from this period than I expected on the Web - mostly seems to be the later 60's 70's stuff.

Here are a couple of pics of the frame as purchased. I'll do a proper thread on it when I do the resto - which might be a while yet as I have another project in hand at the moment. The paint is tatty - very much so in places - but I will be keeping it.



Richard

[Imwit]

Ton Ton Velo forum is really good for French stuff.
Eg. a MotoConfort 50s randonneur and some catalog scans..https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=37669

I reckon it would be worth looking in their velo de ville section too.

[WyvernRH]

Ton Ton Velo forum is really good for French stuff.
Eg. a MotoConfort 50s randonneur and some catalog scans..https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=37669

I reckon it would be worth looking in their velo de ville section too.

Many thanks - that's a great resource!
I even get to practice my dodgy French....

I think the bicycle in the linked post is a little later than mine but is very complete. I love the little 'M's cut into the attachment plates each side of the rear carrier! I might have to make myself one of those....

Richard