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10-27-06, 08:11 AM
I have just arrived in Germany - job with the Brit Army for two or three years here
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=52.298192,8.621521&spn=0.072121,0.154839&om=1
Luebbecke - the woods of the Minden Ridge to the south and flatlands to the north.
I have a brand new Robin Mather Audax
See here:
http://www.robinmathercycles.co.uk/be/brianslargeaudax.html
105 equipped on a Reynolds 725/525 frame shod with Cont Ultra Gators on Mavic Open Sport 36h Rims.
This is marvelous for the flatlands and the metaled minor roads in the foothills, but if I want to get deep into the woods on the tracks I need something more sturdy.
Just after I had ordered my Mather Audax I saw a Raleigh Granada Light Tourer in an LBS in Reading - about 15 years old and hardly used. Reynolds 531 frame. Tyres marked 28 x 1 1 /8 with ten speeds, a stem shifter and centre pull brakes. I bought it because it was a 25.5in frame and with the seatpost out and a suitable quill stem I can get almost the same geometry as my custom Audax.
Now to my question.
Would it work well in those woods if I put on a modern groupset with 32 or even 35 mm tyres and build it up virtually as a Cyclocross?
I could move the stuff on my Audax across and upgrade the Audax. I quite like the look of the new SRAM Double Taps, for example.
What should I do about the brakes? I have read putting modern v-brake pads on them would sharpen them up a lot, but long drop dual pivot calipers would be better. Without braze ons canti-brakes are not an option - so the calipers set clearance limits especially if I want mudguards.
Your views please folks.
http://maps.google.co.uk/?ie=UTF8&z=13&ll=52.298192,8.621521&spn=0.072121,0.154839&om=1
Luebbecke - the woods of the Minden Ridge to the south and flatlands to the north.
I have a brand new Robin Mather Audax
See here:
http://www.robinmathercycles.co.uk/be/brianslargeaudax.html
105 equipped on a Reynolds 725/525 frame shod with Cont Ultra Gators on Mavic Open Sport 36h Rims.
This is marvelous for the flatlands and the metaled minor roads in the foothills, but if I want to get deep into the woods on the tracks I need something more sturdy.
Just after I had ordered my Mather Audax I saw a Raleigh Granada Light Tourer in an LBS in Reading - about 15 years old and hardly used. Reynolds 531 frame. Tyres marked 28 x 1 1 /8 with ten speeds, a stem shifter and centre pull brakes. I bought it because it was a 25.5in frame and with the seatpost out and a suitable quill stem I can get almost the same geometry as my custom Audax.
Now to my question.
Would it work well in those woods if I put on a modern groupset with 32 or even 35 mm tyres and build it up virtually as a Cyclocross?
I could move the stuff on my Audax across and upgrade the Audax. I quite like the look of the new SRAM Double Taps, for example.
What should I do about the brakes? I have read putting modern v-brake pads on them would sharpen them up a lot, but long drop dual pivot calipers would be better. Without braze ons canti-brakes are not an option - so the calipers set clearance limits especially if I want mudguards.
Your views please folks.