1983 Trek 600 - 650b conversion
 

I have been chipping away at this one for over a year. Wanted/needed to stay tight on the budget but went whole hog on the tires (Compass Babyshoe Pass EL, bought them very lightly used).

I'll try to post build details tomorrow, but here's the summary story for now:

I love the Compass 700x32s on my Centurion Semi-Pro, and I really wanted to try something even fatter. I also have always especially wanted a Trek from 1983 or before.

I have realized I have neither physical nor mental space for bikes that are too similar, so I wanted something quite different than the Semi-Pro. Therefore:
-triple & close-range cassette instead of double & wide-range cassette (need the range in Utah)
-10/8 shimergo instead of friction barcons (my first "brifters" and the first piece of Campag I've ever had on a bike)
-front-loading instead of back
-fenders for riding in any weather and a little more "blue-collar" style and a little less refined, befitting the beat paint job

No surprise that this also has a strong BF contribution, with rollup saddlebag from @Henry III, crank from @acoffin (3 years ago I think?), Chorus Ergos from @Belg-Ital Steel, and seatpost from @David325. Probably someone else I am forgetting.


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Very nice job. Looks good.

Very nice. How fat a tire are you running? The trader joes coffee can is a nice touch. I'm thinking of doing a 650b conversion on a trek I recently picked up as well.

Love it!

Very nice! Drop bars and a front basket is a great look.

Looks great.

Super all arounder.

38 b Panaracer tires float like marshmallows over rough terrain and its like riding the bike on the clouds.

Great build! I love my '85 600 with 650b conversion albeit for shorter distances around town.

Good to know I might be able to fit 42mm tires and fenders. Currently running Compass Grand Bois Lierres (38mm).

http://i.imgur.com/oujlcT9.jpg?1

That looks like a great ride. I love fat tires. I have a few with 42mm panaracer tourguard plus tires on them and they make it real nice. But the nicest is my SS with Schwalbe Big Apple 700c x 50 tires is a wonderful ride and relatively fast.
here it is with the 42mm Panaracers
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=516355

Here is my road bike with 700c 35mm
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=516356Here is my Dutch Gazelle with 28 x 1 1/2 x 1 5/8 635c x 40mm.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=516357

[MENTION=213828]inkandsilver[/MENTION] - I have been wondering what to do with my 600 since I have experienced multiple n+1 events from its purchase. Yours looks to be a 620? Mine is a 610 from '84. Since it was drewed, I replaced the eyelets and added rack bosses along with STI cable housing stops on the DT. Maybe it should be be built as a 650b.

Are those 999 brakes?

Great work!

Nice '85 up there! Thanks for the comments all.

Bikemig, they are 42s. They would have been too tight in the back, but I had the chainstays dimpled to make more room.

And yes, the ride is incredible. Fast marshmallows for tires, quiet drivetrain, quiet freehub... I am in love.

Build list, for anyone interested:
Frameset w/headset & thrashed paint - local
Frame work (cold-set rear, dimple chainstays, face bb shell, ream seattube) - Walt @Waltworks
Wheels (machine built Synergy/Deore LX rear, handbuilt Synergy/Grand Bois front -- this latter is about the smoothest hub I have ever spun) - iBob list
Tires (extralight 650bx42) - RBW list
Fenders (SKS longboards) - Rivendell
Basket (Wald med.) - Rivendell
Front rack (Soma) - ebay
Chorus Ergos - Belg-Ital Steel
Crank (Sugino GT, 46-36-25) - acoffin
BB (Tange) - Ben's Cycle
F. Der. (mid-80s Deore) - parts bin
R. Der. (mid-80s Deore) - parts bin
Cassette (8 speed 12-25) - parts bin
Chain (sram) - somewhere online
Pedals (SR SP-11) - parts bin, and half cages (MKS) - Tree Fort Bikes ----- this is my new favorite pedal setup
Brakes (Weinmann 750s) - parts bin
Seatpost (SR - I think this may be the same kind that came with the bike originally) - David325
Saddle (Selle Anatomica) - donated by one of my other bikes
Stem (Nitto Technomic) - ebay
Bars (Nitto Noodle) - SLC Bike Collective
Tape (Brooks Microfiber) - amazon
Saddlebag - Henry III

This list needed to be made, because I've been wondering how much I've spent... ooooh.


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I've been sorely tempted to drink the 650b tea. This may be my next project but first I have to sell some inventory, :).

I have a 1984 Trek 610. There is a forum member who has done a 650b conversion on one who could tell you about tire size. I think [MENTION=28632]Road Fan[/MENTION] has done a 650b conversion on a 1984 Trek 610.

I just measured mine and I wasn't too excited by the fork clearance if I went with 650b x 38c. This has some guidelines for measuring: https://www.bikeman.com/bikeman-blogs/650blog/1771-650b-conversion-guidlines

Do it!!! You likely won't regret it. This one is a 600, going by the serial # and the catalog. Yes, they are the Weinmann 999s, 750 reach. These came from the first vintage bike I ever bought ($25), a rusty heap of a Raleigh Grand Prix. :)

It tastes great.

My god-those brake calipers. You must have the hand strength of a gorilla to put enough clamping power through those things! Yikes!!!!

Well done! Many who wonder why one would go to 650b have never had the experience of riding a road bike fast with fat, supple tires. Think fast marshmallows.

Yup. I should add the Col De La Vie tires made by Panaracer, deliver a ride that's out of this world.

I converted a 1983 Trek 630 to 650B and it rides very nicely. I put on Soma B-lines which are true 38mm wide tires. I think they are faster than the Col de la Vies that I have on another 650B conversion. A 42mm tire might fit w/o fenders, but just barely.

According to the Trek catalogue for 1983, all the 600 series of that year have the same geometry, and I think the same ubing, but different compnents.

The 72mm bb drop might be a little low for someone who uses really long cranks.

Beautiful job with the bike and the conversion!

How do you like the Shimergo setup? I've contemplated something like that for a while...


The SP-11 pedals are the cat's pyjamas. I wouldn't say they're 'under the radar,' but they're definitely a lesser known world dominating component. Combined with the stainless toe clips those pedals are about as awe inspiring as any pedals ever made. Maybe a little hyperbole- but not really. :D


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SP-11 with King Cage clips with a set of SP-155 with MKS clips.
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Gotta love the 10/8 Shimergo! I'm running that on the Centurion that you were kind enough to sell me a while back ;)
Cheers,
Chris

I, too love the Compass Baby Shoe Pass 650b x 41 extra lights. Have them on my Straggler and they roll for days.​

Believe it or not the braking is quite good. You just need nice adjustable brake pad holders (Kool-Stop Dura) and good pads

Thank you! Your builds have definitely inspired me in this pursuit. I decided for a couple reasons to not go full-on elegant like some of yours, but still, part of the inspiration is lovely and practical bikes like yours and [MENTION=137164]southpawboston[/MENTION]'s.

Have you put up photos somewhere? Would love to see. Yes, I am using 170s for that reason, which is short for my height, but it doesn't seem to bother me.

Thank you! I like the shimergo a lot. Easy as pie.

Nice! I'd love to see pictures!

Funny, [MENTION=137164]southpawboston[/MENTION]'s was one of my inspirations! I follow his elegant lighting solutions nearly religiously.

OMG, I am a moron.

I sold my '83 Trek 600 and built up an entire new bike because I couldn't fit tires as wide as I wanted. If I had realized I could go 650b without brazing on cantilever studs... Well... I would have spent a lot less.

Awesome bike.