Bicycle Mechanics - Front derailer stand off issue - cant fit tires

Ok, I am having what I suppose is a unique issue. I have a gary fisher KaiTai hybrid, and bought some 29er tires for it for some light trail riding. Well, everything fit, except for the front derailer. The Derailer is a Shimano C101 derailer, top pull type. The actuating body of the derailer stands off roughly 1 1/4" from the back of the seat tube, and the tire is just slightly rubbing it. I am wondering if there are any shimano top pull type derailers that have a smaller standoff, or maybe have the bulk of the actuator to the side? Maybe a road front derailer??? Just trying to see if there is any option.

Thanks!

Your situation isn't unique. I have a '96 Litespeed road bike with an 8-speed 105 triple drivetrain. The actuating arm of the front derailleur would hit the rear tire when in the big chainring. I was using a braze-on 105 triple fd with a Shimano 1-3/8" (35 mm) adapter clamp which put the fd rather far back. Switching to a band-on fd solved the problem as the mechanism is further forward.

The newer 9-speed road fd's have shorter actuating arms and clear everthing just fine.

Road front derailleurs are almost universally bottom pull however. You can do this but you may have to install a turnaround pully at the bottom the the seat tube just above the BB.

Is Anyone familiar with this type of derailer?

http://www.blueskycycling.com/product_image/9110_lg.jpg


http://www.blueskycycling.com/product3146_64_-2007-Sram-X.9-Front-Derailleur-Top-Pull-High-Mount.htm


It looks as though its actuator is off to the side, rather than standing off of the back like mine.

One question; how wide are the 29" tires you bought? Most hybrid bikes are expected to use 700x35 or 700x38 tires. If you bought 2" or larger 29" tires (700x50 or more) you are going to have a tough time clearing them with any front derailleur.

Is Anyone familiar with this type of derailer?

http://www.blueskycycling.com/product_image/9110_lg.jpg


http://www.blueskycycling.com/product3146_64_-2007-Sram-X.9-Front-Derailleur-Top-Pull-High-Mount.htm


It looks as though its actuator is off to the side, rather than standing off of the back like mine.

The current model is a dual pull version that looks very similar to this but with an inner pull arm on the inside of the pivot that would still be a problem for you. This one could work for you without that arm. The inside edge of the pivot (what you see in the picture just below the band clamp) is almost flush (just a bit outside) with the outside edge of the seat tube. Hope that info helps.