By blackmountaincycles,
Filed under: Uncategorized
The final build last week pulled out all the bells and whistles. Except there were neither bells nor whistles on this bike. Yet. This turned into a complete bike build after deciding the owner’s current mountain bike couldn’t be converted into more of a touring bike because of the lack of eyelets and braze-ons. This build was a fun process and it turned out pretty nice. The owner will be using this for commuting and weekend camping trips up into the mountains or over to the beach.
The bike was built with on of the 59cm gray Monster Cross frames. Shifting is Shimano 105 ten-speed an XT rear derailleur. There is an STI barrel adjuster on the rear derailleur to manage cable tension. The cranks are a great option for folks wanting to use 10-speed road shifters but want lower gears than what is commonly available from Shimano or SRAM’s road or cross groups. Sure, a mountain double crank could be used, but the problem with mountain cranks is that their pedal stance is really wide and they have a 50mm chainline which the 105 front derailleur won’t reach to. And by using 105 STI shifters, one has to use a road front derailleur. Use of bar-con levers allows any front derailleur to be used including mountain.
Back on track. The specific parts used on this build necessitated these exact parts. Oh yeah, the crank. The crank is a new Sugino OX601XD model that has a unique bolt pattern that allows for a big range of gear options. This particular build is a 46/30 combo. One could achieve this with a White Industries VBC crank, but it’s my experience the VBC cranks don’t play well with 10-speed chains. This Sugino crank is most definitely 10-speed compatible providing crisp up and down shifting.
(Edit 2015-01-10: White Industries has changed the design of their large chainrings so they now shift well with 10 speed chains. I’ve been running a White crank on my cross bike for over a year with a KMC X10 chain, Shimano CX70 front derailleur, and SRAM bar-con shifters and this combination works great. A Shimano front derailleur does work better on the White crank than a SRAM f/d. SRAM works ok, but the shift from small to large is not as quick.)
Other highlights are the Mavic A719 rims with the Schmidt SON28 front hub and Ultegra rear hub. Rubber meets the tarmac via Panaracer Pasela TG 32 tires. Salsa Woodchipper bars and Pro Moto 1 stem, Brooks bar tape and B17 Special saddle, Tubus rear rack and a Salsa Minimalist front rack (to carry a sleeping bag), Honjo hammered fenders, and White Industries Urban pedals with Bruce Gordon half-clips. The whole thing comes to a stop via Paul Components high-polished Mini-Moto brakes.
The bike turned out really nice. My test ride on the bike was fun. The bike was really smooth, comfortable, and quiet. I thoroughly enjoyed building this bike and hearing how nice it rode from the new owner.
(What’s playing: Joan Armatrading Rosie)
0 responses to “Bells and whistles…”
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I've run both the Sugino OX801D and the White Industries VBC and the Sugino shifts much quicker and more cleanly.
nice pics. Because your frames are properly designed, it looks like mounting Honjos was actually fun (!).
I have a White Ind VBC dbl 46-30, set up with 6/7 speed friction and it shifts quickly and easily. Although, I don't shift the front that much
Sweet build (as always).
Curious about the shifting. Don't Shimano 10-speed mountain derailers have a different cable pull than 10-speed road?
Yes, they do have different cable pulls which is why I used a 9-speed mountain rear derailleur. Road 10s shifters and mountain 9s derailleurs have the same cable pull.
Thanks for the tires for my hoopty spare parts bin niner today. I am trying a 1988 XT thumb front der friction shifter mounted upside down on the right, for the rear 1996 XT der, on the 2003 9spd hub. I have no idea how this is going to go.
That should work out fine. I've seen that done a time or two.
Hi
I wonder if those Paul's wil fit around 42mm 650B tires and fenders? They look awfully wide but can't tell for sure.
Thanks!
Christian,
The tires in the photo are 32 with 43mm fenders. The cable just barely fits over the fender. They won't work with 42mm tires (650b or 700c) and fenders. They will clear a 43mm tire without a fender, but nothing bigger.
Thanks! I am just seeing this now as I forgot I posted.
Best wishes
Mike,
Thanks. Just checking this now! Completely forgot I posted and then something reminded me.
Best wishes