Drop bar MTb question

[benseddon]

So I'm finally getting round to putting some drop bars on my MTb. Purchased a set of 2nd hand sti's for £30 and stem, quill to ahead stem adaptor and bars are all the in the post. Christmas is coming early for me :xmas-big-grin:

A bit confused as to how to fit the cantilever brakes to the sti's. The stem that is currently on the bike also has a hole through it which acts as the cable hanger/guide and my new stem doesn't. I did look all over t'interweb for a stem that has a similar hole but wasnt able to find one.

Is there an aftermarket cable hanger I can buy or will I be able to get away with running the cable over the top of the new stem so that the brake cable is straight??

http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/product ... ble-hanger

Is this what I would need??

 

[mattr]

Yes, as long as your forks have a drilled crown.

 

[benseddon]

The fork crown is drilled but with a 2.2 tyre on the front I'm not sure if there is enough room.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/113949688 ... otostream/

I've seen that you can get stem mounted cable hangers. Would I be better of with one of those?

 

[mattr]

Not sure i follow? How would there not be enough room? What has the tyre size got to do with that?
Unless you mean for the straddle, which looks hellish high at the moment anyway, worst case you have to drop your straddle a bit, which will probably be a good thing. (straddle should *normally* sit underneath the gear cables, not on top as you have them)

And yes, you can get steerer mounted cable hangers (they replace the washer between cup and lock nut) in the headset. Or stem mounted in various flavours. Personally i'd not go to a stem mounted, as every time you move your stem, you need to adjust the brakes.

 

[Rampage]

You might have to use a thin steel steerer mounted one to replace the existing washer, there probably isn't enough thread to use an aluminium one.
Or you can use an aluminium one that clamps to the stem quill.

I don't like the first mount you linked, I'd always be worried it would get knocked and affect the brakes.

 

[mattr]

You'd have to knock it WAY off centre to stop it re-centring itself when you pull the brakes.
I've been using one for two years without knocking it once.

 

[benseddon]

Not sure i follow? How would there not be enough room? What has the tyre size got to do with that?
Unless you mean for the straddle, which looks hellish high at the moment anyway, worst case you have to drop your straddle a bit, which will probably be a good thing. (straddle should *normally* sit underneath the gear cables, not on top as you have them)

It was the straddle that I meant. Excuse my technical ignorance

To my mind though, it just looked like if I fitted the hanger and moved the straddle down the cables might catch on the tyre but having just moved the hanger down I realise I was talking out of my arse

So which would be better, a stem mounted hanger or a fork mounted one??

 

[mattr]

A) what can you get from your LBS?
B) what do you prefer the look of?

As far as workings go, the only issue i found with the stem/steerer mounted ones was clearance under the stem for the cable and fork judder, but you are *probably* going to end up with a fairly high stem (high enough anyway!) and steel steerer forks are incredibly unlikely to suffer from judder, its usually lightweight carbon forks that have this.

 

[benseddon]

Lbs stocks the same hanger as the link I posted, fork mounted and at £7. Just been browsing on the 'Bay and seen stem mounted ones for as little as £3.

I think what I'm going to do is spunk £10 on both of them and seen which I prefer.

Thanks for your advice mattr, much appreciated!!

 

[Ollie]

http://store.velo-orange.com/index.php/ ... lease.html
This could work .