Hydraulic disc brakes for xc bike/ single speed chain tensioner
Thu, 13/03/2008 - 12:49 — Jon
I'm after some cheap hydraulic disc brakes in good working order for a xc bike. I don't need rotors.
If you have some or know where some are going cheap either email me at jon.gregg@ghd.com.au or call Jon on 0431 952 363.
Also if anyone has a chain tensioner for running single speed on a normal vertical dropout frame I may be interested.
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Free tensioner
For years I used a rear derailleur on a vertical dropout bike. Road will do (short cage better). All you do is put a short (3 inch-ish) piece of old gear cable through the barrel adjuster on the derailleur and tighten down. Using the adjuster you can centre the 'tensioner' over your cog. If you leave the whole cassette on you can stop and even change gears this way! Shorten your chain as much as possible (jockeys will be pulled way forward, but can be over-pulled too far causing chain to skip). Advantages over tensioners such as Surly makes is the spring in the deraileur can take a knock and the fine tuning. Learnt that online from some old Keith Bontrager rant. Works well. If you don't have a spare deraileur I've got a drawer full. I also have a fleet (7) of single speed mountain bikes built up this way for high school mountain bike camps. Mechanically very reliable and the kids always do well enough.
go keith go
must have read a similar rant - one further suggestion is to remove the lower (tension) wheel from the deraileur cage and cut the cage down, leaving a single wheel tensioner than can still be adjusted for position.
As for cheap brakes - hayes has revamped their range for this year, so I would expect some specials to be had. Also the cheaper shimano hydros are .... well .... cheap. Beware of the basic hydro though, it has had seal probs in 07.
dave