chickendrumsticks
Senior Retro Guru
Nothing wrong with the Mavic + Normandy combo. Despite their ubiquity a sound choice.
Early 50s La Gazelle - Eau-de-Nil 🛠️ The Merlot Aftermath 🍷
- Thread starter Woz
- Start date
Guinessisgoodforyou
rBotM Winner
....... Brakes are quite short reach, looks to be 700c. I could be wrong and am often
Went back in the thread and saw you commented on the brake calliper reach. I'm now going completely insane over this.
Just tried the Mafac Racer centre pulls - the rear is perfect, brake pads sit about half way, the front though the pads sit right at the top and I can only just get them to hit the 700c steel chrome rims where they should be - I may even need to file the brake hole a little.
Definitely don't want to mess around with the Mafac Competition centre pull short reach; the straddle wire is a nightmare scenario.
Another issue I've come across is the headset mounted front cable hanger for the Mafac centre pull. It raises the overall stack height a bit too much to properly fit the top lock nut (only about 1 3/4 turns). My only way out is to replace the headset with the lower stack height one from the Gitane doner bike; the bottom race stack height is a good 2.5mm shorter.
Also tested the rear with a Weinmann 730 long reach, fits good on the rim, impossible on the front. Weinmann 500 short reach on the front is a perfect fit. I absolutely hate these brakes too, but will use them to get the bike rolling - I'm itching to try it and see if it's a good fit.
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Guinessisgoodforyou
rBotM Winner
Weinmann c/pull 610 should do it.
vcballbat
Senior Retro Guru
I know it sounds crazy but why not just use the original brakes? In its original form it's a beautiful bike, why change it into something it never was Woz. Okay so what that drops are a bit uncomfortable and you got to push it up hills, it deserves to be kept all original for Sunday best ride outs..
I know it sounds crazy but why not just use the original brakes? In its original form it's a beautiful bike, why change it into something it never was Woz. Okay so what that drops are a bit uncomfortable and you got to push it up hills, it deserves to be kept original for Sunday best rides..
Yeah, I get what you are saying. The original brakes are now with @Mickeyspinn - he'll put them to better use than me.
My thinking is / was if it was kept all original it would be of very limited (or even no) use to me except a handful of rides on the flat (bike in the van etc.). If I can tweak it and make it less racey it will get used much more for short recreation rides, put in the train for city visits, errand bike, wine tasting bike etc.
I can see the charm in keeping a bike true to its roots, with original parts, despite the fact that it might make it so much less rideable for the person owning it. But I find those builds far less interesting, its like.. alright looks good but you only take it down to the end of the road and back, then store it in the back of the shed til next year. To take something that in its original state don't work for you and make it into something that can be ridden, and be a joy to ride, that's the beauty of bicycle wrenching. Just my opinion. It's showing a deeper appreciation for an old bike than going 'oh well I saved it from the knackers yard by polishing it up and locking it away in the shed, because I'm not riding that mule!'
Might as well have left it at the charity shop then
Might as well have left it at the charity shop then
Well said mate. To be really honest, the only way I will have love for this bike is being used - hopping and wobblying from one vinyard to another around the Dijon / Baume area for wine tasting and rides down the Burgundy canal. An old French bike, being a bit tipsy, flat pedals and no lycra .
What does annoy me with this bike as a start point, is that it is so custom built for long road mile eating, the parts are a bit too lightweight and fragile, plus it should never really be used in the rain (there are no bearing seals anywhere). The worst thing is it's locked into it's time period and very difficult to modernise without being brutal and going too out of character.
For longer road / light off-road miles, the more modern Masi CX with SPDs, cantis, 20 speed will be used.
@vcballbat - in an ideal world, this probably would have been better in the hands of someone who is really into period correct, loves road riding, and as the patience and funds for a complete restoration.
What does annoy me with this bike as a start point, is that it is so custom built for long road mile eating, the parts are a bit too lightweight and fragile, plus it should never really be used in the rain (there are no bearing seals anywhere). The worst thing is it's locked into it's time period and very difficult to modernise without being brutal and going too out of character.
For longer road / light off-road miles, the more modern Masi CX with SPDs, cantis, 20 speed will be used.
@vcballbat - in an ideal world, this probably would have been better in the hands of someone who is really into period correct, loves road riding, and as the patience and funds for a complete restoration.
