Custom 650B Gravel - Porteur - Commuter

This was a long-time dream project — to design a frame that could be built up for purposes ranging from gravel-grinding, to centuries, to fully loaded touring (including touring overseas) It needed to have disc brakes to support tires ranging from 26x2.1", 650x42b, or 700x25c (all have similar overall diameters). It needed adjustable dropouts to support single-speed, belt drive, and to simply play with chainstay length (short point of 420mm, long point of 445mm) It needed a flat top tube to maintain a classic porteur style look. It needed S&S couplers to travel without extra baggage fees It needed to be strong enough to handle being throw around by baggage handlers in a box and also to support 100lbs of cargo This is the result. Frame front triangle is double OS True Temper Plat OX (8/5/8), rear triangle is straight guage. Frame is no weight weenie at about 6lbs flat, but it handles beautifully fully loaded and is probably stiffer than could possibly be needed unloaded (but the 650x40 tires make for a pretty plush ride). A rohloff belt-drive setup is probably in this bike's future to have a low-maintenance and grease-free travel setup.