Touring - Using a mountain crankset on a 700c touring bike

Does anybody have a problem using a mountain crankset on a bike with larger wheels and a lower bottom bracket? I was thinking of using a crankset with a 44 or 42 big ring on a bike with 700c wheels. I noticed that the chainstays tilt up more on bikes with 700c wheels and lower bottom brackets than they do with mountain bikes that use smaller wheels and a higher bottom bracket. I haven't tried it yet, but I am concerned that the front derailleur will hit the chainstay. What is the smallest chainring that one can use to avoid this?

I purchased a Trek 520 with 700c wheels. I had the Shimano 105 crankset with 52/42/30 chainrings relaced with a Deore LX crankset with 44/32/22 chainrings.

Works great. No problem at all with the front derailer. Many people make the same switch. Bruce Gordon makes a line of touring bikes that come with 700c wheels and 44/32/22 MTB cranks.

you should have no problems chaining it ... Cannondale touring bikes have MTB cranks and 700C wheels ... I have installed an LX crank on my Trek 520 and still use the stock 105SC front deraileur and it works fine ... mind you, I also changed the drop bars for flat ones with LX brakes/shifters ...

cheers,
hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zeland

I have a 58cm Surly Long Haul Trucker with XT 44/32/22 and XT 9spd rd 11-34. It works very well.

http://patch29.smugmug.com/photos/8339197-S.jpg

Thanks for the replies. I will give it a try.

I have a 58cm Surly Long Haul Trucker with XT 44/32/22 and XT 9spd rd 11-34. It works very well.

http://patch29.smugmug.com/photos/8339197-S.jpg

Very nice indeed! definitely bike porn! Sadly the Surly LHT frame wasn't around when I bought my touring bike or I would have looked seriously at this as well ...
cheers,
hoogie
timaru/oamaru, new zealand

Very nice indeed! definitely bike porn!

Thanks, you can find more photos here (http://patch29.smugmug.com/gallery/216196) if you have not seen them before.