Batavus

Hi all, first time posting in this knowledgeable section of bikeforums, usually lurking in mechanics and ssfg.

Here's the deal: I am going to build my own steel track frame. My surname is Tierie, which used to be Thiery when my ancestors still lived in France. The frame will bear this name, therefore I want all parts to be French and more or less vintage.

So far I have built a wheelset with NOS Normandy track hubs and used Mavic open4cd clinchers (slightly less 'period correct'):



And recently I got a good deal on this:



a 165 mm Stronglight 49D crankset with... french pedal threads yay!

I want to use a BB that is as close to original as possible, so cup and cone and preferrably Stronglight.
Does anyone know what the taper is on this? I would be surprised if it was JIS. I think all European manufacturers of that period used the ISO standard, no?

Also, what spindle length will give me a 42 mm-ish chainline? I know these cranksets can be used as a single and double because of the double BCD, but does anyone run this crankset as a single speed setup?
If so, what BB length is needed?

I have windowshopped ebay for far too long looking for a sort of period correct British threaded Stronglight headset (I don't want to use the still available, excellent A9). I am even considering using a French threaded BB shell and steerer tube for my framebuild because, funnily enough, it will give me more options (plenty of french threaded Stronglight BB's and headsets around) to keep my build as French as possible. I really should be starting that frame build instead of spending money on the internet, but the build itself is a long-term project and will give me plenty of time to collect the right parts.

Thank you in advance for any input!

Grand Bois

It's ISO and a 115mm Miche Primato cartidge bearing track BB should work for you, But it's not French. I'm using it wirh a T.A. crank and I think that the requirements for early Stronglight and T.A. are the same. The nice thing about the Miche is that the chainline is adjustable so you can get it perfect.



Stronglight A9's are available there? Can you give a link to a seller? They're not available here.

Batavus

Thanks for the info. I have always liked the idea of an adjustable bb without spending big bucks on a Phil. How is it holding up?


As for the A9, I heard Stronglight is no longer producing them, although they still list it on their site:

https://www.stronglight.com/stronglig...uit&keyProd=A9

Plenty still to be found online:

https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/produc...ue=STROHSTR455

https://www.xxcycle.com/a9-st,,en.php

https://www.roadcyclinguk.com/review/...rgn/10/sp//v/1

Grand Bois

Stronglight does not list the needle bearing A9 on their site. The Stronglight A9ST is a steel headset with ball bearings, The A9JD has cartridge bearings. Your last link says that Ribble Cycles has the needle bearing A9, but the link is dead.

Batavus

Well, I bow my head in shame... I thought the ribble cycles one was a needle bearing headset and the cartridge addition was a misprint. I must say that, contrary to what is often claimed, needle bearing headsets do develop 'indexing' quite often. I've had this experience with one of my own headsets and almost all needle bearing headsets (among which quite a few stronglights) I had to replace at the shop I work at.

Grand Bois

Some people claim they last forever. I don't know. I haven't been using them quite that long.

nlerner

I run a Stronglight 49D with a single ring on my Raleigh International w/ a Phil Wood bottom bracket. I think the spindle length is around 108mm, but that's really just a guess.

Neal