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Bike project - help! Cantilever brakes?

by saeched
Mon, Jan 04, 2016 15:37
2

Hi there!
So I've been thinking about converting a classic 1996 carbo-steel frame from flat bar mountainbike/hybrid to a cyclocross bike. I understand that it is costly and tricky but I've done the calculations for rake etc and reckon this frame is worth it and the geometry shall be acceptable.

 

Questions:

1) What is needed for a cantilever brake conversion? It already has the centre pull points, but what kind of cabling/braking is required?

2) What's the easiest way to change an integrated fork/stem? I'd like to swap the stem but the original forks are very nice, a steerer tube extension possible?

3) Are cantilever brakes for a specific tyre/fork width? This is designed for a 1.75" tyre with clearance, too wide for canti?

Thanks!

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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2 comments

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Rod Marton | 9 years ago
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1. Canti brakes work with standard road levers and cables, but you will need cable hangers with adjustment screws. If you haven't got fittings for these on the bike, you can fix a rear one on the seqt tube clamp, but it might be difficult to find anywhere to fit a front hanger with an integrated fork. You will need to work that out.

2. I don't know the answer to this one, but one point to bear in mind: you will almost certainly need a shorter stem with drop bars.

3. There is a fair amount of adjustment on canti brakes and this fork width should be fine. However they can be fiddly to set up and you may need to play around for a while to get everything working well. One tip: with Shimano cantis the straddle cable length is pretty much fixed, you might want to use another make where you can vary the straddle cable length to give you an extra degree of freedom.

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hucko003 | 9 years ago
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Hi, 

I'm pretty sure you can get a steerer tube extension but I don't think they are recommended as the forks aren't designed to have them - you'd probably be ok but just bear this in mind. If not, you might need to get new forks...

In terms of braking for a specific tyre, it will all depend on your rim width as that's what is being braked on but I reckon that might just about be ok. 

Not sure re cable conversion

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