Yeah, no…. no, I definitely didn’t need another project, but, well…. This ’87 (I think) Trek 400T Elance popped up for sale cheap (and I was able to bargain it down due to a missing FD).. It looked really tall in the ad, so I was thinking I might build it up as a 650b for a quite tall friend who keeps talking about getting back into cycling but lamenting how uncomfortable his old road bike with 23c tires is on the crappy roads in our area (maybe he could get 25c tires on that bike…..maybe……!). In the flesh, or rather, the steel, it isn’t as big as it seemed. 61cm, but that’s pretty good for me, so… I know it's not exactly 'top of the line' or particularly sought after, but it seems like a kinda decent sport-tour frame with some nice details.

Quite dirty, plenty of battle scars (seems more like the battle of being moved around in a garage for a couple decades….). I’ve already got it completely apart (mercifully easy….except I haven’t managed to get the freewheel off yet…) and couldn’t resist seeing how the frame might polish up in a couple spots- and I have to say I’m amazed at how beautifully the deep blue sparkly paint polishes up. There will be no shortage of nicks and scrapes getting the clear nail polish treatment, but I think she’ll look pretty nice. Test fit of 650b wheels with 42c tires is just a little too-tight-for-comfort (unless the chain-stays get dimpled, but I don't want to go there), but it will easily fit 650b x 38c and fenders.