limitations on a modern retro build (drivetrain)

[kool maudit]

i am currently planning a build which would see me using a 2015 frame and fork (steel, retro-ish) but which would incorporate a lot of retro elements.

particularly, i am wondering about the drivetrain. would it be possible to use 1990-94 era cranks and hubs/cassette? or have things like spacing changed.

ideally, i am looking to pair xt hubs with a tight cassette, an old NOS 1991 dura-ace derailleur and dx thumbshifters set to friction (i have eccentric tastes).

the frame is a 2015 salsa, however, and i do like some modern stuff, so all thuis stuff would live alongside modern disk brakes and a fox fork.

what issues do i have here, and should i just consider modern parts?

 

[Minifreak]

You could always swap the axel out for a longer one and add spacers as long as the length isn't to great the mech should still work.

 

[FluffyChicken]

Re:

No as far as I know the basic positioning of the rear mech and 135 spacing is still used. Also the 68/73mm bottom bracket shells and front mech positioning are the same. No big innovations there.

Of course check your frame does have that bottom bracket as there are now also integrated versions

 

[kool maudit]

that is interesting. so the reader hub/casset width on a modern frame is the same as an early '90s frame? what about the bb?

i have an old set of m900 cranks i'd love to use, i just didn't think they'd work. this is my first modern build.

 

[ishaw]

You should be fine with most things, hub spacing might need updating depending on the hubs and frame diameter. As long as the bb is threaded you should be fine with m900 cranks and bb, just check frame clearance.

I assume the modern frame has brake bosses on the rear? Might want to think about forks too as if the frame is for longer travel suspension, you'll need an appropriate fork.

 

[kool maudit]

i will be using modern disks and suspension.

 

[ishaw]

You should be fine. I've done the opposite many times and it all hangs together.

 

[halaburt]

Chainline or crankarm/chainstay interference could be an issue depending on how long or short a BB spindle you choose to run.

 

[kool maudit]

the frame is one of these, by the way:

i am planning an eccentric drivetrain build with dura ace downtube thumbies on mounts, an 11-26 cassette, m900 cranks and modern brakes and forks.

i'll run skinwall 29er tires from onza and silver bars, stem, seatpost with a white fox float and a white selle italia flite.

i raced in the early 90s and want to recapture the high-end, pieced together feel of my bike shop colleagues' rides from then.

 

[Thias]

You will have problems to mount your brake-disk to the old hub
But the frame has no canti-bolts, so you are bound to using a disk brake.
This means, you cannot use any old hubs.

But you can use the rest of the drive train - cassette (with some spacer if you want an old casette that fits your shifters), derailleur, BSA-BB and cranks.
It might also be a bit problematic to figure out the correct BB length. The "old" standard chainline was 45-50mm, the modern bikes use something 50+, iirc??

About the thumbies: Do you know microshift? They sell (index, also handlebar mounted) thumbies for up to 10 gears. And those are very good quality. They will work with your dura-ace stuff.

Edit: Oh, you changed your post while I was writing ...