Lemond 'randonnuer

[earlethomas]

Toying with the idea of a Lemond Zurich frameset or other Lemond 853  to convert to 650 and build as a rando bike. Might need to substitute a fork and add some braze on's. Any thoughts or observations?

thomas

[Brad]

Start with measuring clearances sideways.   Then buy a set of Mafac Raid brakes.  Build wheels.  Cable  up brakes.  Ride.

[earlethomas]

Not opposed to the raids, they'd have the reach, but I'm curious why you say that, Tektro 559's would also make the journey, aestheics? performance? Educate me.

[arvi1000]

I wanted to do this to my Lemond Sarthe (True Temper OX Platinum version; some other years were 853). I really love this bike, but my "wow 28mm tires are huge" days are behind me now, so I was hoping to convert. Sadly, not even 650b x 38mm would clear the chainstays (at least not without serious dimpling that I did not attempt). Oh well.

[satanas]

FWIW: Nothing bigger than 25/26-622 (actual width/height above rim) will clear on the carbon Zurich chainstays. On the front, the underside of the crown is the problem, otherwise 38-584 is fine. At the seatstays there's very minimal clearance, but at the chainstays there's overlap, especially on the fatter LH stay. Even 30/32-584 is extremely unlikely to clear there by more than a fraction of a millimetre; I don't have 28s to test.

Check clearance *before* buying, unless it's a steel frame and you don't mind indenting things.

Later,
Stephen

[Mark in Beacon]

The op referenced 853, so steel. But carbon fork. My concern would be bb height; I seem to recall on mine that it was on the low side.

[ViveLemond]

i found on my steel Zurich that the max tire clearance around chainstays would only be about 32-35mm.
btw, i have a nice steel Zurich, 57cm, with an uncut Riv Carbonomas fork for sale is anyone wants it!

[Brad]

Raids are sublime when matched up with Cane Creek SCR-5 levers.

Just right on the braking.    Slip the lever quick release, then undo the straddle cable at the side and the wheel comes out like parking a single car in a garage with a double garage door.

Of  course if you want to do your shifting at the brake levers the Tektro 559's would be the ticket.  

Of course there is the challenge of cable hangers for the Raid's.  It is solvable.

[David Cummings]

I’ve done both RAIDs and Tektro conversions. Tektros FTW on “modern” bikes with sidepulls - they pretty much are plug and play. My wife likes them and she’s very particular about having enough braking power.

Can we assume you’ve visited the bikeman “650b how to” page and made necessary measurements? I 650b’ed my daughter’s C’dale and had to use GB Cypress (32mm) because of the chainstays’ indents being 700c-specific and not long enough to be useful on 650b rims. But at 100#, she doesn’t really need 38mm tires yet...

[earlethomas]

Thanks to everyone who replied, lots of great input. I am just winding up a conversion on an '81 Univega Mixte, for which I had to get xtra long tektro 800A's to make reach. That bike has fitted pari-moto 42's. Just didn't realize the tolerances for racing bikes would be so confining. I'm not wedded to a Zurich, but it seems a nice option, and I could settle for 32/33mm tires if need be. Can anyone recommend a frameset of similar lightness with a bit more tire width tolerance? Mind, I'm looking at 49mm to 52 mm ST with 51 preferred, so a small frame.

thanks,

thomas

[David Cummings]

Check this Raleigh over on BF?

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vintage-sales/1156606-raleigh-usa-prestige-53-34cm-reynolds-531c-frameset.html

[Mark Schneider]

Rob at Ocean Air Cycles did a Zurich conversion and posted it in a blog here. http://oceanaircycles.com/2012/07/09/lemond-zurich-650b-conversion/

On Tuesday, September 25, 2018 at 4:15:35 PM UTC-7, earlethomas wrote:

[David Madina]

Just wanted to follow up... what did you decide to do? I have a LeMond Zurich and thought it’d be cool to see which direction you’d go...

[earlethomas]

David, no decision yet, but given the challenges converting the Lemond, I'm again looking at the Soma GR...

[Sean PNW]

Thomas, I'm pursuing a similar project with a Lemond Poprad disc frame built w/True Temper OX Platinum tubing, might be worth looking into....