Need advice modding a Cross bike with MTB (and Road) parts
bjs198
Posts: 27
Okay, so I rent a VERY small flat in central London, so small infact that all my bikes are down with my parents & mates a few hours from here as I only have space for one 
I got thinking about what I miss most and started to build my 'do-it-all-within-reason' machine which I have been using for the last year.
Its a cross bike using cantis... but basically the braking is just not good enough with the cantis I'm using and I really dislike STI shifters. So I was thinking about using mini Vees... has anyone got any advise about the best mini Vees & lever combo, or any other ideas to that matter. I cannot use Calipers due to the nature of the build.
If I do change to mini Vees will I need to rething the gearing? If so I was considering getting some of those indexed bar end shifters and using an areo bar instead. I dont like STI shifters anyway lol.
Thought the MTB section would be the best place to start...
Cheers all
Barney
Other info in case you were interested
It started as a new Kona Jake 2008 off the interwebz (damn hard to find). After cycling it as a touring bike across France last year I got to know how it rode and decided I really liked the frame & handling. I then took it 'off road' along the thames path to Richmond and it owned pretty much all other bikes I met, just cant match it for speed and handling along the paths. For a fast ride from London to Bristol last month I added a set of Columbus carbon touring forks, a set or Rodi Airline wheels with slicks to hot swap with the Cross wheels, replaced the top cross brakes with carbon lovlies (the alu ones got too cold and uncomfortable) and re-equipped the mechs with 105. Oh yeah, 2 months ago I replaced the Avid Shorties (4 i think) with Frogleggs, thought they were crap so changed back and got some Koolstop salmon which are pretty decent butnot great.
So right now I feel I'm almost there, I have a bike which can handle pretty much all the terrain I (need to) throw at and it and has about 3 or 4 different setups which take about 30 minutes to rebuild. The spare parts also lay under my bed so no worries about space
My only issue is the braking and the gear shifting. Braking = too weak, gear shifting = personal preference for disliking STIs.
Remember I don't have the privilage of being able to house more than one bike, and it's good fun stuff to think about anyway
Much thanks
Barney[/img]
I got thinking about what I miss most and started to build my 'do-it-all-within-reason' machine which I have been using for the last year.
Its a cross bike using cantis... but basically the braking is just not good enough with the cantis I'm using and I really dislike STI shifters. So I was thinking about using mini Vees... has anyone got any advise about the best mini Vees & lever combo, or any other ideas to that matter. I cannot use Calipers due to the nature of the build.
If I do change to mini Vees will I need to rething the gearing? If so I was considering getting some of those indexed bar end shifters and using an areo bar instead. I dont like STI shifters anyway lol.
Thought the MTB section would be the best place to start...
Cheers all
Barney
Other info in case you were interested
It started as a new Kona Jake 2008 off the interwebz (damn hard to find). After cycling it as a touring bike across France last year I got to know how it rode and decided I really liked the frame & handling. I then took it 'off road' along the thames path to Richmond and it owned pretty much all other bikes I met, just cant match it for speed and handling along the paths. For a fast ride from London to Bristol last month I added a set of Columbus carbon touring forks, a set or Rodi Airline wheels with slicks to hot swap with the Cross wheels, replaced the top cross brakes with carbon lovlies (the alu ones got too cold and uncomfortable) and re-equipped the mechs with 105. Oh yeah, 2 months ago I replaced the Avid Shorties (4 i think) with Frogleggs, thought they were crap so changed back and got some Koolstop salmon which are pretty decent butnot great.
So right now I feel I'm almost there, I have a bike which can handle pretty much all the terrain I (need to) throw at and it and has about 3 or 4 different setups which take about 30 minutes to rebuild. The spare parts also lay under my bed so no worries about space
My only issue is the braking and the gear shifting. Braking = too weak, gear shifting = personal preference for disliking STIs.
Remember I don't have the privilage of being able to house more than one bike, and it's good fun stuff to think about anyway
Much thanks
Barney[/img]
0
Comments
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and i guess you are not willing to change the bars?
I think you may be better asking in the road section as it will involve STIs
have a read http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15596158"Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
Parktools :?:SheldonBrown0 -
Cheers Nick, I'll post the same in the Road section.
Intresting read that, seems to be the general concensus that STIs work best with Caliper, end of! I'm not really up for getting those travel agents as I'm not that attached to the STI shifters.
Just a thought though, let's say I were to remove the STIs and replace them with the bar end shifters, thats fine but it would leave me brake less... so I get a set of Mini V's and a pair of brake levers - do you think I need to be careful what I buy or do you think any brake lever (within reason) should work a Mini Vee?0 -
better idea, build a monster cross bike... the true do it all bike.0
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have a look on sjs cyles they sell a tektro road lever designed to work with v brakes,as for shifters the only ones around for shimano are dura ace down tube ones0
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nicklouse wrote:I think you may be better asking in the road section as it will involve STIs
So thats why the roadie lot are so narky!0
