Toyo Atlantis- Classic frame, New build

[John Rinker]

Several months ago, a gentleman named NC Tom passed along a beautiful 64cm Toyo Atlantis to me. As I was in Japan at the time, the frame, expertly packed and shipped, waited for me at my Dad's place. 

It is now summer in BC and the frame is now a full-fledged bike, built mostly from parts laying around or 'borrowed' from my '94 Yeti ARC. I did pick up a new rack and seatpost at BlueLug in Hatagaya before leaving Japan, and I built some new wheels with some 25-year old Chris King hubs that sing like the day I got 'em. The ride is zippy, nimble, responsive, but most of all super comfortable. The paint is pristine and there are some exquisite details from the craftsmen at Toyo. A lovely Riv, indeed.

Cheers to NC Tom!

[Roberta]

It’s beautiful but the fabulous ride is what is most important. Many happy miles to you and Atlantis. 

[Matthew P]

Awesome John.
Neat crankset. I'm almost done building up my Toyo Atlantis.
I'm insisting on using a double crankset and the curved chainstays get wide real quick.
I love them, but they make it hard to fit the double, with the inner ring being 30T instead of 24T or 26T on a triple.
123 mm axle was still not wide enough, so I'm looking for a wider axle.
I love seeing the Toyo Atlantii. Enjoy!
-Matthew, San Diego, CA

[John Rinker]

Hey Matthew, 

Please post of photo of your build; I'd love to see it and a description of how you got your double crank to play nicely with the sweet s-bends. The crankset on mine is a triple Shimano XT from the early 90s. I'd like a bigger ring than 42, but it's what I had laying around and bikes must be built and ridden!

Cheers,

John

[John Phillips]

John,

    Beautiful build!  Did you choose an Albastache bar or a Moustache bar? Hard for me to tell from this angle.

John

[John Rinker]

Thanks John. 

I think it's an albastache bar. I got it years ago to try on my hunq, but much preferred my albatross bars. I wanted to try to build this frame with PLA (parts laying around) and these are what I had. I'm not sure if they'll remain or if I'll just put albatross bars on the Atlantis as well. Pretty fun for now though.

Cheers, John

[John Rinker]

Hey Matthew,

Did you get the width of your axle figured out for your double crank? If so, I'd like to hear (and see) how your build came out.

Cheers,

John

[Matthew P]

Hey John,

Thanks for writing. A little push is welcomed by me.
I gave it a crack maybe two weeks ago with atj ~127 mm wide spindle.
As I tightened down the bolt into the driveside crank, the 30T inner ring crept closer and closer to that curved chainstay that I love.
I thought about not cranking any further, but then decided against that. Well before pushing too hard on that axle bolt, the inner ring hit the chainstay. Darnit!
I learned one thing in the process, I think: initially I was getting play in the spindle coming out of the BB cups. I think I figured that out: the ball bearings were too small.
I threw in another set of larger ball bearings (I need one of those Park Tools rulers with the graduated holes for measuring ball bearings) and that seemed to resolve it.
It also gave me another idea.
I have a ~1mm spacer I could use on the driveside. When I tried it last, not enough of the square taper extended beyond the driveside cup.
That was with ball bearings in cages. I'm thinking using loose ball bearings might save me some width and allow me to use the spacer.
Plan B is already on the way: a new-in-box, new-old-stock 130mm Specialized spindle. That's gotta work.
130 mm may sound super wide but its just about 1.5 cm wider than a very standard spindle.
It looks like I'm having to push out that inner ring to the position where the middle ring on a triple would be.
I ask myself: just go with the triple?
But I think a double is where its at. I want them on every bike I build from here on out.

I follow up after the loose ball bearing attempt fails and the 130 mm spindle arrives and goes in.

Thanks!
-Matthew
San Diego (Kumeyaay land)

[Garth]

Mathew, What crankset are you referring to ?  

[Matthew P]

It looks like my message didn't go through and now I have to resend. d'oh!
SR Apex. 30/42T double. Bought here or iBOB.
I got it to work last night using free ball bearings + driveside spacer + 127 mm spindle.
But I think I need to try using caged bearings again, to widen it again, to have threads exposed for the lock ring.
-Matthew