Supermatt

Most recent activity

• Carlton Mixte Project

  in Current Projects • 11 years, 5 months

  

  Why not? You could also use handlebars with a little backsweep like the velo orange porteur or a moustache? Those would look lovely on a mixte.

• Achielle Belgian Bikes

  in General • 11 years, 10 months

  

  There's a store here in the Hague that sells Achielle bikes (especially the Sam en Saar models). They look very nice and appear to be well finished. I haven't had any experience riding them unfortunately.
  But I have to say, they seem to be jumping the bandwagon a bit with these "pathracer" models.

• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  @Supermatt started

  • 13 comments
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  @Supermatt replied
• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  in Bikes & Bits • 11 years, 11 months

  

  It is just so generally accepted not have a rear brake, I just never really thought about installing one. But maybe I'll try it and see if I like it. I bought the Tektro brakes as a pair after all, the rear one is just sitting in the cupboard.

• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  in Bikes & Bits • 11 years, 11 months

  

  Funny, because I just discovered Rivendell, after I finished it. Of course I looked around on the net and copied some ideas, since there are (as far as I know) no bikes like this in The Hague / The Netherlands.
  Today I saw the employee bikes on the Rivendell site, they are gorgeous so I'll take it as a compliment. Just like those bikes, I could do with 2 cm bigger so I don't need as much seatpost sticking out.

  Just some info on the bike: the wheels are hand built by Marten (www.m-gineering.nl) with VO 650b rims and really nice aby-k hubs (single fixed). I also got the stainless steel fenders from him. The frame is a Koga-Miyata (a Miyata imported by a company that added the Koga part), nitto stem and soma handlebars. Cranks are the original shimano ones with a stainless surly chainring. Add some stuff by brooks et voila!

  And of course I follow your rando thread edscoble! It looks like it is going to be a beautiful bike.

• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  in Bikes & Bits • 11 years, 11 months

  

  It's really nice to have a wider tire and the Grand Bois tires are a great ride.

  The brake setup was a difficult one. I chose the Soma 3 speed II handlebar because it has less drop compared to the standard 3 speed. The II also has a smaller diameter suitable for flat bar levers, which I don't like especially not with normal grips.
  Would be ugly anyway since I only use one brake. This was the best, maybe not a nice, solution I could think of.

• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  in Bikes & Bits • 11 years, 11 months

  

  I was hoping for some positive or negative comments. Is the bike that bland? Anyway, have done some miles and have to adjust the gear ratio. It's now 46x18 which is a bit light, although easy with the strong winds in winter.

• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  in Bikes & Bits • 11 years, 11 months

  

  Yes please!

• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  in Bikes & Bits • 11 years, 11 months

  

  Mmm, I guess I should have... although it isn't an ongoing project. Can I move this thread myself?

• Koga Miyata 650B fixed

  in Bikes & Bits • 11 years, 11 months

  

  
  koga_650B_fixed-_I by MattBeindorff, on Flickr

  After lurking on the forum for quite some time, watching and reading I thought it was time to show one of my bikes. It's my Koga Miyata conversion that I use in the winter. I recently replaced the 700C wheels with 650B wheels to get the extra clearance for fenders and fatter Grand Bois 32C tires.

  I also wanted a more upright position so I decided to try a Soma moustache with a Nitto periscopa stem. It is definitely different from my two other bikes which are way more racey, but I think I like it.