Still looking for that Cross Bike ... Jake the Snake?

[potsy]

Quite fancy a 'cross bike as my next purchase,Tri-cross was high up my wishlist but looking at the 2011 model it now comes in at £1000 for the Sport and it still doesn't have disc brakes.
Croix de Fer now top of the list.

 

[Zippy]

Quite fancy a 'cross bike as my next purchase,Tri-cross was high up my wishlist but looking at the 2011 model it now comes in at £1000 for the Sport and it still doesn't have disc brakes.
Croix de Fer now top of the list.

I've never tried disc brakes and have always been happy with canti's.

 

[potsy]

I've never tried disc brakes and have always been happy with canti's.

Me neither Zippy,but as this would be my winter commuter/wet weather bike then the discs sound like a good idea.
still haven't decided if I am getting another bike yet,it's just wishful thinking at the minute.
Have a perfectly good Trek hybrid that I should be using this winter instead.

 

[Moodyman]

Zippy - rims to discs is like cassette to CD.

Do it man.

 

[Zippy]

Zippy - rims to discs is like cassette to CD.

Do it man.

I hear you Moodyman, but the Kona Jake the Snake doesn't come with disc brakes. The Tricross does have disc brakes but it also comes with other more inferior parts compared to the Kona; particularly 501 chainset and the wheels on the Kona look a better spec.

 

[nich]

Roadrat?

I got one of these a couple of weeks ago. Absolutely awesome. I went for the drop bar / disc / single-speed option. Bring on winter, there's nothing this bike can't handle!

Bleh to non-discs in the wet. I can't be doing with cleaning the black goo off the rims every time it pours down, plus I really would like to be able to stop. The single-speed thing is interesting, it seems quite easy on the hills compared to my road bike, and is really rather addictive, plus very easy to clean and no sorting out gears a couple of a times a week.

It's a steel frame, so that adds to the weight, but it does soak up the bumps better than my road bike.

I've also found the guys at Cotic smashing to deal with - only took a week to build up and get it delivered!

Overall, thoroughly recommended

 

[Zippy]

I honestly don't get this - I've always been able to stop with rim brakes so well that the wheels lock up and I have to let the brake out again. Any more efficient and I'd flip the bike! quite happy with cantis.

 

[MacB]

I honestly don't get this - I've always been able to stop with rim brakes so well that the wheels lock up and I have to let the brake out again. Any more efficient and I'd flip the bike! quite happy with cantis.

there are cantis and there are cantis, setup is important as well, some really good info on the CTC forum about it, explains the Sheldon stuff in pictures. I've set up Tektro CR520's and they worked as well as my v-brakes. I tried to setup some old cantis on a bike I got from the tip and just couldn't get them to anything like the same standard. Bunged some v's on and it was easy to set up.

Having had a play around now I'm sold on the idea of mechanical disc brakes. Wheel changes are easier and I hate the thought of grinding away my expensive rims with braking. also pads are meant to last a lot longer, or at least for the sort of road/commuting riding that I do.

 

[Brandane]

I honestly don't get this - I've always been able to stop with rim brakes so well that the wheels lock up and I have to let the brake out again. Any more efficient and I'd flip the bike! quite happy with cantis.

Me too. I have a Tricross triple with canti brakes. The standard pads weren't so good and sounded as if they were grinding the rim away whenever you braked. Also produced a lot of black "goo" in the wet. All was sorted with 2 sets of Kool-Stop dual compound pads. They now stop the bike as good as the hydraulic discs on my mountain bike do! Also much kinder on the rims, and no black gunk.

 

[Zippy]

I think I am sold on the idea of the Kona Jake the Snake - but this has no disc brakes. Can they be fitted?

The Tricross does have disc brakes but the other components (wheels, chainset etc) are not as good as the Kona.

I could do with a cross of both bikes!

 

[g00se]

Fitting discs would be difficult but not impossible.

You would need to replace wheel hubs and find discs that would work with the amount of pull from your brake levers (most discs are designed for mountain bikes and expect the distance pull of v-brake levers rather than cantis).

You'll also need to fit mounting lugs to the frame and forks. So if these moutings aren't already there, you'll probably need to front forks with disc compatible ones and have rear lugs braised/welded on.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

retro fitting discs to a bike not designed to have them is probably more hassle than it is worth unless you can do necessary brazing/welding yourself.

Avid BB7 Road disc brakes work fine with road/cross drop bar levers and tecktro make drop bar levers compatible with v brakes should you want to go down that route.

 

[Stephenite]

Hey Zip and co

There's a little thread here you might find interesting

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/converting-kona-jake-the-snake-to-disc

I've often thought i'd like disc brakes on my 'Snake but yet to look into it properly.

Since i tightened up the brakes it came with, and replaced the brake pads with longer MTB pads i had lying around, the bike brakes very well.

Don't have much experience with disc brakes, myself. I put some on my lightweight hardtail (which prob. increased the weight a bit) but haven't used it much since i bought the 'Snake.

 

[potsy]

I think I am sold on the idea of the Kona Jake the Snake - but this has no disc brakes. Can they be fitted?

The Tricross does have disc brakes but the other components (wheels, chainset etc) are not as good as the Kona.

I could do with a cross of both bikes!

Which Tricross has disc brakes Zippy? Seen the specs for the 'sport' and it has normal ones,only difference I can see is better wheels on the 2011 version but at £1000 it should have more IMO.
http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/specializedtricrosssportracingbike2011.aspx?&id=14791

 

[Zippy]

Which Tricross has disc brakes Zippy? Seen the specs for the 'sport' and it has normal ones,http://www.leisurela....aspx?&id=14791

To my embarrasment Potsy - none of them. they must have been on another frame while I was browsing the store and got them welded onto the wrong bike in my memory. Sorry for confusion.

As it happens, the LBS got back to say they don't have the Tricross in my size (49cm).

The other LBS called to say they have the Kona Jake the Snake in 47cm - but is that going to be too short a reach I wonder? I am 5'3" tall and 29" inside leg. They say their supplier has a 47cm but my reservation is that the reach is going to be too short.