Gravel/CX Shifting Ideas

[Magic]

So I was messing around with my hardtail today and decided to throw some drop bars on it, maybe a rigid fork and skinnies to follow. I don't have a road bike (yet) so I think this could make for a fun gravel/rail trail bike and maybe try a few CX races. Problem I have is shifting, if you can tell by the temporary Saint handlebar bar end shifter. Apparently the Tektro levers I have work well with BB7's so I rather not lose them, so is there a bar end shifter or other alternative I can use to run an XT 10-speed deraileur? Do Shimano road and mountain shifers have the same pull? Thanks!

 

[jdog]

http://www.paulcomp.com/sramshifteradaptor.html

If only you had sram..

 

[Magic]

@jdog Indeed. The closest thing to that, and a last resort, would be one of those crappy bar space expanders with 22.2 bar to use the MTB shifter.

 

[Steve Vai]

Invest in a set of 10-speed drop bar shifters, they'll shift fine and the brakes will still feel sweet. I have a set of cross tires you can haz if you'd like.

 

[Magic]

Invest in a set of 10-speed drop bar shifters, they'll shift fine and the brakes will still feel sweet. I have a set of cross tires you can haz if you'd like.

Anything specific I need to look for to make the levers work with mountain BB7's or is it all in the adjustments?

I'd be happy to grab the tires. Would they fold into a flat rate box and I'll PayPal shipping? Or can you wear them like a bandolier on your ride up to Stewart 45?

 

[skyrokz]

Anything specific I need to look for to make the levers work with mountain BB7's or is it all in the adjustments?

I'd be happy to grab the tires. Would they fold into a flat rate box and I'll PayPal shipping? Or can you wear them like a bandolier on your ride up to Stewart 45?

I can pick them up from Jim's shop and bring them to the group ride tomorrow at LewMo for you if you'd like, I'll be in summit later today.

 

[Delish]

They aren't cheap or pretty but these puppies from Retroshift....er...I mean Gevenalle should do exactly what you are looking for:

http://gevenalle.com/product/gx/

 

[Magic]

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I cheaped out for now since I had almost everything for it. I got an eBay handlebar extension doohickey to mount my 22mm bar shifter for now. It's a little bit of a stretch of the thumb to upshift, but it works. Just need to shorten the shifter cable housing, find a rigid fork, and a bigger chainring (34/36?). Otherwise, it's looking pretty... interesting. I also failed on my first attempt at wrapping bars so the tops are somewhat bare, but I assume most of my time will be spent on the hoods or hooks.

http://gevenalle.com/product/gx/

That's one of the first things I saw when I Googled exactly what I needed. Great product and looks good, but yes, the price is killer.

 

[The Heckler]

Hoods for LYFE! What's your cassette range? You might want to consider a 38 or 39 if you're 1X. 39x11-32 will cover most race courses. Much smaller you miss out on some of the high end. Granted you could go 11-34 or 11-36 with your MTN setup if you don't give a damn about cadence jumps.

Remember you need a suspension adjusted fork. It doesn't need to be a perfect geometry match but by putting those skinny tires on you dropped the BB down so watch them pedals in the corners!

 

[Magic]

Hoods for LYFE! What's your cassette range? You might want to consider a 38 or 39 if you're 1X. 39x11-32 will cover most race courses. Much smaller you miss out on some of the high end. Granted you could go 11-34 or 11-36 with your MTN setup if you don't give a damn about cadence jumps.

Remember you need a suspension adjusted fork. It doesn't need to be a perfect geometry match but by putting those skinny tires on you dropped the BB down so watch them pedals in the corners!

Very helpful, thanks! I just wanted to give it a shot and try to have a good time at a few races, if at all, without investing into a new frame or complete bike.

It is an 11-36 cassette and I am more of a spinner myself, but I'll try to take your advice with the chainring size. I'm glad you mentioned the fork too. I was actually just looking at a 390 axle-to-crown and it could be too short. May need to look into 29er forks rather than 700c/CX specific ones for more options.

 

[Steve Vai]

Drops all day everyday, make you strong like bull!!

And yes, you'll need a 29er rigid fork and not a CX one. To my knowledge they don't make a CX fork that tall. On some courses running a 29er tire up front might be a lot of fun too.

 

[soundz]

Make sure to pay attention to the a-c (axel crown) measurements on the 29er forks. For the most part, they make them in 2 types of lengths. Shorter ones for non suspension bikes and longer for 80-100mm bikes.

 

[Magic]

Well, it looks like something now. Can't wait to take it for a rip and count the crashes.

 

[kichibot]

Just get a cheap 105 10 speed lever set. That way your not running that weird looking bar shifter set up.

 

[soundz]

All you need now is a cross frame.

 

[jumpa]

At this point he could have just gotten a cross bike.

 

[Pearl]

me gusta

 

[Juggernaut]

Well, it looks like something now. Can't wait to take it for a rip and count the crashes.
View attachment 24443

I love the way this turned out!

 

[Magic]

I love the way this turned out!

Thanks! Rides great on the road too with the 38T I threw on today. Was pretty pooped after the ride though since I've been off the bike over a week.