[CR]eBay: Custom 650B 49 cm French-Style Touring Bike-MAXICAR Hubs

(Example: History:Ted Ernst)

In-Reply-To: <070001c6840a$3b52f670$2f01a8c0@bike1>
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Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 13:56:35 -0400
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
From: "Sheldon Brown" <CaptBike@sheldonbrown.com>
Subject: [CR]eBay: Custom 650B 49 cm French-Style Touring Bike-MAXICAR Hubs

This bike was custom built for an old friend of mine sometime in the 1970s, by a builder in New England. Unfortunately, my friend is pretty old, and can no longer remember the name of the builder. Although the frame is American, the bike is very much in the French style, with mostly French parts. It generally represents the state-of-the-art in serious touring bikes of that vintage. I have not made any attempt to clean it up beyond a light dusting here and there. I have not actually ridden it (it is much too small for me!)

The Frame The frame is mostly fillet brazed, except for the bottom bracket, which is lugged. It is almost certainly made from Reynolds 531, though there are no transfers. It has Campagnolo vertical dropouts.

Dimensions: Seat Tube: 49 cm center to center Top Tube: 55.5 cm center to center Chainstays: 43.5 cm center to center Components Wheels 650b (584 mm) French rims, probably Mavic or Wolber 58. Maxicar sealed bearing hubs. 36 spokes front and rear. The wheels are true and undamaged. Vintage Wolber 650B tires are in good condition, tubes hold air. 5-speed freewheel 14-30 teeth. Drive Train TA crankset 52-44-30 teeth Phil Wood bottom bracket. SunTour VGT rear derailleur Simplex Super LJ front derailleur SunTour Barcon handlebar end shifters Other Parts Pivo stem (8 cm) Drop handlebars, probably Pivo Mafac cantilever brakes Idéale #42 saddle* Lyotard Marcel Berthet #23 Pedals* *The bike came to me without a saddle or pedals, I installed a saddle and pedals that I had on hand, items which seemed appropriate to me. The pedals are fairly heavily used. Accessories Aluminum fenders/mudguards, brand unknown, probably French. Front and rear luggage racks, brand unknown, probably French. Sanyo Dynapower bottom bracket generator/dynamo with internal wiring Flaws The front fender is slightly bent. The lights do not work, but I have made no attempt to service them. The tail light is loose on the rear fender.

Sheldon "Yes, I'm The Seller" Brown +----------------------------------------------+ | If you wish in the world to advance, | | Your merits you're bound to enhance; | | You must stir it, and stump it, | | And blow your own trumpet, | | Or, trust me, you haven't a chance! | | --W.S. Gilbert | +----------------------------------------------+ --
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