Subject: Re: Campy front der. with STI? Posted by: Al on September 28, 2006 at 07:14:54: In Reply to: Re: Campy front der. with STI? posted by megan on September 15, 2006 at 13:14:13:

Message: >>>I'm cobbling together a cyclocross bike and trying to use as many parts as I can without buying new stuff. Can I use an older campagnolo front derailleur (don't know which model, it's probably early 90's, all steel cheaper model) mixed with Ultegra 8 speed STI? This is for racing, and I don't like dropping chains. Does any difference in cable pull between Shimano and Campy matter for the front? >>You're going to have to simply try it to see if it works for you ... >>I recently set up a bike with 9-speed STI 105 shifters AND a supposedly incompatible 8-speed XT front derailleur (FD737, I think, without looking at it ... a BOTTOM pull that I modified to a TOP PULL ... same deal, it's what I had lying around begging to be used!) + 105 9-speed rear derailleur. >>I am using the front derailleur with a double (52/39) and it takes TWO light clicks ("normal" large lever movement as I recall ... it's been so long since I used STI shifters ... I _can_ theoretically get THREE clicks from the lever on a single throw) to move the derailleur cage between stops (I'm using a 9-speed chain, BTW) ... >>Well, I just tried to drop the chain, and I managed to unship it once out of many dozen shifts ... so, the stops need to be tweaked. There are those chain "keepers" (EXCEL SPORTS, etc.) which are used to prevent the chain from dropping onto the BB shell ... >>I'm not using ramped rings (it's an older bike that currently has undesignated-status) since I'm trying to use up my OLD, existing stuff, too. >>Since I'm just using the STI shifter to move the cage from stop-to-stop on a double, the indexing really is a moot point ... basically what you will be doing; so, adjusting the stops properly will be the key to satisfactory shifting. > >Thanks Al, I'll just try it- just wanted an opinion because a trial run down the street sometimes doesn't inform the c-cross reality of shifting with tunnel vision in peanut butter mud. A mod to turn a road derailleur into top-pull sounds very cool- MTB derailleurs are a compromise with larger cross rings, and top pull is the way to go in the goo. Yes, I've tried going single-ring too, but us chix need the low gear, and I'm tired of small fields, gonna burn me some B-boyz this year. You could possibly consider a SINGLE 39t-or-42t-or-(whatever gives you the ratio you need) chainring + 11-32t cassette (again, whatever gives you the ratio you need) + (possibly) an older, 750/XT (SGS?) rear derailleur if you need a longer pulley cage ... If the rest of your existing cassette is good-to-go with the inner chainring you are using, then you can buy an 11t cog, separately, OR cannibalize one from a MTB cassette. A 42t chainring + 11t cog will give you as high a ratio as you would probably need/want ... and, a 39t chainring may be more than enough. BTW. Good luck!