Classic & Vintage - Temporary 650b Conversion - Warning! Aesthetically Wrong Pink Mercier Content

I fully acknowledge that this 1970 Mercier is fully deserving of a fully rebuild with lots of polish and wax to its beautiful frame, and that it needs to live in its full race kit glory, including 700c tubulars....

But, I've been dying to try out these 650b wheels (Maxi Car!) that I recently picked up, and this was the only frame in the fleet that had tight enough brake clearance, fender braze-ons, and high enough bb.

I just finished putting it together this morning and, because I spent the day helping a friend rehab a house, I only had time for a spin around the block and a quick photo. Can't wait to put in a couple 40 milers on it so that I can decide if I'll end being a frothing convert. If so, I'll find a more suitable frame for these wheels. If not, the wheels will go on the 'Bay....

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=292178&d=1357522224

http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=292179&d=1357522226

Looks nice in Chicago. Love the frozen pavement.

No comment on the bike, other than I like the color.

Looks classy enough :)

What's wrong with that set up ? Looks cool to me. If it rides nice, keep it that way. A little fine tuning on the fender mounting and spacing and some buff n polish and maybe a rack and some lighting....yeah.

Cheers,

Joe

Looks great. I'm about to do a conversion, too - on an Italian, no less.

Let us know how it rides.

Looks great! It will be right at home on a gravel road.

Love it ride it just assume as it is. Just understand that 700c's with 23/25 tire would be a almost no go. So rock those 650's tell they fail and then patch and rock some more.

I think it looks nice.

A French bike with fenders and 650B wheels. What's wrong with that?

I'm not seeing the problem, either. :p

Nothing wrong with a French bike with fenders and 650b. Its a match made in heaven! But a pink 1970 Mercier kind of screams to be ridden as a pure racer so that you can pretend to be Poulidor! We'll see what the future holds...

Other than the larger than normal gap between the fenders and the wheels, I think it looks great.

Love it!!! Tweak the fender line a bit, and it will be even better ;) Oh and keep the wheels!

Cheers,
Chris

The fenders are just some banged up old fenders that can't be easily adjusted. I have some NOS 650b Honjos ready to roll, but not until I'm certain that the wheels are keepers....

Looks great. I'm about to do a conversion, too - on an Italian, no less.

Let us know how it rides.

What frame are you going to use?

The Italians would have no issue with the color. Is this a bicicletta strada bianca?

Looks great as it is... but imagine that bike with sharplooking 700C wheels on it, tubulars, Mavic montlhery pro rims: a mean machine with angelic traits, all speed and elegance, stunning bystanders with sheer sophistication. AND YOU ON IT!
;)
(650B is overrated IMO).

Looks great as it is... but imagine that bike with sharplooking 700C wheels on it, tubulars, Mavic montlhery pro rims: a mean machine with angelic traits, all speed and elegance, stunning bystanders with sheer sophistication. AND YOU ON IT!
;)
(650B is overrated IMO).

+1

It just wouldn't look the same with 650B's and fenders ...

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-Y3EHP7KC.jpg

Pou Pou!

I really do enjoy the current 650b set-up. But, it will be easier to find a more fitting 650b frame than to find another nice Mercier like this.... Maybe I can just find another, non-pink Mercier... Here's another of my favorite photos:

http://www.bikerconnection.de/joomla/images/zoom/TourdeFrance/Jacques_Anquetil_&_Raymond_Poulidor.jpg

What frame are you going to use?

A late 70s Colner. It's SL and orange, and I'm sick of toe overlap...

I actually love it as you built it...and I think the frame is a BEAUTY. Any dude who rocks a pink bike gets extra points in my book. The wheels give it a workman like look.

650b conv. Of a racing frame is not a sin in my
book, especially not on a French bike where it was common practice. I won't let you off on those unevenly spaced cable clips though! Other than that, i think it looks fantastic.

Love it as well! I think it looks great, and will also be really sharp with the proper 700c on it sans fenders, etc. Digging the color scheme.

(...) I really do enjoy the current 650b set-up. But, it will be easier to find a more fitting 650b frame than to find another nice Mercier like this.... Maybe I can just find another, non-pink Mercier...

Just giving you a fair warning. The tar and feathers are already on stand-by. Check here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/864899-Please-help-me-identify-this-Mercier)if you haven't already done so. :o

(...) I won't let you off on those unevenly spaced cable clips though! (...)

One of them will have to go anyway. Contemporary pictures always show the GAN-Mercier team bikes with two clips on the top tube.

1972:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-GGICNZ8A.jpg

1974:

http://www.mijnalbum.nl/GroteFoto-ZXCYL8SY.jpg

One of them will have to go anyway. Contemporary pictures always show the GAN-Mercier team bikes with two clips on the top tube.

The French always have to be different, don't they? :rofl:

3 is the correct number... evenly spaced. That is how many come with a set of NR/SR brakes.

The French always have to be different, don't they? :rofl:

3 is the correct number... evenly spaced. That is how many come with a set of NR/SR brakes.

You know, I like the psychology behind it. Every time the rider looks down he is reminded that the mechanics have done their utmost to build the lightest possible bike. From what I know of professional riders it works too.

I vote to keep the 650B and make gravel grind the hell out of it.

Really nice. And I adore the term "aesthetically wrong!"

I vote to keep the 650B and make gravel grind the hell out of it.

Are you on the sauce again?

Are you on the sauce again?

I have no shame.

You know, I like the psychology behind it. Every time the rider looks down he is reminded that the mechanics have done their utmost to build the lightest possible bike. From what I know of professional riders it works too.
Exactly. Thanks for the pics, too, I realize now I have to dig through my dad's old glasses to get a true C&V frame to imitate "de Kneet".