Banana - Cold Setting Frame (widening) with pics.

[ThePowster]

Hey folks.

OK two parts to this post, firstly to document what I did to give something back to the community and help anyone like me who watched American Flyers and wanted a retro bike but whos also struggling to get it running lol, and secondly a question.

So here is what I did today, the Banana frame would not take my 700c wheel from my Cannondale CAAD 12 so I looked on Youtube saw a video about cold setting and basically stretching the dropouts to accommodate the new wheel.

Word of warning, I watch 2 different videos and both these chaps wound out the nuts to 160mm, well when I did the Banana today I only wound out to 154mm and checked and I was already at 132mm! :shock: so I gave it a slight equal press either side, rechecked and it came in at 129.5mm. I tried the wheel and it slid in nice and comfy, perfect

Eres some pics:










So bare that in mind if you want to give this a go, take it slow with small increments and just because someone does it at 160mm wide it doesn't mean this will be the case for you.

Now onto my question, you know those old skool levers on the frame for the gears, I think I would like to keep those for that retro feel, but I am unsure if I can use these for an 11 speed cassette? Can someone please confirm if these levers will indeed work a front and rear mech, double compact up the front 11spd at the rear.

Thanks

 

[Midlife]

I think Dia Compe do an 11 speed downtube friction shifter non-indexed.

 

[ThePowster]

Thanks Midlife

 

[legrandefromage]

The freehub body on your wheels will accept 8 to 11 spd cassettes.

The chains get narrower each time so an 8spd chain is wider than 9 which is wider than 10 etc etc

With non clicky friction shifting, its trickier to find the 'right' gear easily and quickly.

Indexed shifting works very well but the suitable down tube shifting levers can be expensive depending on what you want from the bike.

Sunrace do some down tube shifters with 9spd for £21 here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sunrace-7-8- ... ESOQ4OYKCg

9spd road cassettes can be had for around £13 here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-HG-s ... Sw88RbF5pU

Decent 9spd chain here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KMC-X9-93-Cy ... SwpDdVcYNs


You will also need front and rear derailleurs to suit, they are cheap too depending on budget

Anything Shimano from around 2009 to 1987 will run 9spd with indexing. Other brands have different reach and cable pull buggering up mixing and matching.

A random search came up with Shimano compatible: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Microshift-R ... SwaZFa9Z6O

 

[legrandefromage]

And finally one of these so you can attach the rear mech to the frame

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rear-Mech-De ... SwDN1UQRx2

 

[ThePowster]

Awesome thank you for that legrandefromage

I was not aware about the chains getting narrower.

I want to be able to use this wheelset from my CAAD 12 and cassette whats on it and its an 11 speed cassette.

The shifting levers I have at the moment are not indexed and having never rode with them before if it's going to be too tricky I guess at this stage in the build I have a decision to make.

So based on the chosen wheelset and cassette, would it make more sense to forget about the downtube shifters and go with a more traditional shift and brake lever on most current bikes?

 

[ThePowster]

And finally one of these so you can attach the rear mech to the frame

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rear-Mech-De ... SwDN1UQRx2

Really helpful, thanks

 

[legrandefromage]

That all depends on your budget. The Bananas were very low in the range with basic equipment and the ride was not rewarding.

If it were me, I'd fit the above with a new set of wheels and some dual pivot brakes such as these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Pivot-B ... QvoMSiaTng

You must measure the distance between the brake shoe and the mounting hole on the fork/ frame though as brakes have different lengths . If you have the originals, measure these

 

[ThePowster]

I think that is sound advice then..

WOW those brakes are cheap! Thanks again for that mate

I'll have to have a good look at me credit card and make some tough decisions tonight lol.

 

[keithglos]

Re:

Seam welded tubes are far easier to bend than lightweight drawn tubing.
Theoretically you are supposed to bend the ends so that they are parallel, to avoid putting a bending stress on the axle when you tighten the wheel nuts or QR.

Keith