erbfarm

Hi Everyone. I have a 1993 Specialized Rockhopper Expert that I want to turn into an Xtracycle. The bike has a microdrive (20t up front) crank and a 32t sprocket in the back so it would make a great cargo bike. Only trouble is the bike has cantilever brakes. How hard is it to convert the canti brakes to v-brakes? And what is the process? Thanks very much.

chriskmurray

The cheapest option is usually just replacing the brake levers with a long pull lever. Even if you have shifters built into the brake levers you can find replacements for $40ish at full retail, can probably find even better. They do make travel agents that let you use short pull levers with v-brakes but they would probably cost close to what new brake/shift levers would be.

fietsbob

You are going to need V brakes on the Xtracycle anyhow, the rear brakes are removed from the bike frame

Or, they have a Disc Brake mount on the thing too..

erbfarm

ok, can I mount V brakes on the canti bosses on my frame or do they mount on something else? And my shift levers are just shift levers, not shift/brake so if I just replace them with long pull levers and mount the v-brakes on the canti bosses, I should be good to go?

chriskmurray

Yep, they use the same mounts and if your levers are separate all you need is long pull levers to work with v-brakes and you are good to go!

fietsbob

by 'your' frame, you mean the Xtracycle frame attached on your bike frame, right ?

crackerdog

I left my front brakes the same as they were and messed around with the rear brakes but finally broke down and put a disc brake on the rear, Xtracycle is set up for that. Brakes are fine. Don't bother with the V brakes.