Bicycle Mechanics - XT crankset on a road (touring) bike?

I'm planning to build out a Rivendell touring bike and would like to use an XT drive train (to get a 20inch low gear) but would like to use Ultegra STI levers. Some have told me this won't work well. Any experience with this? Any other ideas on how to get a low gear on a road bike?

It will work fine. Anything thats Shimano 9spd compatible (cranks, shifters, derailleurs) is interchangable. Just make sure you get a mountainbike derailleur for the front and a shifter setup for a triple.

It will work fine. Anything thats Shimano 9spd compatible (cranks, shifters, derailleurs) is interchangable. Just make sure you get a mountainbike derailleur for the front and a shifter setup for a triple.Not really.Shimano has long said mtb FD are not compatible with STI.Some get them to work some don't. Even toughter with a triple. May work acceptably if you can fudge the cable mount.I'd just get a downtube or barend and sidestep the hassle.

I'm pretty confident they will work ok... I've seen it done before.

I just purchased a new Giant OCR Touring bike. I had the front crankset replaced with an XT mountain gear.
MY LBS tried to use an XT front derailer, but couldnt get it to work with my STI shifter. They went back to a 105 front derailer....IT works, but it is sluggish for a front derailer set up. I am thinking of going with a bar end shifter for my front derailer, and keeping my STI for my rear. I have 250 miles on my new bike and the chain has slipped off of the crankset twice now? Not sure if the derailer is the problem, but we will see.

I just purchased a new Giant OCR Touring bike. I had the front crankset replaced with an XT mountain gear.
MY LBS tried to use an XT front derailer, but couldnt get it to work with my STI shifter. They went back to a 105 front derailer....IT works, but it is sluggish for a front derailer set up. I am thinking of going with a bar end shifter for my front derailer, and keeping my STI for my rear. I have 250 miles on my new bike and the chain has slipped off of the crankset twice now? Not sure if the derailer is the problem, but we will see.A road FD designed for 52/42/30 rings is not going to have a good time with 42/32/22 mtb rings.Getting a triple stup and working reliably can test many wrenches. Trying it with mismatched parts could lead to a a drinking problem.

I'm pretty sure it works. I've seen many tandems with STI and mountain derailleurs.
I once even equipped my tandem with Sachs Ergo shifters and a LX front derailleur/crankset.

Shimano says not to mix road and mountain components.

Until recently, all of the "flat bar road bikes" used Rapid Fire shifters with road cranksets and front derailleurs with good results. Road tandems commonly use mountain cassettes and rear derailleurs with STI dropped bar shifters.

Using a mountain crankset and front derailleur with STI is a combination that I've never tried. You might try the cyclecross board and see what they have to say.

Shimano says not to mix road and mountain components.

There is no issue with rear shifters/RDs other than pre 9 speed DA RDs with mtn shifters being a no-no. The issue has been with road FD and mtb shifters.

Until recently, all of the "flat bar road bikes" used Rapid Fire shifters with road cranksets and front derailleurs with good results. Road tandems commonly use mountain cassettes and rear derailleurs with STI dropped bar shifters.

Shimano Quote: "Be sure to use the shifting levers and the front derailers specially made for flat handlebars." The FD R440 and 443 front derailers are designed to be used with rapid fire shifters and road chainsets.

i'm curious about this as well, thinking of using a xt or xtr 48/36/26 w/ my 105 tripleFD, have 105sti, but will probably switch to barcons.

any one w/ actual experience?

shimano errs on the side of caution w/ their specs, so i'm not interested in tech manual quotes, if i listened to such things i would've never found out how much fun a hair dryer is in the shower, sheesh

i'm curious about this as well, thinking of using a xt or xtr 48/36/26 w/ my 105 tripleFD, have 105sti, but will probably switch to barcons.

any one w/ actual experience?

shimano errs on the side of caution w/ their specs, so i'm not interested in tech manual quotes, if i listened to such things i would've never found out how much fun a hair dryer is in the shower, sheesh
A 48/3626 works with a 105 triple front derailer and STI I've actually used the same setup with a 46/3626.The derailer will need to be lowered a bit. Some of whar both camy and shimano say is good.Some is chaff.You have to know the difference.

There is no issue with rear shifters/RDs other than pre 9 speed DA RDs with mtn shifters being a no-no. The issue has been with road FD and mtb shifters.

Actually, the issue is the opposite: mountain front derailleurs and road shifters.

Actually, the issue is the opposite: mountain front derailleurs and road shifters.My misspeak, but still one in the same.Different arm length and throw ratios.

Shimano Quote: "Be sure to use the shifting levers and the front derailers specially made for flat handlebars." The FD R440 and 443 front derailers are designed to be used with rapid fire shifters and road chainsets.

Well, Shimano got into that game a little late. My wife's Crossroads Pro from about 2000, uses a tiagra front derailleur with LX rapid fires and some SR triple road crankset. Works just fine thank you.

A Campy Ergolever can shift any front mech with any chainset. Im not sure its very ergonomic to mix a Campy left lever with a Shimano righ lever, but it could work:)

The Bianchi Axis - which I've test ridden several times and am still waiting for my '05 model to come in - uses a Sugino XD500T 26/26/48 crankset, SRAM 11->32 rear cassette, Shimano Deore XT9spd RD, Shimano 105 FD, and 105 STI shifters/levers. It seems to shift very smoothly when I've test ridden the thing around the neighborhood. What I don't know is the specifics of the spacing of the chainrings on the Sugino crankset. Is it more like a road bike or a mountain bike? If it's the gearing you're after than perhaps this is a combo you could try. These cranks are available from most aftermarket supply houses.