Step-Through Belt Drive Internal!
Tuesday, June 24th, 2014
It’s a mouthful, but for another commuter/all-rounder, it just makes sense! Again we’re using the value-laden Sturmey-Archer 5 speed hub, this time laced to a 26″ wheel to keep the scale of this smallish bike appropriate. But the focus for Manya is on practicality, yes (note the fenders and kickstand) but also on style and elegance, so we did our first curved top tube step-through. All it needs is a baguette and a beret.
As we didn’t have the requisite, or at least recommended, three-roller bender for the top tube, we sought help from Mike Flanigan at ANT:
Other concerns included fashioning a gusset to reinforce the seat tube, that would match the lugged BB shell and the collar point:
I also modified Bobby’s Ted Wojcik, as he wanted to run 650B x 2.4 wheels & tires in a frame intended for 26″. Previously I had installed the Black Cat Rocker dropouts; in this case I was able to retain the seat stays, replacing the chainstays and bridges to make more room. And I made a new fork that matches the build height of his old segmented 26″ fork but gives him some more room. Just the right amount, as he has promised to never try to use larger tires.
And an unusual repair, I replaced the head tube on a vintage Raleigh. See if you can spot the crack:
So this sort of repair involves cutting away as much of the existing headtube as you can, and then grinding out what’s left from inside the lugs. It does not. Go. Quickly. Note the sockets for the fork-crown steering lock.
Then a new head tube slides in, gets brazed, cleaned up, and painted.
Last but not least, I repainted a magnificent Nagasawa road/track bike for Marc:
Next: Henry’s MTB! Tom’s belt drive all-rounder! Irina’s do-it-all tourer! It must be summer!
