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Originally Posted by ColonelJLloyd
(Post 12802700)
Ah, yes. Wrong ice cream. Actually, it's a 1973 model, right? All of them were, yes?
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Originally Posted by Zaphod Beeblebrox
(Post 12802843)
I think so yes. And I think all of em were International Danger Orange :) I love that name for the color :lol:
Maybe the best color name EVAR! No, they also made Kool Lemon (although it was probably a little different shade than true Kool Lemon as it was a Japanese built bike. On second thought I think I remember reading they were painted stateside.) If they'd made them in more than two sizes I'd own one. Love these bikes! Check out the skip-tooth large cogs and the paint detail on the fork crown. http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...12903714750001 http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...12903714670001 http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...12903714580001 http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/1...30555555800010 |
Originally Posted by Zaphod Beeblebrox
(Post 12802670)
Also Neal Lerner says they are good, which is a thumbs up in my book.
http://besttoysguide.com/wp-content/...egirlsbike.jpg Neal |
That World Voyageur looks great. It's made in Japan and painted in the Schwinn factory? I can't think of a better pedigree than that! Looks like it was chromed in Chicago, too. Yummy!
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perhaps this has been linked:
http://650b.webs.com/conversions.htm good measurements to keep in mind when checking out potential frames. One key limiting factor is brake reach. If your bike had 27" tires originally (usually, what... pre 1985?) The reach to the rims on 650B gets to be waaaaaaaay long at times. A bike with 700C wheels originally is always easier. Tektro R556 are nice long reach brakes. Older bikes with classic fork crowns often offer more clearance. My 650B bikes run 38MM tires (Col de La Vie and Soma B-Lines) they are plenty cushy and roll really fast. The Hetres are cool but just too 'rich' for me at that price point. I am taking delivery of a couple frames for my next project and am juiced to get started. |
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I get around brake reach with Drum Brake hubs. They're great.
Tom, those World Voyageurs are full chrome under the paint. The paint on mine is pretty bad so I sanded off the crusty spots and wound up with a bike with Chrome spots :lol:
Originally Posted by nlerner
(Post 12802922)
Ah, and here's what I believe is the next hot ticket in C&V:
http://besttoysguide.com/wp-content/...egirlsbike.jpg Neal |
2 Attachment(s)
Originally Posted by Amesja
(Post 12803287)
Brake reach schmake-greatch!
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Q...hPPzA/X-FD.jpg Compared to the X-FD (which I have on a different wheelset) the XL-FD is Enormous! The flange diameter has gotta be over 4 inches! beautifully made alloy hub shell as well. Its a real nice unit to hold. Quite a bit nicer than my X-FD just in terms of perceived quality while holding it in my hand. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=206880 http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=206881 If this doesn't stop ya, nothing will. |
So cross-5 is out of the question????
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guess that would solve the reach issue... actually, I have a couple old Alesa 650B rims that I scavenged off a Schwinn Mirada that I may mount on coaster brake hubs. We gots piles of them at the Earn a BIke shop I volunteer at. Keep hoping to find a 2 vintage speed kick back but nothing yet.
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650B conversion
Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 12802576)
No, they're that good, apparently. Tires have had some breakthroughs over the years. I am in love with the Panaracer Pasela, and people have said that the Hetres are like Paselas but better.
The breakthrough lately is to have a wide tire with a lightweight, supple sidewall. This means you can have a supple, light tire that is also wide. This breaks the tradeoff we used to make, choosing between supple and wide. John Hawrylak Woodstown NJ |
I have one of those X-FD hubs. It's going on my International, which originally had sorta long-reach Weinmann centerpull brakes. It is a beautiful hub to hold. I hope I'm not disappointed with the braking. I've never used a drum brake.
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for extensive 650B info and opinions, I suggest subscribing to the listserv and presenting inquiries there... lots of friendly folks with plenty to say about tires
650b@googlegroups.com I reckon you could join at Google Groups online |
I am somewhat disappointed with the braking of my Shimano front drum, SBF. A friend of mine converted a Raleigh DL-1 Roadster with 28" wheels to 700c with drum brakes and he is disappointed in the braking performance too.
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here is my current project. The bars are temporary (they will eventually be Velo Orange Porteur bars). The whole Bottom bracket crank thing is always a bit bewildering but I'll figure it out somehow
John Howard KHS Turbo http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/...2d0ea76f_b.jpg |
What are you guys using for reasonably priced 650b wheels?
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Originally Posted by john hawrylak
(Post 12803464)
Does the Hetre have a TPI count significantely greater than 66, which seems to be a standard Panaracer design?? As a first approxiamation, suppleness should follow TPI count.
John Hawrylak Woodstown NJ Hetre 650B Nominal size: 584 x 42 mm (650B) Width (on 25 mm Mavic Criterium rims): 42 mm Weight: Sample 1: 392 g; Sample 2: 426 g Thickness (casing + tread): 3.8 mm Max. pressure rating: 5.2 bar (75 psi) Test pressure: 3.8 (55 psi) Test distance: 500 km (320 miles) Test bike: 1952 Jo Routens, 2006 Kogswell P/R prototype Price: $ 60 ($ 55 for 4 or more) Country of manufacture: Japan Availability: Bicycle shops, Vintage Bicycle Press The Grand Bois “Hetre” is a replica of a classic lightweight “650B Demi-Baloon” tire. At a full 42 mm wide, these tires are very large. The tread consists of longitudinal lines. The version tested used a red tread, but future versions will have a black tread. The shock absorption of these tires is far superior to any other I have ridden. Expansion joints or rough roads no longer upset the bike, and the bike carries its speed much better over rough roads. Gaps in the pavement and even streetcar tracks no longer pose a serious threat, allowing the rider to concentrate on traffic or simply to enjoy the ride. Off-pavement, these tires provide a generous margin of safety even on bumpy and rocky roads. The bike feels fast with these tires, and this is confirmed in our real-road performance tests. Like the narrower Grand Bois tires, the Hetres are among the fastest tires available today, with the exception of the extremely fast hand-made tires. The Hetres offer excellent cornering grip, and the improved shock absorption is a great benefit in bumpy corners. On wet roads, the red tread cornered as well as any tire I have ridden. The Hetre tires confirm that wider tires can be as fast or faster than narrower tires. Despite having 1 mm more tread than the narrower Grand Bois tires and a coarser tread pattern, they roll roughly as fast as the other Grand Bois tires. Once the ribs in the tread are worn down a bit and the tread is thinner, I expect these tires to be faster than most. |
Originally Posted by Zaphod Beeblebrox
(Post 12803336)
So buy stock in Mongoose?
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That description gives me goosebumps and makes me want to do a conversion.
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Originally Posted by Schwinnsta
(Post 12804140)
I am somewhat disappointed with the braking of my Shimano front drum, SBF. A friend of mine converted a Raleigh DL-1 Roadster with 28" wheels to 700c with drum brakes and he is disappointed in the braking performance too.
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Originally Posted by noglider
(Post 12804379)
That description gives me goosebumps and makes me want to do a conversion.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/...aed17b5c_b.jpg |
I really want to do a conversion but I'm concerned that a fatter tire will make me feel slow. Will the bike still feel responsive and sporty ?
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Originally Posted by nlerner
(Post 12801561)
I'd say the advantage is slight if you can fit that wide a 700c tires, but that's usually a specific sort of frame (Surly LHT?).
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Originally Posted by Epicus07
(Post 12804920)
I really want to do a conversion but I'm concerned that a fatter tire will make me feel slow. Will the bike still feel responsive and sporty ?
Like you, I read review after review about how great thes tires are. And I finally came across my Kogswell frame that was designed for 650b tires, so I took the plunge: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-g...2009.11.24.jpg Equipped like she sits in this photo... complete with double leg kickstand, dyno lighting, frame pump, and huge honkin' porter rack... the bike weighs exactly 30 pounds. Not exactly a lightweight. But it rides like greased lightning. And smooooth as silk. This bike really surprises people... they're not used to seeing a fat tire bike cruising so fast. I've had more than one person comment on how fast the bike feels... and last Saturday at my LBS I had a line of employees and customers waiting to take a test ride on it... and 3 people tried to buy it from me on the spot! But keep one thing in mind: If you're building a bike around these specific tires, then go all the way with your wheelset. The tires will not be stellar if the rims, hubs, and spokes are trash. I built my wheels myself with Velocity Synergy rims, DT Swiss Revolution spokes, alloy nipples, SON front hub, and Shimano XT rear hub with SRAM PG990 cassette. These wheels are light. Insanely light for a wheelset built for a 42mm tire. But they make the bike leap forward when you stomp down on the pedals. And smooth. Did I say smooth yet? Riding these huge fast tires is unlike anything you've ridden before, but the oddest thing about them is the sound. Yes... the sound that they make. You know the echo type of sound that a kid's kickball makes when you thump it? That hollow balloon echo inside of the ball? Well these tires make that that noise, but it's constant. You can hear it when you're out away from traffic and everything is quiet. It's a ballooney thrumming sound as the tires roll across the pavement... very comforting to me... kind of neat. It's not a loud obnoxious sound... just a comforting background hum that you hear when it's quiet around you. I'm glad I drank the Kool-aid. As a matter of fact, I'm considering putting 650b wheels on my Surly Pacer now. She weighs 21 pounds ready to ride with 700x23C wheels. That bike ought to be really fun and fast with some Pacenti Parimoto 38mm tires on it. Most of the reviews I've seen say that those are some of the fastest 650b tires that you can get your hands on! |
Originally Posted by Epicus07
(Post 12804920)
I really want to do a conversion but I'm concerned that a fatter tire will make me feel slow. Will the bike still feel responsive and sporty ?
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