1990 Saracen Eiger Comp "Gravel"

[CTK]

Lovely colour

 

[legrandefromage]

Front brake would be better with a cable stop at the stem or headset - those fork stops just flex.

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/tektro-cable-h ... hsQAvD_BwE

You could try some CX specific cantilevers https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tektro-CR720 ... SwN5BfFvB5

or

run the straddle bridge a bit lower with the arms a bit wider, this ups the leverage.

I can do big skidz to impress the girlz on all my cantilever bikes, it is all in the setup

 

[kipperthedog]

I can do big skidz to impress the girlz on all my cantilever bikes, it is all in the setup

My memory of Canti's is certainly better than what I currently have! I think I am going to try lower straddles. I was looking at Tektro CR720s as a possible better bet for drop bar levers, though in theory the Oryx's are CX brakes too. I might also try external routing of the rear brake cable or filing the enrty-exit points into the top tube as the inernal routing doesn't seem to be helping much.

 

[legrandefromage]

Changing the cable routing wont help with the rear brake, it is actually quite modern in the way that is has cable out all the way through with no cable stops. However, make sure the cable outer is good quality so it doesnt compress when you brake.

Those Onyx cantilevers were on my touring bikes and nothing special, not if you are going fast anyway.

This set up should slam the anchors on as it is - try straddle cables and brake bridges?

 

[was8v]

The reach on this will be mega, unless you have really long arms and short legs?

When converting an MTB to drop bars to get the same reach as a road bike you need to choose a size or two smaller than normal mtb and fit a short stem. The most modern gravel bikes are running longer reach with mtb size 50mm or less stems,

To this I would fit both an inline seatpost and a shorter stem sub 50mm.

To make it handy off road I would fit bars with less drop and some flare, e.g. alpkit love mud bombers.

Basically measure tip of saddle to bars of an MTB that fits you and reproduce this distance on this from tip of saddle to hoods or drops.