Bridgestone RB-T back on the road
Two years ago my Bridgestone RB-T was my daily commuter. I took it apart (needed the parts for other bikes) when I got the Kogswell P/R. I loved the RB-T though, it was one of my best riding bikes.
Two months ago John Speare offered me a low trail (high rake) steel fork for the RB-T. I jumped on it, pulled the frame out of storage, added a few more of my own brazeons and then sent the frame, fork, and one of my racks off to powder coating. They came back on Tuesday and I finished assembling the bike last night.
It’s great. Really really great. Like meeting up with an old friend who you haven’t seen in a long time.
Typical Alex build — Nitto Noodle bars, wide range double drivetrain, canti brakes, fenders, front rack. Some details will change (rear tire, stem, headlight),but the photo gives you the idea.
Nice bike, Alex. What size bottom bracket did you use? I”ve got a Ritchey Logic triple I”ve thought about using as a double, but I wasn”t sure what size bottom bracket to use.
Bike looks good. Where”d you get the powder done? I had a frame done in Mukilteo a couple month ago and I was a bit disappointed in the results.
Greg — The crank is a Ritchey Logic Compact (94/58mm BCD) not the more normal 110/74 triple. I used a 103mm bottom bracket which is modified to shift the chainline left. For a 110/74 Ritchey crank I think you”d need around a 110-113mm BB.
Sean — It was powder coated in Auburn. A guy in point83 organized the powder coating, so I don”t know the specifics. Results are good but not great, the surface is a little rough in spots (the racks are smoother than the frame). It’’s still a nice durable finish and will be good for a commuter. The lugwork came through very cleanly.
Nicely done Alex. The RBT looks great.
I”ve been waiting to see pictures of all those 83” Trek 520′’s you have lying around. I know you”ve converted at least one to 650B, but can”t find any write-ups or photos.
I”ve got an 83” 500 (pretty much the same as the 83” 520) in the mail and I”d like to see what you”ve done so far.
Cheers,
John
The Trek projects are on the back burner since I did built this bike up. I planned on converting my 1983 Trek 520 to 650B, but right now the frame is just in storage. My 1983 Trek 630 became the tire testing bike for Bicycle Quarterly and we run 650B and 700C tires on it. There is just a single front brake (one of the Tektro long reach models) and 650B wheels work with the pads at bottom of the slots. 700C works with them at the top of the slots.
My 1983 Trek 620 is built up, but gets very little use right now. I”m likely to sell it.
Every few years I go through a state of overacquiring and selling off the surplus. Right now I”m at my peak (4 similar bikes built up, plus a few frames lying around) and I need to ditch a few.
However, John Speare did a great conversion on his 1983 Trek 520 to 650B. You can find lots about it on cyclingspokane.blogspot.com. It’’s become his most ridden bike in the last few months.
Alex,
I have a ”91 RB-T that I would like to swap the frok on (for the same reaons you did). What is the offset for the fork you used and would you try something else if you had the chance?
Thanks,
Michael
Sorry about the late reply on this one. 63-65mm offset works great on the RB-T. I”ve converted multiple of them to have that fork offset (using a new fork).