In the Mariposa Workshop we recently built a Randonneur bike for an old friend and customer from the U.S. He asked for a fully equipped bike and left much of the component selection and frame design up to Mike Barry Sr. The paint scheme is similar to Mike Sr.’s road bike which is based on a bike he liked when he was a young boy growing up in Wimbledon, UK. The customer decided it was fitting to have his bike painted the same. The mudguards and pump were painted to match. If Mike Sr. were to build himself another touring bike, this would be it.
The frame was built to fit the rider with traditional touring geometry. It was decided the bike would be made to fit 650 B 42c wheels and tires as they have proven to be some of the most comfortable to ride over a long journey over varied terrain and road surface.
Aside from the frame, which is made with a mixture of lightweight Columbus and True Temper standard size tubing, much of the Randonneur Mariposa was made in the workshop: the carriers, mudguard stays, bottle cages, stem, and decalleur are all custom, and made uniquely for this bike. We start with aviation tubing, bend it on a tube bender, and braze them together. They are all chrome plated for durability. In the workshop we machine bosses to fit the carriers and stays cleanly and securely to the frame. Tabs are brazed to the stays and fastened to mudguard so nothing will rattle. Tabs are also brazed to the fork crown to which the mudguard is fastened to eliminate eye-bolts etc.
The wiring for the Son generator and Schmidt lights runs through the tubing in the carrier, through the frame and fork and into the bead of the rear mudguard. The internal wiring gives the bicycle a clean look and protects the wires from damage.
Like many of the Mariposa touring bikes we’ve built over the last forty years, we are sure this one will be taken on some wonderful trips through the countryside.
Specifications:
Rear Derailleur: Campagnolo Athena 11 Speed – Silver
Front Derailleur: Campagnolo Athena Triple Silver Braze-on
Crankset: Campagnolo Athena Triple
Chain Ring: Campagnolo Athena Triple 50-34-24
Cassette: Campagnolo Athena 11 Speed
Chain: Campagnolo Chorus 11 Speed
Bottom Bracket: Campagnolo Athena
Gear/Brake Levers: Campagnolo Athena 11 Speed – silver
Brake calipers: Paul Center pull
Headset: Chris King 2nut
Stem: Mariposa Custom steel
Handlebar: Nitto Classic
Seatpost: Nitto S83 27. 2 Dynamic
Front Skewer: Campagnolo Chorus, Silver
Rear Skewer: Campagnolo Chorus, Silver
Rims Grand Bois Rim 650 B 32H
Front Hub: SON Delux Wide Body
Rear Hub: Chris King R45 Rear Campagnolo hub
Spokes: DT Swiss
Wheel build: Labor
Tires: Grand Bois 650B x 42 mm tires
Tubes: Scwalbe 650 B
Bottle Cages: Mariposa Custom steel
Handlebar Tape: Gilles Berthoud Tape
Bar Ends: Compass
Saddle: Gilles Berthoud Aspin Natural
Fenders: Honjo
Front Light: Schmidt Edelux II – Polished
Tail Light: Schmidt B&M Secula Plus for fender
Pump: Lezyne HP painted to match
