Eddy Merckx Ti EX 650B conversion

singlecross

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May 30, 2012, 5:55:56 PM5/30/12

to 650b

I just finished up my 650B conversion of an Eddy Merckx Ti EX. This is
my vision of my ultimate dirt road bike... Titanium frame, Rock Shox
Paris-Roubaix SL fork, 650B x 38mm Soma New Express tires (Hetre's
won't fit), and Dura Ace 9-spd Downtube Shifters. I'm looking forward
to putting in alot of dirty miles this summer out in the backwoods...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/randonneecafe/sets/72157629974118148/with/7304355194/

Adam
Downeast Maine

Steve Palincsar

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May 30, 2012, 6:01:25 PM5/30/12

to singlecross, 650b

How bad are the roads you plan to ride? That must be one heavy duty
combination, the suspension fork plus 38mm 650B tires!

William Lindsay

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May 30, 2012, 8:22:30 PM5/30/12

to 65...@googlegroups.com

I think it looks slick. I'm not a huge fan of #slamthatstem, but to each his own. The Rockshox probably weigh less than a lot of steel forks, anyway. Nicely done.

Marcin Skiba

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May 31, 2012, 7:23:59 AM5/31/12

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Nice,

I am building something similar but without the suspension fork and on Lemond 853 frame.

Marcin

Dave

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May 31, 2012, 11:06:42 AM5/31/12

to 650b

Nice ride. Is that frame designed to ride with the longer axle-to-
crown length fork? It looks like it is given the flat TT, but I was
always curious as to how that additional length figured into the
geometry when installed. Maybe the short travel renders the difference
so small it doesn't really matter?

> http://www.flickr.com/photos/randonneecafe/sets/72157629974118148/wit...
>
> Adam
> Downeast Maine

singlecross

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Jun 1, 2012, 5:59:45 PM6/1/12

to 650b

> How bad are the roads you plan to ride? That must be one heavy duty
> combination, the suspension fork plus 38mm 650B tires!

Mostly gravel and forest service type roads, with some rougher New
England logging roads thrown in. Nothing too crazy in terms of
roughness, but I am planning on lots of 6-8 hour rides and the
suspension will be most welcome 4+ hours into a dirt road ride in
terms of comfort and freshness. Gotta love the long days of Summer up
North here!

Adam
DownEast Maine

singlecross

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Jun 1, 2012, 6:16:06 PM6/1/12

to 650b

Hi Dave,

The frame as not "designed" for the fork per se... but it does have
73.5* head angle which helps to mitigate the longer fork jacking the
front end up and slacking the head angle out too much. The Rock Shox
Paris-Roubaix for is 400mm axle to crown before sag and the original
fork was 375mm axle to crown, so figure about a 20mm increase in front
end height. That would decrease the head angle from 73.5* to about
72.25*, either way I don't find the difference to be dramatic in terms
of handling.

Adam
DownEast Maine

Harold Bielstein

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Jun 1, 2012, 6:32:35 PM6/1/12

to singlecross, 650b

I've done the same thing to a road bike in the past. I really noticed the plushness of the front end and by contrast, I really noticed the harshness of the rear end!! However, I was using 23mm road tires @100 psi at the time. It may be much more enjoyable with a 38 mm air cushion on the rear. Let us know how you like it - it may start a new trend!

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Hal Bielstein
hkbie...@rap.midco.net

pruckelshaus

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Jun 5, 2012, 5:48:31 PM6/5/12

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That's b@d@ss :) Col de la Vie's should also fit.

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