New project: Centurion super elite 650b conversion

[Seokho Jeong]

Hi,

I acquired this bike yesterday which I think is 1979 Centurion super elite.

I am thinking of converting it to 650b. Probably with VO zeppelin fender and hetre and some racks.

It's a small frame but has relatively shallow seat/head angles compared to other small bikes that I have ridden.

Fork rake measures approximately 55mm and the front-center is 605mm.

I think the trail with hetre might end up somewhere close to 50mm.

Original setup with 27" wheels:

Test fitted with col de la vie:

[Ed Braley]

Looks like a good candidate for conversion. What's the brake reach with the 650B wheels?

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[Seokho Jeong]

It looks like I will need 75mm for front and 73mm for the rear.

I was thinking maybe Dia compe or weinmann 750 will be most realistic option... any thoughts?

[Ed Braley]

DiaCompe/Weinmann 750 calipers are the best bet for a 73-75mm reach. With good pads and cables and proper setup they'll stop a bike just fine.

[Murray Love]

Agreed.  They actually stop better than a Tektro R556, in my experience, though they have a much heavier lever action, dating as they do from the pre-SLR era.  On my 650B-converted Sequoia, the combination of the light springs in the Dura-Ace brifters with the heavier springs in the 750s results in a very heavy lever feel.  I could probably improve them by removing the brake lever springs from the brifters, but I don't use the brakes often enough to be bothered with it.

Murray

Victoria, BC

[Greg Achtem]

Okay, I'll bite. Pads and cables are easy, but what is "proper setup" for these brakes?

[Seokho Jeong]

I think reducing flex in the braking system is important. Cable hanger, etc.

[Seokho Jeong]

Received a set of hubs that I will use for the build.

Also ordered a set of velocity synergy rims today (32h front and 40h rear), but I found conflicting information about the effective rim diameter (ERD). Velocity says 565 now but in my old catalog and on some websites it says 566~567?????

Can someone enlighten me about what's going on here?

[Nick Payne]

In the past I've used 567mm ERD when calculating spoke lengths for
building with Synergy 650b symmetrical rims, and that pretty much puts
the spokes full depth in the nipples. But I haven't purchsed a Synergy
rim for about two or three years - maybe they've changed the extrusion
slightly...

Nick

[Seokho Jeong]

I emailed velocity. They are saying ERD of 565mm is correct and they never changed anything and there was a typo on the catalog.

Now I got more confused...

[Seokho Jeong]

No way the ERD is 565mm.

I received the rims. I received the spokes with the length I calculated using SPOCALC based on manufacturer's ERD.

They are almost 2mm too short.

I unlaced all the spokes and measured the ERD as per SPOCALC's instruction. It is 568mm.

Now I have a bunch of spokes that I don't need. :(

[Seokho Jeong]

Here are photos of finished bike.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sjeong/sets/72157634631010832/

[Max Beach]

I'm hoping to revive this thread, and find out how you like the bike.

I just picked up one of these frames - a nice NOS Centurion Super Elite - and may do a similar 650 restoration.

Seokho, if you still own the bike, are you enjoying the ride?  Any thoughts on the setup?

thanks!

Max Beach

Santa Rosa CA