Commuter setup

In article <[email hidden]>, Matthew Reed

Quoted message said:

Does anyone have an idea about how difficult it would be to have an aluminum road frame altered for
cantalever brakes?

Hard enough that it's not worth it.

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I have seen this changed on steel road bikes at local frame builders for cross or commuter
conversions, but I have not seen anyone do it with aluminum. I am guessing this is because of the
additional cost and potential problems of having aluminum rewelded.

Heat treating the frame again is the step that will create the most logistical trouble for this
repair. Assuming the stays are stout enough to handle the significant stress of cantilever braking.

--Paul

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And, does anyone have any idea what it might cost?

Thanks, Matt

This is a tough way to go and you are only doing it to use an old frame. I think that by the time
you finished you could have purchased the right frame to begin with.

Jon Isaacs

Why don't you just put your cross fork on it and run something like a 32 or a 35 up front with
cantis and keep the rear as is with a 28 and the caliper? You could ride some pretty rough terrain
with that setup.

"Matthew Reed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone have an idea about how difficult it would be to have an

aluminum

Quoted message said:

road frame altered for cantalever brakes? I have set up my old road bike with a moutain stem, bar
shifters and brake handles. I put some campus pedals on it and a rear fender. The trouble is is
that it has ultegra on

it

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and the brakes do not offer enough clearance to get the cross tires that

I

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will want to put on it next winter. Right now I am running 28's on it; which is fine for the
summer. I can switch the front fork for a cross

fork

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to get clearance up front, but the rear cross member that supports the

brake

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is too low relative to the drop out for larger tire clearance and there

are

Quoted message said:

no cantalever brake braze ons. I have seen this changed on steel road

bikes

Quoted message said:

at local frame builders for cross or commuter conversions, but I have not seen anyone do it with
aluminum. I am guessing this is because of the additional cost and potential problems of having
aluminum rewelded. But I

am

Quoted message said:

only guessing. Does anyone know if what I would like to do is possible?

Is

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the rear triangle going to be strong enough (it is a specialized M2 from

the

Quoted message said:

mid 90's) for cantalevers if I can get it done? And, does anyone have any idea what it might cost?

Thanks, Matt

I may do that, or just stick with the 28's. This project is as much about having fun messing with my
old bike as anything else. I have made it a pretty light commuter at this point and I have only
spent about $100 getting the parts together. It would be nice to put 35's in front and in back, but
I will lose no sleep if I end up keeping it as it sits. Thanks to you and everyone else who has
chimed in form the advice.

Matt "one of the six billion" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why don't you just put your cross fork on it and run something like a 32

or

Quoted message said:

a 35 up front with cantis and keep the rear as is with a 28 and the caliper? You could ride some
pretty rough terrain with that setup.

"Matthew Reed" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does anyone have an idea about how difficult it would be to have an

aluminum

Quoted message said:

road frame altered for cantalever brakes? I have set up my old road

bike

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

with a moutain stem, bar shifters and brake handles. I put some campus pedals on it and a rear
fender. The trouble is is that it has ultegra

on

Quoted message said:

it

Quoted message said:

and the brakes do not offer enough clearance to get the cross tires that

I

Quoted message said:

will want to put on it next winter. Right now I am running 28's on it; which is fine for the
summer. I can switch the front fork for a cross

fork

Quoted message said:

to get clearance up front, but the rear cross member that supports the

brake

Quoted message said:

is too low relative to the drop out for larger tire clearance and there

are

Quoted message said:

no cantalever brake braze ons. I have seen this changed on steel road

bikes

Quoted message said:

at local frame builders for cross or commuter conversions, but I have

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

seen anyone do it with aluminum. I am guessing this is because of the additional cost and
potential problems of having aluminum rewelded. But

I

Quoted message said:

am

Quoted message said:

only guessing. Does anyone know if what I would like to do is possible?

Is

Quoted message said:

the rear triangle going to be strong enough (it is a specialized M2 from

the

Quoted message said:

mid 90's) for cantalevers if I can get it done? And, does anyone have

any

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

idea what it might cost?

Thanks, Matt