[quote=jimmythefly]OK! That makes way more sense. I get it now. I assume you’ve considered just getting a low-trail fork built (or re-raking some cheapo used Peugeot fork) for the PX-10 as an even cheaper way to experience low-trail in a 650b platform? Sure, in the end you don’t have a full Polyvalent frameset to keep, but if you end up not liking it you also don’t have a full Polyvalent frameset to sell off.
Not that I’m saying messing around with bikes is wasting money -you clearly gain experience, etc. Just saying that if your goal is to experiment for minimal cash outlay, perhaps a new fork for the PX10 makes more sense than a whole new frame? You might also consider a Fuji s10s or s12s, many (most/all?) of them had low-trail geometry, and could be 650-b converted.
I do realize that i was clear as mud in my original post. What i would do is buy the frameset and maybe the fenders from VO first. Then build up the bike borrowing my px10 wheels temporarily, and after i sold some parts or one big item (like a frameset) then order the wheels from QBP, then maybe sell a few more things and then order the cyo, rear light, and Hetres. The saving of $$ would just be temporary to refill the bike fund.
As for using the px10 for it i have definitely thought about that. The one problem is the head tube angle of the px10 is steep (75 degrees), and doesnt go well with the usual 73 degree headtube most low trail bikes start out with. A custom fork could take that into account, but if i didnt like it I would have this thought a slightly slacker headtube with more fork rake would be better. The Fuji linked above is about 1.5 hrs away, but that is too much to pay for a low end Fuji at least for me. The big problem with trying a vintage frame for a conversion is the fit. Even most 62cm+ vintage frames had short top tubes for the size. When i found My Nishiki at the local Salvation Army i had bought and sold 6 big vintage touring bikes because the tt was too short (one was 56cm!) over a period of 3 years. Trying the px10 as a 650b got me into the 650b wheels. I know i could convert another bike to 650b, but want to try one designed around that tire size.
I am pretty sure i have my Schwinn Paramount P13 frameset sold so the Polyvalent frameset and fenders might be ordered from VO this week. I have a few nibbles on the Steamroller frameset so maybe that will be sold in the next week. I might even throw a few items up on ebay on Sunday so the spread out build might end up getting spread out only a few weeks. I told my coworker i wanted to buy his Rival parts today so the Polyvalent might just get a Rival group? He could use the money to put the finishing touches on his carbon Casati, Record 11 speed, Bora with FMBs bike build.
If they polyvalent is really just to try low-trail, why don’t you just see if you can borrow/rent someone else’s low-trail bike? You can get it figured out pretty well over one ride.
I love my Boulder. It’s seriously amazing, I use it for everything, with and without front load. Rides great with Hetres in pretty much every situation outside of sloppy mud or a crit.
The Polyvalent is to try 650b low trail. My Nishiki is low trail (73 degrees/60mm rake~43mm trail) so i do know some of the handling traits of low trail bikes with a load on the front. Finding a low trail 650b bike would be hard at my size. I do know someone building up a low trail 650b Terraferma, but i have over a foot of height on him. In the end if i do go for a Boulder and wanted to sell the VO i dont think it would be too difficult as they dont come up all that often on the used market.
Taylor do have a pic of your Boulder? I would love to see it. Or anyone else with a 650b bike post it up.
I have been doing some researching lately and have decided a few things. First is fuck it, I am going to build it up with Rival. A Cyo and Seculite will get ordered from Longleaf, and the Berthoud fenders and Hetres from Mike at Boulder. QBP will supply the dyno wheels, Noodles, and a few misc items (and 45mm Nomads). I am going to do a on paper build to make sure i am not forgetting anything. Most of my builds end up forgetting one little part that slows the process.
sante 2x9 friction DTs, 94 bcd white cranks with 46/29, rear h3 to grand bois, front novatec (lol) to velo orange, hetres, kog fenders, brooks professional, technomic, random 46cm wide deep round bars, v-o bar bag, carradice
sante 2x9 friction DTs, 94 bcd white cranks with 46/29, rear h3 to grand bois, front novatec (lol) to velo orange, hetres, kog fenders, brooks professional, technomic, random 46cm wide deep round bars, v-o bar bag, carradice[/quote]
Tachyon crew.
I have ordered the Polyvalent and it will be in my hands on Thursday. I sold the p13 and the steamroller so the build wouldn’t be spread out until QBP threw a wrench in my plan. They are out of stock on the rear wheel so that might cause a problem. So now I am little confused at what to do with regards to the wheels.
you’ll need to give add some more tension + truing since they haven’t touched human hands, be sure to use a 4-sided spoke wrench since the nipples aren’t great, but everything else is perfectly fine
still why do you need to buy and not just build? and don’t you already have a 650b wheelset to borrow from the PX10?
I can build wheels, but QBP is out of Synergy rims as well. QBP lists August 8 as when they expect the rims back in stock. I am going to contact friends that work at Velocity and see what 650b rims they have or when they expect them. In the meantime I can use the wheels from the PX10, but that order also has my bars, headset, and a few misc parts. I do know about the zac19/Shimano set and get them through work if I want.
I am going to hold off on wheels for a little while and borrow the dyad/tiagra/b line set from the px10. The planned QBP order had a set of Noodles, Miche roller bearing headset, black Rival hoods, and a rear housing stop for the rear brake. I have another headset that will work in the meantime, will steal Noodles from the px10 or Volare, rock the red hoods, and can figure out a rear housing stop from the parts bin. The bike will be built this weekend come hell or high water.
I will probably end up building a set of wheels it seems like now. I have an unused Dh71 dyno hub laced to a cr18 that i can use for the front hub. Rear hub i dont know, yet, but i am leaning toward the A23 rims front and rear.
