Vernon Baker build

[BigFoz]

Bought the frame recently from eBay, am picking up components currently for the build. Lovely frame, Tange Prestige Ultralight, Pace RC35 forks. Needed an MTB as I'm doing the Durty Offroad Triathlon at St Mary's Loch next year, and I figured the TT Bike might not be best suited... Did consider a CX bike, but decidced to go with an MTB build.

My main question is - do I build as a 2x9 Campag running a compact on drops (46/34x12-29), a 3x9 (46/34/30x12-29) Campag on drops, or as a trad MTB with flat bars. I have enough spare bits to do the dropped bar builds without buying anything. Will that cause the MTB world to end?

I don't want to put Shimano on it (A) I don't like Shimano due to too many breakages, (B) I have buckets of Campag 9spd spares as I've been upgrading... which is why I'm considering going for drops so I can use spares to build... Essentially, a 26" sturdy CX bike.

 

[BigFoz]

Couple other questions too: I've not built a MTB from scratch before...
1. I'm assuming from my measurements the BB is std English thread triple BB? Nothing fancy or different to a road bike type BB?
2. What's the difference between U/V/Canti brakes and am I able to use any of them?

 

[warpedboy2]

Your forks are on backwards.

 

[Caramba Kid]

1. Yes bb will be std english threaded, however measure the shell width to check it's 68mm or 73mm.

2. your frame/forks will work with cantis or v-brakes, if you're going for drops & ergos then best option is cantis as road levers don't really have enough cable pull for v-brakes.

As has already been mentioned your forks are on back to front
You'll need a Pace Rocker to run cantis on the fork or swap the brake mounts over so they face forward & run a standard headset mounted canti hanger

 

[BigFoz]

Well, that's some excellent advice! Thought the whole axle behind the centre line thing was strange - opposite of what I'd expect on a motorcross bike... Would also make the steering twitchy. Forks were rebuilt just before the sale, and I have the receipt to show, so I assume it's a build foible by PO, and it's not actually been ridden like that. (I hope)

As the brake mounts bolt on, I assume is ok the spin forks through 180 degrees - point stem and caliper mounts in right direction, and assemble?

 

[Kitmech]

That tea looks a nice strong cuppa

 

[stevet1]

or swap the brake mounts over so they face forward & run a standard headset mounted canti hanger

I wouldn't recommend that with boingy forks

You don't need to swap the mounts around as Pace forks usually run the mounts on the rear, so just spin the fork around and turn the stem back to face the front.

As for the axle being in the position that it is currently making the bike feel twitchy, well I'll let that pass for now as I don't have enough time but maybe you should try it - you might ne surprised.

 

[Caramba Kid]

or swap the brake mounts over so they face forward & run a standard headset mounted canti hanger

I wouldn't recommend that with boingy forks

DOH! yeah quite right (blame it on sleep depravation)

Get a Pace canti rocker off Tim @ Fork English 01751 476815 ( or pm him on here - justbackdated)

 

[BigFoz]

Numpty question - if I mount the canti rocker, can I use V-brakes, or does that push me down the canti only route? Luckily I haven't bought any brakes yet...