I built my first 650b bike about 10 years ago when the Cypres 650b x 32 was new and, aside from the CdlV, one of the very few 584 tires available. It was fitted with fenders, a front rack and pretty much classic "road bike" gear; Superbe Pro long reach brakes (which made fenders and rack mounting a challenge but I was pleased with the results), Cyclone GT changers, Stronglight 99 crank. That tire was an epiphany! Although I'm in the middle of a frame for the RTP 559x54 I am, after seeing Andy's Gios Professional, getting a bit of a bug to make another. It doesn't make a lot of sense, aside from the aesthetic. Or maybe it does. No lights/generator, maybe not even a front rack....just as light as possible. And maybe 747 tubing and 32 spoke wheels (I'm kind of a 36 hole kind of guy). The engine will still be old and tired....but I'm working on that. More photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/216244...th/2649523137/



I got the idea from a visit to Cycles Alex Singer in the early '00s, and this bicycle which was hanging in the front of their shop (not my photo...I misplaced the ones, quite a few, that I took).