Conversion Qs
#1
bificurated
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Conversion Qs
I have a Cannondale Cad 3(among others ) and I would like to convert it over to a light tourer. I was thinking of either going the way of the handlebar bag/ saddlebag combo, or trying to get a new fork and using my ortliebs up front. Anyone know of where a 1" threaded fork with rack mounts could be found? The bike's aluminum, but ride "harshness" doesn't really bother me.
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Originally Posted by RiotBoi
I have a Cannondale Cad 3(among others ) and I would like to convert it over to a light tourer. I was thinking of either going the way of the handlebar bag/ saddlebag combo, or trying to get a new fork and using my ortliebs up front. Anyone know of where a 1" threaded fork with rack mounts could be found? The bike's aluminum, but ride "harshness" doesn't really bother me.
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Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
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#3
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Schwalbe Big Apple tires eradicate every vestige of harsh riding fat aluminum tube bikes. Their speed and liveliness belie their 790 gram weight (26 x 2.0).
Tune the ride with a tire pump. They will still roll fast even if they're not inflated to maximum pressure. The stiffness then becomes an advantage in the handling department. Also, you could skip the fork and get an Xtracycle. I figure an Ortlieb/Tubus setup weighs around 12 pounds. I wouldn't be surprised if the Xtracycle weighed less. It is also said that the Xtracycle smooths out the ride because it moves the wheel out from under your butt and because it flexes a little. People who ride Xtracycles really love them. The Xtracycle, $399, would probably be cheaper than a quality pannier/rack set up and you would not have to go through the hassle of fitting them. Mountain bikes have short chainstays and suspension forks which complicate the fitting procedure. You would also have an extremely useful bike to use when you are not touring and it could be a candidate for a Stokemonkey.
Amazon gives the weight of the Xtracycle as 9.6 lbs.
https://www.amazon.com/Xtracycle-Free.../dp/B0002TR340
Tune the ride with a tire pump. They will still roll fast even if they're not inflated to maximum pressure. The stiffness then becomes an advantage in the handling department. Also, you could skip the fork and get an Xtracycle. I figure an Ortlieb/Tubus setup weighs around 12 pounds. I wouldn't be surprised if the Xtracycle weighed less. It is also said that the Xtracycle smooths out the ride because it moves the wheel out from under your butt and because it flexes a little. People who ride Xtracycles really love them. The Xtracycle, $399, would probably be cheaper than a quality pannier/rack set up and you would not have to go through the hassle of fitting them. Mountain bikes have short chainstays and suspension forks which complicate the fitting procedure. You would also have an extremely useful bike to use when you are not touring and it could be a candidate for a Stokemonkey.
Amazon gives the weight of the Xtracycle as 9.6 lbs.
https://www.amazon.com/Xtracycle-Free.../dp/B0002TR340
Last edited by GeoKrpan; 01-07-07 at 02:31 PM.
#4
bificurated
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I have racks and panniers already. Having ridden an xtracycle bike working as a messenger, never again. I like th harsh ride, keeps me on my toes.
Cyco, +1
Cyco, +1
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Originally Posted by RiotBoi
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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That it does. Spicers got a lot of goodies on sale that I like right now.... Guess I need to get a job
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OK, asking for a bit more help on this one. I have been looking for DAYS to figure out what size i need to get the fork and can't find the fork specs for my bike for the life of me. I suppose I could go to my LBS, but it is a very dangerous ride and I don't like taking it (55mph no shoulder 2 lanes each way for about 2 miles)
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Originally Posted by RiotBoi
OK, asking for a bit more help on this one. I have been looking for DAYS to figure out what size i need to get the fork and can't find the fork specs for my bike for the life of me. I suppose I could go to my LBS, but it is a very dangerous ride and I don't like taking it (55mph no shoulder 2 lanes each way for about 2 miles)
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
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Just be careful with "a bit longer"! With threaded forks you'll be highly unlikely to get one a perfect length, it means you have to cut it to fit. As such, it really doesn't matter too much if it's 0.5mm, 5 cm or 50cm too long; you'll still have to make that cut (do threaded forks come in standard steerer tube lengths anyway? I've never ordered one so don't know). I'd strongly advise you order a fork with a healthy overlap to avoid problems. And definitely measure many many times before that cut...... make sure the headset that you plan on using is in place before making that mark!
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Originally Posted by Nigeyy
Just be careful with "a bit longer"! With threaded forks you'll be highly unlikely to get one a perfect length, it means you have to cut it to fit. As such, it really doesn't matter too much if it's 0.5mm, 5 cm or 50cm too long; you'll still have to make that cut (do threaded forks come in standard steerer tube lengths anyway? I've never ordered one so don't know). I'd strongly advise you order a fork with a healthy overlap to avoid problems. And definitely measure many many times before that cut...... make sure the headset that you plan on using is in place before making that mark!
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!