Touring groupset etc

[Kins]

Right, tomorrow I get a Dawes Horizon Tour frame forks and triple crank which I intend to do some light touring on in the summer.

Not trying to get it original, but would like some info on group sets to complete the bike. I intended to put rear rack and panniers on for trip length of Wales, home to London etc. Probably be camping.

I have a set of wheels but they are only 7 speed but don't mind buying 8 or 9 to fit a larger groupset. Would prefer to stay triple but don't mind changing the crankset.

Would a larger MTB set be good enough and not sure whether to go flat bar or road/touring bars?
How much weight would this take, its a Reynolds 520 frame and I am 13 1/2 stone?

Any help, or experiences be helpful.

 

[vernon]

I'd not worry about your weight.

I had a Dawes Galaxy with a seven speed cassette. It worked well enough. You can still buy seven speed cassettes. Rear derailleurs don't care how many gears are on the rear cassette as their movement is dictated by the shifters. If you are having drops you need to consider whether you are going to use STI levers or bar ends shifters. Bar ends are cheaper. STI shifters will not work with a front MTB mech

I have a Dave Yates' light tourer which has a hybrid group set. I have Froggleg calipers which offer better braking, a Shimano 105 chain set with the 30 tooth granny ring replaced by a 26 toothed one a Sora front triple mech, a Deore rear mech and an SRAM 8 speed cassette all controlled by a Shimano 2300 set of STI levers. They all work together well and have performed faultlessly for the pazst 3,000+ miles.

 

[Kins]

I have some spare bar and sti's but really not sure which way to go. Fork is a 1" quill stem which leaves less choice. I also have basically everything off a scrapped mtb as well which was 3 x 7.

Also don't know whether to go canti's or shell out for a disc brake package, either cable or hydraulic and/or swap the fork.

 

[clarion]

If you want to upgrade a Horizon for discs, it's going to start costing with brazing and respray. Well set-up cantilevers (NOT low profile) are very good stoppers for touring, though you could, of course, go for V-brakes if it's your preference (it's certainly not mine).

No reason not to stay with 7-speed if you wish. I only changed to 8-speed on my last tourer because I needed to replace the rear wheel, and couldn't source a decent 7spd hub. Cassette choice is a bit limited for 7, though.

As far as groupsets go, I prefer Deore LX, then XT, then Deore for mechs etc. Depends from there what you want to do with the gear levers. Downtube is fine. I prefer bar ends. If you're going for STI (in which case I'd definitely recommend leaving behind the 7spd, sadly), then you need to be sure you match up the cable pull, as it can be different between road and MTB mechs. I know very little about STI, as it doesn't appeal to me at all (we only have it on the tandem, and I think that was A Mistake).

Reynolds 520 is a decent steel, and not far short of 531. My fixed commuter is 520 (Ridgeback Solo), and I am 90kg, so heavier than you. It's not a problem.

Although the Horizon was always a second best (and, for a period, second best to a Galaxy which was nowhere near it's former glory), it's a good, solid, reliable tourer. It won't set the world on fire, but, if you get it set up properly, it should be comfortable for riding all day. Hope you enjoy many happy miles on it.

 

[jjb]

I see sjsc have a v brake that works with an sti brifter. You could have one on the back. I suppose there's merit in having all 4 brake blocks being the same.

 

[vernon]

I have some spare bar and sti's but really not sure which way to go. Fork is a 1" quill stem which leaves less choice. I also have basically everything off a scrapped mtb as well which was 3 x 7.

Also don't know whether to go canti's or shell out for a disc brake package, either cable or hydraulic and/or swap the fork.

You can buy quill to ahead converters. I did that when I refurbished my Flying Gate replica. it gave me a lot more choice of bars and stem lengths.

 

[Kins]

Arrived finally, few days late but very clean frame, well happy. Trying to date it but can't seem to find the exact one. Has a Suntour SR crank that says 9 speed on it with Square taper BB and a quill stem. Anyone any ideas? I thought it was around 2005/6 but not sure now.

 

[Kins]

OK, decision made unless you tell me different.

Tiagra 9 speed sti's
Shimano Deore triple crank 26-36-48 with 165mm or 170mm
Deore rear cassette 11-32
Deore xt rear mech
Tiagra front mech

This ok for a set? Am I going to have any trouble with the chain line this way? Do I need a long cage rear mech or will a medium do?