I searched and read a lot of posting here. I haven't found a specific answer to a problem I'm facing with a current bike rebuild though.
The frame is a hybrid made for top pull front mechs. I'm replacing the crankset and rings completely, and putting in a wide 52-38-24 <don't try convincing me out of this arrangement; please, I'll spare you the details>. That said, reading these forums, I've a good idea of the front mech I need...XTR M901, RX100 A553, Sachs Quarz, Suntour XC Pro. I'd rather not go too much earlier than the XTR or RX100, and the Sachs I've found ABSOLUTELY impossible to be had. I've also read here that some Shimano road triple mechs would handle it, particularily the Dura Ace 7703 with it's "stated" 23 tooth capacity.
Honestly, I'm getting to a point.
Ebay searching has turned up a number of M900's <bottom pull> and M901's <wrong clamp diameter>. The seat tube is 34.9mm; cyclocross pulleys I've found online only go as large as 31.8 <except for one one wiggle.co.uk, but they only ship in uk>. People have mentioned fashioning your own out of Shimano e-clamp adapters, but they only go as large as 31.8 as well.
So can I not use a pulley? Is my only option to wait patiently for an M901 to pop up an eBay? Help.
-Lon