Cantis with longer caliper arms for 700c on MRB frame?

[ImprezaDrvr]

I'm trying to build up a cross bike but Wifey's not digging the idea. So I'm attempting to be creative and re-use my old steel mountain bike frame. Question is this: Are there cantilever brakes that will reach from the brake bosses on a mountain bike frame to the rim of a 700c wheel? My idea is to get all parts outside of the frame this season and hopefully get a frame in the winter sometime. I want to be able to move everything (except these brakes if they exist) over to a new frame when the time comes.

So, do they exist?

Edit: Dammit. Screwed up the thread title. Sorry 'bout that.

[islenska]

why not just use your v-brakes with travel agents?

and are you sure that 700c wheels will fit on your frame?

[ImprezaDrvr]

why not just use your v-brakes with travel agents?

and are you sure that 700c wheels will fit on your frame?
Yeah, 700c will fit with enough clearance for cross tires. Already checked that.

You've never tried to find obscure parts for a project bike before? This is part of the fun!

[jim-bob]

why not just use your v-brakes with travel agents?

and are you sure that 700c wheels will fit on your frame?

Travel agents are icky. I've currently got a pair on my monkey, and I'm really not liking the bends and crimps they introduce into the cabling.

[brooklyn]

check out pauls pauls moto bmx (http://www.paulcomp.com/) v-brakes. I was thinking of doing the same for my mountain bike.

[ImprezaDrvr]

check out pauls pauls moto bmx (http://www.paulcomp.com/) v-brakes. I was thinking of doing the same for my mountain bike.

That kicks ass. Really, really cool. But pricey for what I'm trying to do, and requires travel agents. But, it's a possibility.

Edit: the dislaimer on the page for these says that drop levers are fine for 700c, which tells me that I wouldn't need a travel agent. Very interesting, assuming I'm reading it right.

[darkmother]

Not much help, but I pass a guy on my way to work this morning riding a Bontrager OR MTB frame that was converted for cross duty with 700C wheels and drop bars. He had an aluminum arch on the front fork and rear stay that bolted to the cantilever post bosses, and looped over the tire (imagine a suspension fork arch bolted to your frame). Another pair of canti pivots were mounted to the arch, higher up to accomodade the larger 700 C rim. These arches looked like a commercial product-although it would be easy to make some too-just get some 1/4" aluminum plate and cut them out. I didn't get a chance to ask him where he got them. If I see him again I'll stop him and ask.

[brooklyn]

you should call paul components and ask them if thet will work with your drop levers. dia comp makes a v brake lever for roadies. check harriscyclery.com

[Lectron]

you should call paul components and ask them if thet will work with your drop levers. dia comp makes a v brake lever for roadies. check harriscyclery.com

..Or you could just check their web site and see that they do. ;)

[brooklyn]

you could do that too.

[dragonflybikes]

Here I am to save the day! (from mighty nouse) I have actually done this to my old Trek 3 tube carbon mtn bike. The way I did it is very inexpensive. I took a piece of aluminum probably about 1/8 inch thick, and about 1/2 inch wide. I cut it into the proper lengths and drilled holes. I mounted it to the brake arms like I would the brake pads and the mounted the brake pads on the aluminum. It may not make sense but I will take a picture of it and post it so that you can see. It works great and I don't need any travel agent with my old Campy ergolevers. By the way if the metal scrap yard charges you for the metal it would be less than a dollar, and then you have the cost of the screws and nuts and washers, less than a dollar or two.

The biggest issue is that it will take a few rides to get use to the handling of the bike. However my bike works great. I even have road tires on it right now as I just broke my road bike frame and I am waiting for my new bike to come in. Roadies give me a stange look when they see me riding with them on the road with a front suspension fork :) (Keep in mind that I am a roadie too) I love taking my bike on forest roads.

I should be able to get you some good pics for you later today.

[dragonflybikes]

Here are the pics I mentioned. Let me know if they help.
http://crpropertyservices.com/calipers1.JPG

http://crpropertyservices.com/calipers2.JPG

http://crpropertyservices.com/calipers3.JPG

[brooklyn]

what kind of brakes are your running? Is braking affected by the brakets?

[darkmother]

Nice fix. Makes me want to try it on my MTB.

[dragonflybikes]

I don't remember what kind of brakes they are. I will look when I get home. I don't remember why I changed to these brakes but I did it a long time ago. There isn't the ability to have the brakes very far from the rims, but once I got them adjusted correct they give me great stopping power even with the road bar brakes (ergo levers). I know that the brakes would have been very cheap ones such as low end Avid.

[K6-III]

How about this adapter from Mavic: http://www.mavic.fr/english/ewb_pages/p/produit_accessoire_REHAUSSEURS_DE_TASSEAUX.php?gamme=asphalte

[dragonflybikes]

The brakes are Dia Compe Vc 733

[ImprezaDrvr]

How about this adapter from Mavic: http://www.mavic.fr/english/ewb_pages/p/produit_accessoire_REHAUSSEURS_DE_TASSEAUX.php?gamme=asphalte

I started looking for something like that but couldn't come up with the right google words to find it. If it won't break the bank, I'll go for it. Unless someone makes a generic branded one.

[dragonflybikes]

Maybe I should start making these and sell them to anyone who wants to convert their mtn bike to 700c. Assuming I make them nice and neat...

How much would any of you be willing to pay for them?

What do think I should call them? (descriptive name and fun name)

If I were selling them do you think people would buy them? (does there seem to be a lot of people wanting to do this?)

Now you all have me thinking too much :eek: :D

Thanks

[toomanybikes]

How about this adapter from Mavic: http://www.mavic.fr/english/ewb_pages/p/produit_accessoire_REHAUSSEURS_DE_TASSEAUX.php?gamme=asphalte

Now that I like!

I have been trying to get the same thing working - any idea where we can get our sweaty little hands on those beauties from Mavic??

[dragonflybikes]

So has anyone found out how much those Mavic caliper adapters cost?

[legalize_it]

does that mavic doo-dad enable one to put MTN wheels on a CX as well as road wheels on a MTN bike? the 2 sets of holes make me think so...

[ImprezaDrvr]

I've got my LBS looking for the Mavic adapters. Just mentioned them earlier in the week, so it may take a bit. Guy there is usually good at finding obscure stuff. I'm also going to try to email Mavic and see how they distribute them (QBC, Diamondback, etc.).

[ImprezaDrvr]

Well, I've got a set on the way. It may be a while before I get them on the bike, as I'm also getting a wheelset rebuilt for it and I'm not in a huge hurry at this point. Shop didn't tell me what retail was, but he just called Mavic and they sent them out. I'd imagine your shops can do the same thing. When I get them on, I'll try to get pics up.

[ImprezaDrvr]

Got the adapters yesterday. Retail is about $30 each. It's good to have a good LBS, though, so I ended up paying a bit less. At any rate, my wheels are waiting longer nipples before they can be rebuilt, but I'll probably get the adapters on the bike this weekend. I'll eventually post pics when I've got wheels, etc. on the bike.

[burkeplus]

just finished the maiden voyage on those mavic adapters...picked up on this thread and found myself a pair. they work well and have clearance to spare while running 700x30 cx tires (could easily fit 32+ depending on the tread). next challenge is to set up the drop bars as i do not have any road shifters lying around (ergo or barend). thinking of running an old set of thumb shifters on top of the road bars, adding a travel-agent to each of the brakes so i can run road brake hoods, and calling it a day. any feedback on any of this? i can post photos if any interest.

[greybeard87]

just finished the maiden voyage on those mavic adapters...picked up on this thread and found myself a pair. they work well and have clearance to spare while running 700x30 cx tires (could easily fit 32+ depending on the tread). next challenge is to set up the drop bars as i do not have any road shifters lying around (ergo or barend). thinking of running an old set of thumb shifters on top of the road bars, adding a travel-agent to each of the brakes so i can run road brake hoods, and calling it a day. any feedback on any of this? i can post photos if any interest.

If you are running Canti's there is no need for the travel agent, the road levers pull enough cable. If you are running V-Brakes, bite the bullet and pick up some canti's, I got a pair of Shorty 4's for $20 or so on E-Bay so they are out there.

Do you have a link to or picture of the Mavic adapter?

[burkeplus]

here's what they look like. LBS could probably track them down for you. put the drop bars on today and i actually lucked out by having a set of brake levers with internal springs so they seem to pull the v-brakes ok without travel agents.

thumb shifters should arrive this week, i think they should work ok. if not i will track down some barcons.

am going to leave my girvin front suspension fork on for now just to see if i like the way it runs. maybe do a cx race or two before the season is over...if it is too weird i may try a cx fork on the front end (with hopes that the extra rake and length will just about equal a 26" rigid fork that is suspension adjusted). hmmmmmm.

[ImprezaDrvr]

Yeah, the adapters come from Mavic directly. Any LBS can get them if they can dial up Mavic, I'd imagine. I'm still waiting on the wheel rebuild to finish up, which should happen this week. Then I have to figure out how to get a double on a bike with a 73mm bottom bracket and find some drop bars. For a while I'll probably just stick with the flat bars that are on it and the triple setup it's got.

[dragonflybikes]

I have Campy ergo levers with V brakes and have not problem with them without an adapter. I even have plenty of stopping power when pulling my daughter behind me on her trail a bike.

So it is $30 for each of the adapters? So to convert both front and rear wheel it is $60! Ouch, I will stick with my homemade adapters that cost me less than $5.

[ImprezaDrvr]

That's retail, so unless you have a benevolent LBS like mine, that's the deal.