I'm looking at picking up a Mountain Cycle Stumptown because of its disk brake mounts, flexible cable routing, and lovely black anodized finish, but I'm not sure about front derailleur choices. Their catalog says they have "cable guides for all front derailleur styles (road or mountain, top or bottom pull)." But it doesn't look like they have a cable pulley to loop top mounted cables around to a bottom pull derailleur like most other triple top cable routed CX bikes (like Bianchi or Strong).

So my question is this: are there any drawbacks to top-pull derailleurs on a CX bike? Do they work well with road triple cranksets?

Bar ends and Campy Ergo work well with almost anything.

Shimano STI,however is a lottery.Odds are you will have trouble if you don't use the exact derailleur and crank they had in mind.There are some combos that work,but its hit and miss.

Dan

Bar ends and Campy Ergo work well with almost anything.

Shimano STI,however is a lottery.Odds are you will have trouble if you don't use the exact derailleur and crank they had in mind.There are some combos that work,but its hit and miss.

Dan

Campy is fine equipment and has a great heritage, but get real. It’s not magic. “...Campy Ergo work well with almost anything.” Most won’t even shift a triple. Also, if there is a spacing difference between two different cranksets that an Ultegra can’t handle, neither will Campy. And as for Campy’s top pull, triple derailleur...

To answer your question, I use (and most will agree that this works fine) a Shimano MTB shifter with road triple derailleur and crankset. I have not tried and, I think, most would say that the other way around does NOT work well. Your best answer would be to mount an after market pulley. Here’s one that I have seen recommended:

http://www.store.yahoo.com/cyclocrossworld/derclamwitpu.html

Hope this helps,
TF

have always been triple compatible.I've used them with XTR fronts,Sach,s,Campy racing triple,Shimano double/s from Ultegra to DA.

If you read his post,he says the frame does not have a pulley mount,but yes he can use an aftermarket clamp- on style.

I currently have an ergo setup shifting an XTR front derailleur with a Topline crank with a 74-110 triple.

Dan

top pulls are fine and used to be the ubiquitous method in cx. I ran Ult. STI's with an XTR (to an XTR triple crank) and had no trouble. for reliability issues I switched to bar cons and have had no trouble plus I can trim the front der. I think my Campy Record 9 (road bike) are triple compatible as well, plus they have those 'tween shifts for trimming. Now my goal is to create a pulley wheel to equalize the actuation ratio so I could use ergo shifters on my Shimano MTB drivetrain on my cx rigs. HAs anyone had any luck running ergo 8 speed with Shimano rear ders?

http://www.hubbub.com/ergoleverswshim9.htm

This may give you some ideas or maybe you could contact them to see if they have a specific solution.

dan

have always been triple compatible.I've used them with XTR fronts,Sach,s,Campy racing triple,Shimano double/s from Ultegra to DA.

If you read his post,he says the frame does not have a pulley mount,but yes he can use an aftermarket clamp- on style.

I currently have an ergo setup shifting an XTR front derailleur with a Topline crank with a 74-110 triple.

Dan


Does it work like a friction shifter?

TF

shimano bar con front is friction...sweeeeeeet.
Campy Ergos have 'tween clicks. so when operating a double chain ring if you hear scraping from cross chaining/ bad der. adj. you can microshift which just moves the frnt der. a tad so it's an indexed actuation but it doesn't move enough to move the chain.

at the Mountain Cycle website. The frame has triple cable stop on the top tube, as well as a down tube mounted stop. You can actually run a road, bottom pull, triple front derailleur without using any clamp on pulley adaptors. The Trek XO-1 frameset is the same. I'd just get the road front derailleur that you need and run the cable along the down tube and under the BB, if you want to run a road triple crankset. If you want to run a mountain triple, use a mountain front derailleur...either top or bottom pull.

That would be my preference.,asuming you can use the derailleur of your choice.I don't like the cable scratching the downtube when I grab the bike there,and I've had cables freeze to the downtube.Of course,theres always Gore cables...

Turboturtle:the total cable pull is divided into a series of ~11 clicks that move the cable a small amount,so you can trim away.Something like old grip-shift.

I use Campy Ergo's,9 speed,with a Campy racing triple rear der.,Shimano 9 sp rear wheels,and various crank/front der. combos .I prefer the frankenbike approach-can you tell..

Dan

Dan got my point: cables run under the BB are gonna get covered in crap. That's why I want a CX bike with triple top routing and disk brakes. Thanks for the link to the clamp-on pulley, Turtle, I didn't know they existed. And forgive my stupidity, but what are bar cons?

are bar end shifters.

The frame I have now has a pulley on the seattube and it is something of a mud shelf.If you can make it work I would suggest a top-pull Front derailleur.Bar end shifters are simple,cheap,and bulletproof,but I can't get used to them.Many peple do and a friend of mine won his age group national championship with them

Dan

are bar end shifters.

The frame I have now has a pulley on the seattube and it is something of a mud shelf.If you can make it work I would suggest a top-pull Front derailleur.Bar end shifters are simple,cheap,and bulletproof,but I can't get used to them.Many peple do and a friend of mine won his age group national championship with them

Dan

Another option is mounting the bullet proof bar ends on the tops (like the old MTB thumbies). Paul makes a road bar (also MTB bar) mount.

TF

it also means no cable to grab when lifting the bike from the downtube. The only problem (some say) with triple top is you set your hand on them during dismounts (and to some mounts) but you do whether you have 1 cable or 3 running across the top. They are clear of mud, not in the way for portage and you can put barrel adjusters on them for 'on the fly' der. adj's.

I'm looking at picking up a Mountain Cycle Stumptown because of its disk brake mounts, flexible cable routing, and lovely black anodized finish, but I'm not sure about front derailleur choices. Their catalog says they have "cable guides for all front derailleur styles (road or mountain, top or bottom pull)." But it doesn't look like they have a cable pulley to loop top mounted cables around to a bottom pull derailleur like most other triple top cable routed CX bikes (like Bianchi or Strong).

So my question is this: are there any drawbacks to top-pull derailleurs on a CX bike? Do they work well with road triple cranksets?

theres an eyelet for use with a top pull/swing front derailler.

I'm aware that the frame has a cable stop for a top pull front derailleur. My question was with which crank / derailleur combinations I can use it.

HAs anyone had any luck running ergo 8 speed with Shimano rear ders?

Funny you should ask, the GB National coach runs 8 speed Ergos and 8 speed XTR rear mechs with fine results (i.e about 243 national titles to his name). Likes 8 speed for 1. cost (he runs 3 identical bikes) and 2. increased mud clearance.

Cable tension is critical, but it is on any STi bike anyway for precise shifting.

Good luck.

with a top pull. an XTR fr, der (top pull) will work on either a D/A ,Ultegra or MTB crankset