92 team marin......well....almost....

[Suprachrgd82]

Cantilevers with brake booster/arches

 

[Tootyred]

Well thats really bad design Mr Marin...

On these models, the stops are welded to the head tube, not further down the down tube. I can only assume as they wanted to avoid the ditched tubing.

Problem is, the cables hit the cantilever brake cable with very little steering. Now I know this is true on most bikes, but, as the cables are rooted so close to the head, there is very little give in them. If they were fixed further down there would be more give and slop.

Its also aggravated my plans to use a fork mount brake hanger, to try to alleviate some brake judder from having such a massive headtube setup.

Good thing I didn't use a roller stem too .

This might be swaying me towards the v brake option....

 

[Tootyred]

Its been a week of 2 halves.....which is tricky with 7 days....

I made a decision to go with modernity, ease and stopping...so fitted the xt t780 v brakes and some nice shimano levers ......

 

[Tootyred]

Then I rode it a bit and realised that actually....as im not entering the downhill national mtb team any time soon, that actually the XTR M900 ones work frankly just as well!

I ride so slow these days I don't really need brakes anyway.

Plus, they look pretty.....

 

[benjabbi]

It's not my bike and you can do what you like but you have made the correct choice!
In all seriousness I think well set up cantis are just as effective as V's and tend to feel nicer at the lever too. Just my opinion.

 

[27motorhead]

Good choice! Although those new XT V's didn't look too out of place either!

 

[Takingabreak]

Then I rode it a bit and realised that actually....as im not entering the downhill national mtb team any time soon, that actually the XTR M900 ones work frankly just as well!

I ride so slow these days I don't really need brakes anyway.

Plus, they look pretty.....

If those V brakes are now surplus to requirements and need a new home then please do let me know, I'm happy to take those modern things off your hands

 

[Rotorhead]

Then I rode it a bit and realised that actually....as im not entering the downhill national mtb team any time soon, that actually the XTR M900 ones work frankly just as well!

I ride so slow these days I don't really need brakes anyway.

Plus, they look pretty.....

Correct decision.

 

[Tootyred]

So stem.....well thats hard....but will be easy.

Ive found a 35o x 90 one which im starting with.

The idea is to work out exactly what i need, as low as i can comfortably go, then, once i have that info source a better one and cut the steer.

Im going to leave at least 30mm over, to allow for the possibly of my worsening back being an issue.

So now it just needs to stop raining enough to put some miles on it to see

 

[Tootyred]

So....its been over a month.

Ive tried various stems and put in quite a lot if miles testing each set up and seeing how it effects my back on the ride and more importantly a couple of days after!

I've been using whatever stems have been knocking about the workshop with varying heights and reach, with mountains of spacers making up the steerer at present, till I know where to cut! See smaller thumbnails for a few options....

Going with my demand for a bike i can ride in on all surfaces* and for long periods without fatigue or back problems....ive ended up here....see big picture.

However, its not a nice stem, its fugly as fug in my opinion and hardly fits with the retro or steel is real ethos.

So, lets now solve those issues too!

Watch this space....





*I encounter on a day to day basis, im unlikely to be doing ice riding or K2 summit any time soon!