The thread for everyone building a cross/gravel/monstercross

[Ben98]

I keep checking back in here, really looking forward to the frame showing up... Nearly time :?

It is getting towards time to choose some tyres though... I want fat-ish ones that will work tubeless.

Oooo, what frame are you getting??

Surly Straggler. Cant wait.

Dismantling my road bike to build all the parts into it, with a couple of chops and changes (like wheels)

In the fetching purple?

[FLV]

In the fetching purple?

'Glitter Dreams'

...apparently!

[composite]

This may be moon on stick but are there any drop bars that will still work with MTB brakes and shifters?

I'm kind of curious about putting a drop bar on my new 29er for the gravel race and I would splash to a new stem but I'm not replacing the brakes and shifters as well.

[restlessshawn]

Try Mary bars upside down and tape them up, works really well. I did this on my 26er for a bit to pretend it was a cross bike for an adventure triathlon

[Ben98]

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/HBOOMU/on_o ... _handlebar
I spose you could use the front curves of these like the drops of any other drop bar?
You'd need a short stem though, to bring the drops back a bit

[composite]

Try Mary bars upside down and tape them up, works really well. I did this on my 26er for a bit to pretend it was a cross bike for an adventure triathlon

I used to run Mary bars upside on my 26er as well. Used to love it for commuting but found it a bit twitchy off road. Good idea though, I hadn't thought of it for this.

[restlessshawn]

Fitted the forks this morning after they made a brief visit to my kitchen scales, 496g!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Fitted the forks this morning after they made a brief visit to my kitchen scales, 496g!

I wish you hadn't done this ... I decided to follow suit and now I'm quite scared because my forks weigh 440g and I've still got to cut the steerer down

[restlessshawn]

440 yikes!

yeah i haven't cut the steerer yet either

I was hoping to get a sub 20lb build but I think I will have blown it with the square taper bottom bracket and wire bead tyres

[restlessshawn]

This may be moon on stick but are there any drop bars that will still work with MTB brakes and shifters?

I'm kind of curious about putting a drop bar on my new 29er for the gravel race and I would splash to a new stem but I'm not replacing the brakes and shifters as well.

Soma Sparrow might be worth a look too

[Zippy]

The carbon forks on my Cross bike (Kinesis CxD to go with Crosslight Pro6) are 500g if that helps

[Ben98]

The alloy fork on my bike is 660g, which im quite happy with for a £65 fork, and its got a nice round profile to take a monkii clip aswell :D

[restlessshawn]

Just finished building it, 21lb so not too bad, maiden voyage and pics tomorrow

[restlessshawn]

Quick spin this morning. Like it :)

[Ray Young]

Looking good Shaun, I like it. .

[Ben98]

Ive just flipped my stem to bring the front end up a bit for better offroading and more comfort on longer road rides :)
Does anyone know why my brake levers are really stiff now that ive just put new brakes on? It feels like the springs are being wound tighter than they should be and so are making levers hard to pull and spring back with force? Should i just unscrew the springs a fair bit on each brake arm?
Cheers
Ben

[slarge]

Ben
if you pull the cable (where it is bare wire) is it still stiff? If no then you have kinked the cables or bent them too tight when taping up etc. If yes then there's a restriction nearer to the brake. Do the brake caliper bits move freely when you push them at the brake end?

Or have you mixed the road caliper, mtb lever up so the pull ratio is wrong?

[ScotRoutes]

Ive just flipped my stem to bring the front end up a bit for better offroading and more comfort on longer road rides :)

The stem on my Amazon is flipped up for off-road and down for longer road rides (where aero is more important)

[Ben98]

Ben
if you pull the cable (where it is bare wire) is it still stiff? If no then you have kinked the cables or bent them too tight when taping up etc. If yes then there's a restriction nearer to the brake. Do the brake caliper bits move freely when you push them at the brake end?

Or have you mixed the road caliper, mtb lever up so the pull ratio is wrong?

Hi there, im certain there's no cabling issues, and im pretty sure that its the springs on the brake arms being too tight, but i dont want to undo the spring screws too far, but i think thats the only option (or atleast to try)
Thanks for the ideas, i'll certainly have a double check
ATB
Ben

[slarge]

Ben, in that case have a good look at the brake caliper pivots - a quick strip clean and grease could resolve your issue?

[Cheeky Monkey]

Seeing as On One / Planet X are selling Versa STI levers to run an Alfine 11 then I have decided to build an ugly / freek bike like the rest of you

Dialled Bikes L/H
On One carbon forks
Mary bars
STIs
BB7s
Any old chainset
Alfine 11

Trouble is it'll be in 26" flavour

No damn way I'm doing a gravel race on it (or any other bike TBH)

If it all works maybe I'll pick up a 29 frame and get the Alfine11 re-rimmed.

[Ben98]

Finally fixed my baby, new brakes, cables, orange cable sleeves and wheels :)

[FLV]

Finally, it arrived. So I built it, put 42c tyres in. Bigger would fit.

Just need to pop some pedals on and do some miles before settling on a stem position.

[ScotRoutes]

Out on the Amazon today to see what the tracks are like round Rothiemurchus. Plenty of drifting in the soft, wet snow. Not quite time for the spiky Marathons yet though!


1398098_10151825773658507_695340130_o by ScotRoutes, on Flickr

[Bearbonesnorm]

Done ... nearly. Just awaiting a new stem.