Mann Libertas Track Bike (650c)

Girlfriend saw this on the forum, and wanted it, brought it and now attempt to make it a little more suitable for riding on the road;

Some disadvantage, it got a very lovely tubular wheelset, but they're hardly idea for the street of London regardless of what Dammit said.

Not only that, the tub is 21mm, and the clearance is yionk tight with the quill brake adaptor;

She liked having bigger tyres like the one on her Soma (38mm on wide rims), so the best solution is to get an MTB rims instead with the Velo Orange Grand Cru hubs that match the original wheelset a bit more.

Mavic A319 (26") with VO Grand Cru track hubs, I build it a bit wrong but it's perfect.

The tyres I managed to get is the Panaracer Pasela in 26" 1.25 which come out as 32c, with the wide rims, it actually have a great profile not too dissimilar to a 23c on a 23mm rims.

On top, the BB drop is only a couple millimetres with the bigger tyres, only change I need to make is add a normal reach brake for the 26" wheels.

3 Attachments

Very pretty. Looks like a Stronglight model 93?

Nice indeed. Have you considered road levers with a dummy instead of that setup?

You couldn't resist changing the saddle angle for her, could you.

She set it like that actually.

Waiting on the Selle Anatomica saddle as it have enough rail to set it further back, as the seat tube is a little steep (75-76 degrees),

Nice indeed. Have you considered road levers with a dummy instead of that setup?

Not yet, she have two great bike already (joe Waugh 653 roadie and Soma 650b light tourer), she might like to have a flat bar and ride it as a HHSB.

Slack chain.

^ fuck.. just remembered to come back to put the OSSC in but Scilly Suffolk beat me to it.. so i'm gonna stick with the NBM comment. (nice bike, man!)

Very nice Ed, can't wait to see how this turns out!

Wouldn't the bb drop stay the same even with the bigger tyres. the height of the BB would just increase?

Only if the tyres is bigger than 32mm in order to keep the BB height the same, but a small drop is fine as the wheelset is for the street rather, and the tubs' for track.

She liked having bigger tyres like the one on her Soma (38mm on wide rims), so the best solution is to get an MTB rims instead with the Velo Orange Grand Cru hubs that match the original wheelset a bit more.

Mavic A319 (26") with VO Grand Cru track hubs, I build it a bit wrong but it's perfect.

The tyres I managed to get is the Panaracer Pasela in 26" 1.25 which come out as 32c, with the wide rims, it actually have a great profile not too dissimilar to a 23c on a 23mm rims.

^When I saw this initially I cringed, but I'm actually hugely impressed/loving how it came out, props!

It doesn't look as sleek as it did with the 21mm tubs, but even with the fatties, it doesn't look out of place still.

Completed with rear brake added on the front (keeping the quill brake adaptor), 19 sprocket (65GI) and look pleasantly slammed.

1 Attachment

What's a "quill brake adaptor"?

Like a quill stem, it go under the fork's steerer to hold the brake;

Ah! For undrilled forks: neat.

Where does one buy that quill adapter?

Ask wharry, he's the one whom either got it or made it.

I suspect a barrage of PM's heading Wharrys' way.

Probably, I would have drilled the fork but the fork crown itself doesn't look like it have enough material to ensure safety.

Looks fantastic, but I have to say I gradually came to hate riding fixed on fat (32c Pasela) tyres. Awkward/non-existent skids, slow pace, it felt fine on dirt but became really tiresome on tarmac.
If you can fit a rear brake, do so.

How odd, I have the opposite with 32c on the fixed wheel tourer, but then the tourer is a lots more nimble than a track bike.

I love riding fixed on bigger tyres, so comfy and grippy.

...If you can fit a rear brake, do so.
Ha! Scoble scobled shocker!

#breakrdeath

She been riding it for a couple days so far, enjoyed it already and seemed to got the hang of riding fixed after listening to me telling her not to stop pedalling.

Photo show her position is a little too far forward which is to be expected with those smaller frame, awaiting a leather saddle, a shame as she loved the comfort of those faux Unicanitor saddle (plastic have a lots more give, like a leather saddle).

the bike looks great! but aye, internetnetbikefit (tm), it does look a bit small for her...