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

[Retrorockit]

Have you tried a longer B screw? I'm running 11-40t routinely with old 8/9s derailleurs LX,XT,XTR.. I haven't run a 32/34t in years.
My Zee is the DH version listed for 11-28t. runs 11-42t just fine with a longer screw. The FR 11-36t version runs 11-40 w/o the screw mod. Just didn't try the 42t with that one. SLX B link is the difference between them.

 

[Tootyred]

3 chainrings at the front! Are you mad! It will never catch on...

Why on earth would you want nice, even, confortable ratios between cassette sprockets and the ability to seamlessly fill in any gaps in that AND extend your top and bottom end of those ranges......stupid boy!

No, its far better to gave a half kilo dinner plate bolted to the wheel, with crippling jumps between ratios, making your ride as unpleasant as possible.

Oh...hang on....HANG THE FUTTOCK ON!

 

[Tootyred]

Anyway, i think i have foums a mate with a stash of old 9 speed cassettes he wants shot of.

With a 12/27. Thats nice easy 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 27....then im just going to swap the 23 for a 24 and the 27 for a 28. I've loads of dead cassettes i can use the extremities from that hardly get worn!

That gives me everything i need with the 24/36 up front.

I quite agree the easiest solution would be add some new 10 or 9 speed derailleurs and kit, but then I wouldn't have bothered adding the cantilevers .

Its not about ultimate functionality....its more about running with a theme.

If i can't live with the front mech...if it keeps staring at me, i might just go triple and bung on a m732 front! . But then i would need smaller tyres, which im not really wanting to trade.

Its all for shits and giggles really.

 

[Tootyred]

The other thing is that thus is costing me basically nothing...as most of this is frankly useless old kit laying around the shed or that I've badgered people to give me!

New kit, especially 10 speed + seems very spendy atm.

 

[Takingabreak]

no urge to fit a hub gear?

 

[Tootyred]

Ive never had rohloff, but hear they are very good.

I did have a twin speed rear hub, that combined with both front and rear mechs to give a huge gear range. Super weirdo setup!

 

[Tootyred]

Ive really taken to this bike. Its kinda easy to ride and live with...plus i kinda like the retro elements. Its also good to use up some old kit, instead of it clogging up the cupboard!

However, after the last few...failed....attempts to sort some gearing, I've made a massive retrograde step....one I'm very happy with.

The bigger ratio dinner plate cassettes are not for me, the jumps are too big....sorry im not a down hill racer and I like to enjoy my riding, not feel like im either in a spin class or grinding far to high a gear.

The 12 28 9 speed cassette i built is fab, in fact i might swap my tourer over to similar if i can find more new 12 27s to convert.

However, this means you need a small bail out ring....see last incarnation.

But, i realised i was getting away from the retro concept and really hated the modern 2x xt front mech. Sadly an old xt m735 wouldn't work as it hit the chainstay / tyre.

Then I can across the 35c vittoria mezcals. I use the 26 x 2.1 on my marin...they are fantastic. 200g lighter, and give derailleur room. Just a shade narrower than the suposed 40mm nanos.....which aren't btw.

So , it then became a no brainer to add the retro mech. So to avoid the chainstay.....yes you guessed it. Im adding a third ring! . 44t just moves the mech to the right spot. High enough to clear the chainstay and low enough to clear the tyre.....

Winner winner chicken dinner.....

 

[Tootyred]

Ive also slimed the tubes....ive swapped to 99g lightweight tubes, over the 160g continentals, the slime weighs 78g so its about equal.

The mezcal are 200g lighter than the nanos, but as with all modern tubeless ready tyres, the cases are thin (i assume the sealant stops the issue of punctures when tubeless) so im happy to get a bit of protection from thorns too.

Again like a lot of tubeless tyres these are tight! Considering these old rims are loose as a......well you choose a simile....and that most tyres ive ever used on them over the last 20 years fall on and off....these are tight.

God knows how you get them onto a tight tubeless rim like the r460s i had recently.

 

[Tootyred]

In other news, ive ditched the front rack. It was causing some interesting handling. I think because of the already fairly high trail figure, adding weight to the front was making to very unwilling to turn in. If you had a low to mid trail bike, front would deffo be the way to go.

Finally ive decided to go full retro and xt...as far as possible. So, ive ditched the xtr chainset and used an old m730 that came to me completely foobar'ed.

So out with the polishing kit...and grinder to start with.... Stupidly i forgot to get a start photo...so the first is after cutting all the damage out ready for polishing.

But 3 hours later im happy....all back together.

Now just need a bit better weather to get out and enjoy it more.

 

[widowmaker]

Bugger, I had my eye on this