Mod retro conversion....the ultimate 80s trackie.

[Tootyred]

Decided i needed a bit of carrying capacity.....not much, just a bit.

So ive built myself a new front rack out of an old one!

Took an old blackburn rack that had been bent up at some point made for drop out fixing.

Cut of the front braces, heated and bent the remaining stays to the right angle and shortened them for a fork mounting position.

With the cut off bits made 2 new braces for the rear and some extra top support to stop my coat/ bag hitting the tyre.

Made some simple round bar eyes to fix it to the forks.

Simples....

 

[Tootyred]

Its been a month. Been out for lots of rides...short and long. Including a couple of 50 mile + jobbies. The picture below is the bike where i started after the last few posts...but stuff has had to change.

1st was the saddle....fine short trips...longer not. Now using a specialized sonoma.

2nd i didn't like the empty outer chainring mount..it looked untidy..unfinished...so ive fitted a n aluminium chain guard. Neat solution.

3rd gearing....it was always going to be a fly in the ointment. The basic issue is the gaps on a reasonable spread 9 speed cassette are just too large to be confortable. Plus, the bail out is a bit feeble after a long day...or I am!

Im not going 10 speed which would iron out the issues as i then cant use the xt mech as its not compatible in terms of pull or max capacity and i really want to hang onto it. Plus i would need new shifters and chain too.

So i started looking at adding a bail out 24t inner ring. Problem is without the outer ring, none of the derailleurs i have fit...not that any fitted due to the tyre clearance and hitting the chainstay anyway!

The answer ive come up with is to add a xt m785 front mech made for 2x setup. These are designed for smaller outer rings of "modern" mtbs. Brill. Problem was when fitted it still hit the tyre. Solution is to use an eccentric mount rubber...or im my case several bits. It works really well.

At present I've added a 9 speed xt shifter to match the rear, but im thinking of possibly going back to thumbies and 8 speed 11-28. Which would be far more retro.

Although 9speed 12-27 gives a lovely even and tight range and the 24 inner supplies a great bailout.

Need to think on it more.

 

[Tootyred]

Ive also ditched the fast/light nanos, in favour of the older 50g heaver wire bead version.

The casing on the fast lights is incredibly thin....to the point of getting punctures every ride! As they are tubeless ready, i assume set up like that the problem goes away....sadly the wheels, nor the owner are "tubeless ready".

The much cheaper wire beads I rode to work every time for 18 months without one issue!

Just goes to show how much difference a casing can make.

 

[Retrorockit]

You can go to 10s derailleur cable pull with SRAM shifter for 8,9s. The 10,11s SRAM and Shimano cable pull is the same. SRAM never changed.
My bike is a lot different. But I've run up to 31t total capacity on an SS cage derailleur. Zee M640 in my case.

 

[Tootyred]

Its not the derailleur capacity im strugging with its that its only desighed for 32t max cog......34t worked.....just..... a bit grindy on 34t cog.

If i went 10 speed, it would allow 36t cog with a good spread, but the derailleur wont do 36t for sure sadly.

 

[winjohn]

Its not the derailleur capacity im strugging with its that its only desighed for 32t max cog......34t worked.....just..... a bit grindy on 34t cog.

If i went 10 speed, it would allow 36t cog with a good spread, but the derailleur wont do 36t for sure sadly.

Interesting to read your various upgrades to get the bike set up just right for you. I have sadly not ridden my CdF very often up to now but mean to get on it more.

Would a wolf tooth adapter work to increase the largest cog capacity for the rear mech?

 

[Tootyred]

Probably..I think, but thats kinda solved with the additional 24t ring now tbh.

Its more if i want to more traditional and shove the 8 speed suntour xc pro thumbies back on or stick with the 9 speed shifters....which are easier to use tbh!

Btw, how do you find those continental crosscountry xc tyres @winjohn or have they not been on another bike yet?

 

[winjohn]

Haven't really been able to use them much...but no punctures

 

[Tootyred]

Ok cool. Just wondered if you had had them before...as they were on my option list. Im told the puncture protection is not as good as things like contact urban...but obviously they have a bit more outer tread.

 

[Takingabreak]

I think it needs more cogs on the front. I mean, how amazing would it be if it had three on the front?

Three up front and 9 out back and XT mechs, what more could anyone want

EDIT - and a couple of slime filled innertubes