Show us your gravel/cross bike...
#4901
Full Member
Thank you both, its a nice bike and I'm digging it so far.
I guess I'm not used to a touring based framed, as I find the rear a bit harsh, even compared to my Tange 2 road bike with 28mm tires. Riding seated transmitted more bumps than I ever remember. The weight is 23lbs 15oz with pedals so its acceptable so its not too piggish.
Perhaps "pig" was a bit harsh.
Trek 750 gravel conversion
I guess I'm not used to a touring based framed, as I find the rear a bit harsh, even compared to my Tange 2 road bike with 28mm tires. Riding seated transmitted more bumps than I ever remember. The weight is 23lbs 15oz with pedals so its acceptable so its not too piggish.
Perhaps "pig" was a bit harsh.
Trek 750 gravel conversion
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#4902
Senior Member
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#4903
Junior Member
So, Sora R3000 levers with TRP 8.4 mini V's. I was expecting a lot more bite to be honest after hearing all the "on/off" stories. I don't feel that to be the case at all; these don't have the same bite as proper long Vs, the pad to rim distance is very tight, and the fender clearance on the 38s is a bit tight - all well documented. Braking is much better than with calipers on the hoods but not what I was expecting. Overall, they're adequate if the drawbacks are tolerable. Quality control was a bit lacking as one pad holder's allen head was not broached properly. I also think they are overpriced for what they are but oh well. My background is with MTBs so have been on cantis in the 90s, switched to V's in 95 and then discs in 99. I haven't taken this thing off road yet
On one bike I have Sensah shifters/brakes pulling 80mm mini v-brakes, and on the other I have Claris shifters/brakes pulling 84mm mini v-brakes - both feel alright to me. If you can set the pads close to the rim (like 1.5 mm away), the pull and bite feel should be pretty great. If it's not, maybe you have to lose the fenders to set the pads a tiny bit closer?
#4904
aka Tom Reingold
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My spouse has an All-City Macho Man. It has 700c wheels and mini-V brakes (made by Paul) and Shimano 105 levers. I haven't ridden her bike extensively but my impression is excellent. She is happy with the brakes, and she has very weak hands. She thinks the brakes on my bike "don't work" because she can't work them.
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New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#4905
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
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After another day of commuting, it seems like the pads took a bit to wear in. It doesn't help that I've been wearing 2 layers of gloves this whole time. Braking is good.
#4907
Monkey Boy
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That looks amazing. Can you show us a better pic of the 'cockpit' ? For the life of me, I can't figure out what's going on there, and google searches haven't come up with anything! :-) Nice bike!
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Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans. (o.o)
#4908
I like speed
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#4909
Senior Member
Thanks!
See the post above, it shows the biplane handlebars. It's pretty comfortable and I got used to it quickly.
See the post above, it shows the biplane handlebars. It's pretty comfortable and I got used to it quickly.
#4910
Lurker
Found a new 2017 Bombtrack Hook 2 steel frame and built it up with some new wheels and my older 6700 triple groupset + mech discs. One ride down done, and I am enjoying the wider rubber compared to my road bikes. Nice and comfortable. Not the lightest bike though @11kg.
#4911
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Found a new 2017 Bombtrack Hook 2 steel frame and built it up with some new wheels and my older 6700 triple groupset + mech discs. One ride down done, and I am enjoying the wider rubber compared to my road bikes. Nice and comfortable. Not the lightest bike though @11kg.
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#4913
Lurker
The blue was probably more than half of the reason I purchased the frame when I saw it. Measuring the weights before I built the bike up, the bare frame was 2.35 kg(!), the fork is 0.53 kg and the wheels themselves are 2.01 kg, so it all adds up pretty quickly!
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#4914
Senior Member
That bike looks awesome, my wife has a 750 that she never rides with the same paint job. I want to soup it up for her with nice components...but it would just sit in the basement with nice components instead of the medicore stuff on there right now.
Anyways, what Stem is that? That's a 1-1/8" fork, right?
Anyways, what Stem is that? That's a 1-1/8" fork, right?
#4916
Thread Killer
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#4918
Senior Member
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That bike looks awesome, my wife has a 750 that she never rides with the same paint job. I want to soup it up for her with nice components...but it would just sit in the basement with nice components instead of the medicore stuff on there right now.
Anyways, what Stem is that? That's a 1-1/8" fork, right?
Anyways, what Stem is that? That's a 1-1/8" fork, right?
Wives deserve nice bikes, that's the way I see it. Even if they don't ride them much.
#4919
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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This Vortex CX bike was one of several I have built with STI shifters and mini-V brakes.
It is CRITICAL to install some kind of inline barrel adjustment.
They work fine. I found that quality pads and JagWire Road Pro cables and housing made a real difference.
I did many 1000s of commuting KMs on an old hybrid drop bar conversion, mini V brakes and sti levers (10-speed Tiagra), no problems. They work well assuming you are happy with tyre and mudguard clearance. You can’t run a balloon tyre, the clearance isn’t there.
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#4920
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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This was the commuter.
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#4921
Junior Member
I set the pads wherever looks good, then try the lever. If the pull feel isn't right, mark the cable/pinch bolt location with a Sharpie, move it a mm or two, and try the lever again. It only takes a few minutes/ tries before the clearance/lever pull is just right.
#4922
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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meh not really -- I just use trial and error.
I set the pads wherever looks good, then try the lever. If the pull feel isn't right, mark the cable/pinch bolt location with a Sharpie, move it a mm or two, and try the lever again. It only takes a few minutes/ tries before the clearance/lever pull is just right.
I set the pads wherever looks good, then try the lever. If the pull feel isn't right, mark the cable/pinch bolt location with a Sharpie, move it a mm or two, and try the lever again. It only takes a few minutes/ tries before the clearance/lever pull is just right.
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#4923
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Some of us have so much experience doing things the old ways that we don't find them inconvenient. I've probably adjusted a thousand Weinmann center-pull calipers. A 1mm difference in adjustment at the cable is an appreciable change. I got used to the very iterative trial and error of loosening the pinch bolt, moving the cable 1mm, tightening. Sometimes to do it, I had to remove a brake shoe every iteration. It's not something I recommend to others, but I can do it just fine.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#4924
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Posts: 1,544
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For V-brakes I found these ‘pipe adjusters’ easily the best, much better than the ones that go inline in the housing. They were only £2 I think.
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#4925
Senior Member
2021 Giant Revolt Advanced 3
Added a PRO Discover bar & stem, and a Power2Max NG Eco crankset/power meter. Would like to switch to Di2, but that's impossible at the moment. Maybe when the supply chains aren't so ridiculous. Also going to switch out these heavy Giant PR-2 wheels.
Added a PRO Discover bar & stem, and a Power2Max NG Eco crankset/power meter. Would like to switch to Di2, but that's impossible at the moment. Maybe when the supply chains aren't so ridiculous. Also going to switch out these heavy Giant PR-2 wheels.
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