1983 Lennard Zinn 650B
Lennard Zinn built this all-purpose bike for his mother-in-law in 1983, when he was starting out as a frame builder. Lennard had recently spent time in the Redwood City, CA shop of Tom Ritchey, and had come home to Colorado with Tom's first 650B bike. Inspired by this wheel size, Lennard would go on to build a handful of bikes using this wheel system. The bikes used Super Champion rims from France, where the 650B size was commonly found on city, touring, and tandem bikes. Tires were Michelin Tandem with minimal tread, and were imported and available from Specialized Bicycle Company. The ultra-small frame has a toptube of just 46 cm (18 inches) and uses a generous rake of the fork blades to prevent interference with the rider's toes. The components are typical of the era, with Campagnolo Record high-flange hubs thrown in for a bit of class.
The Build
Year: 1983
S/N: N/A Frame: Lennard Zinn 650B Fork: Lennard Zinn Biplane Stem: Specialized ATB Headset: Specialized Bottom Bracket: Suntour Cartridge Bearing Handlebar: Specialized ATB Shifters: Suntour Power Shifters Front Derailleur: Suntour Mountech Rear Derailleur: Suntour Mountech Brake Levers: Shimano Deore XT M700 Front Brake: Dia Compe 980 Rear Brake: Dia Compe 980 Crankset: Sugino AT Chainrings: Sugino 26-36-46 Pedals: Suntour XC-II Hubs: Campagnolo Record High Flange Rims: Super Champion 650B Tires: Michelin Tandem 650B Wheel QR: Campagnolo Super Record Seatpost: Les Usines Laprade Seatpost QR: Specialized Saddle: Brooks Professional Grips: Grab On Cogs: Suntour Winner Pro 13-28 Chain: Sachs Bottle Cage: REG |