csport

Hi

I need advice regarding a 2x9 setup with brifters and a 36-22 MTB crankset. Motivation: 36-12 will give 20mph at the 90 rpm cadence with a 40-559 tire, 36-11 will give 22 mph -- it is enough for this bike. Most of the time it will be in the 36t chainring with 22t rarely used as a bailout.

Will a regular road double FD (specced for 46t-52t big chainring) work with a 36-22 crankset?

Some people say that Shimano mountain FD can be made to work with the road shifters despite the different cable pull - has anyone tried this? And what kind of shifters - old Sora 3500 or new Sora 3000 (which has a new cable pull for double)?

I know that there are solutions involving a bar end shifter or a thumb shifter, ideally I would run brifters as they are.

maddog34

i'd suggest that asking The CX page might get a better response.. someone here may be able to answer, but the CX crowd plays with that sort of thing (Drop bar brifters, Compact cranks/rings) more frequently.
And remember.. all those odd width changes and ridges in the front Der. Cage are there for specific reasons.. and the farther the tail of the Der. cage is from the chain ring, the more reluctant the shifting becomes.... a larger Radius in the cage equals a "farther from the Chainring" cage tail.

i'd try a TRIPLE derailleur and brifter, then set it up to ignore one shift with the Limit screws, maybe? Chainring spacing is the same between a double and a triple crankset...... and set the der. height as if the bigger outer ring was in place..... just an idea.

shelbyfv

It will truly be trial and error. I've found the humble Sora FD (old) to be very forgiving but your situation really calls for a friction front shift.