making my Giant SCR 2 a little more tour friendly

deal

Hi I have never toured before but im thinking of giving it a try this summer, i dont want to buy a new bike without first knowing if it will get much use. Therefore my giant scr 2 which i have been using/abusing as my winter bike will have to do the job.

Current Specs:
9 speed Tiagra shifters, Tiagra front and rear deraileurs
30/42/52 FSA chainset ( this needs replacing anyway, crank arm keeps coming loose and bb is on its way out)
12-25 cassette

This is my currently line of thinking...
use Ultegra brakes from my other bike
buy a 26/38/48 mtb chainset
use the LX rear deraileur from my mtb and buy a 11-34 cassette and revert to 11-23 (or 11-21) when back in road use next winter

Are there any issues using the road derailleur with a mtb chainset ?
Is 26-34 a low enough ratio? I planning to tour Ireland solo for a few weeks, mainly camping so will be carrying some weight.

Im also concened about the wheels, I replaced the pretty useless standard alex wheels with fulcrum racing 5 evo wheels sometime ago but surely these are not suitable for touring, so would be greatfull for any wheel suggestions.

Ok so thanks for reading, would be greatfull for any advice.

redddraggon

Road triple mech should be fine with a 26/38/48 chainset - that's not really a MTB triple anyway even though it's badged as part of a MTB groupset - it's more of a hybrid/touring chainset (so it's ideal)

deal

thats that cleared up then. cheers

psmiffy

I would have thought that the frame would be too flexible - probably similar to my FCR - I was forced to use FCR for commuting while I had a new wheel made for my normal bike - flex destroved the rack with just the weight of my briecase

deal

My other bike is a carbon framed bike with no bosses for racks/guards and a much more racy geometry. A long sportive is about the furthest i would want to ride it, so its either the SCR or nothing im afraid

Can i ask what rack you used and from which material was it made from? if aluminium perhaps i would have better luck with steel?

psmiffy

It was aluminium rated to 25kg (thats what it says on the top) identical to the one on my steel urban mtb that i have totally abused with no ill effects- tesco shopping etc

deal

thanks for the warning but I think im going to just go for it and see what happens

just read this blog written by the poster andyjp who has on occasion posted on these forums, he rode to Rome on an SCR 3 and judging from this picture it seems he didnt go ultralight so this gives me hope! One of his companions also rode an FCR 2.

amaferanga

I can't see how there'd enough flex in the frame of an SCR to destroy a rack.

I did a week long tour a couple of years back carrying camping stuff (probably had about as much stuff as the guy in the above picture) with my SCR2.0. I did swap the rear wheel for a Mavic A319, but apart from that it was standard. I'd have thought that swapping out the cassette for an 11-34 using the LX mech would give you low enough gearing.

crafty

I had a pair of Mavic 719s made up for my SCR2 for last year's Summer tour. The bike faired very well indeed..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/ ... mavic3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/ ... mavic2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/ ... mavic4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/ ... rip02b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/ ... Trip05.jpg

I now have a 10 year old Dawes Galaxy ready and waiting for this year's trips. My only gripe with the Giant is with the short frame, my heels were prone to hitting the panniers unless they were fixed way back on the rack.

As I have the Galaxy..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/ ... da8c-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v139/ ... e82047.jpg

..I may be looking to get rid of the Mavics from my SCR2 and refit the original lighter wheels. They've done around 300 miles. i just fitted a standard 25 quid ally rack to the Giant. It was fine, as were the guards.

Ed

deal

thankyou for the posts, things are looking promising but i guess i had better check my heel clearance

Crafty, how much would you want for the wheels if you decide to sell? you can pm me if you prefer.

crafty

I'll have a think and let you know.

Ed