This bike was a quick Sunday project that turned out quite nicely.  I had nearly all of the components laying around my apartment already, but didn't have an appropriate frame to put them on.  When this Andre Bertin frame popped up locally, I knew it would be perfect.  Read more…

Made of Reynolds 531 steel and originally designed for 27" wheels, I converted it to 650B with the help of some long-reach center pull brakes.  The rear hub is a three-speed Sturmey Archer, and I mounted the shifter on the stem.  The crankset is a modern reproduction of the TA Pro 5 Vis crankset, made by Electra.  It has cool chain guards built in on both sides of the chain ring.  I re-used the stem, handlebars, and MAFAC brake levers that were originally on my Mercier randonneur bike.  I finished it off with some Velo-Orange Zeppelin fenders and Panaracer Col De Vie tires.  

This was one of those rare bikes that rode perfectly on the very first test ride around the block.  Perhaps it was the fact that the stem and bars were already sized to me, or the overall simplicity of the three-speed system.  Whatever the case, it's a fun ride and well adapted to the city streets with its wide tires and easy gearing.  I'm probably going to sell it, since my stable of bikes is already very crowded, but it really is a keeper!