Just got my hands on a Kona rove AL at a fantastic price from my LBS, I've made a few subtle additions and today discovered the brakes a little lack luster probably due to my love of pies would prefer to keep cable.operated as I can keep my levers they're currently Hayes cx I believe


It's only got a single mount on the front fork so limits my bolt on cage options

and I'm looking for some full mudguards if anyone has some recommendations so far I think the best option I've found is some velo orange snakeskin 50mm ones that should provide decent coverage and fit the bike with a bit of tinkering.

Mudguards - wise, I'm liking my Stonglights - https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m19b2s80p0/ ... /Mudguards 48mm gives coverage for up to 45mm tyres. If you need bigger then 53mm SKS (or 60's even) are the way to go. Those Velo Oranges look good but are well spendy, heavy and will self destruct after hard use I think - alloy isn't the best material for something that is going to get bent at some point - chrome plastic is the way to go.

Just a counterpoint on the VO mudguards - i'm on my 4th season of using a pair and they are excellent. Strong, much less flexy and rattly than SKS chromoplastics i've got on another bike, and easy to set up. The main advantage is the design of the stays giving better clearance for the tyres, and mine are long too, especially at the front (esp. in combination with a mudflap), keeping more spray away from the chainset/my feet from the front wheel. In the larger widths they are comparable in weight to chromoplastics too (SKS 45mm = 592g, VO 45mm smooth = 600g). Does depend on the style of finish on the VO guards. For me the advantages far outweigh a modest weight penalty. Just my tuppence anyway...

Brakes - try some bigger rotors, if you can, before changing calipers? After that, go cable actuated hydraulic - TRP?

boxelder wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:42 pm Brakes - try some bigger rotors, if you can, before changing calipers? After that, go cable actuated hydraulic - TRP?

I think the cable actuated aTRP may be the route to go down for me, I'm hopefully going to get some bars more suited to me for Christmas this year so will look to do the brakes etc at same time as will fit zero compression cables at same time

Mitomaniac wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:49 pm I think the cable actuated aTRP may be the route to go down for me

Cable TRP's are great if you like adjusting brakes.