Dolan FXE - Offroad maybe...

Both produce enough power to lock out skinny tyres with a skinny rider. Vs are pretty powerful.

I'd want discs if riding steep trails (and trying to go fast).

To OP: If you have the old blue version of the FXE you can run up to 35c with some clearance for mud in the back. If you want a caliper rear brake you'll be able to fit 32c if you'll use longreach brakes.

I don't know the exact differences to the new ones but the old ones had longer chainstays than the equivelant pre cursa and also much more clearance. So much infact that it would be very troublesome to run a 42mm chainline with anything bigger than a 46T. Stupid design in that aspect.

Thanks. A pair of 35 semi slicks have arrived in the post this morning. Think the forks are at my neighbours.

Should have this little project complete by Wednesday.

Nearly ready for it's first ride tomorrow.

A bit more V-brake fiddling to be done...

Blue Dolan FTW.

Looks great, clearance at the back looks pretty good.

You'll need this for similar modulation to caliper;

That's a clever bit of kit.

Looks good fun.

Ed, what does the travel agent actually do?

Converts levers from short pull to long pull.

Or for simplicity sakes just get mini Vs.

^i got mini vs and the pull strength from my s500s still sucked. Still need a travel agent... in my case I do anyway.

Only because you got SRAM levers.

You could probably find the cheap (but perfectly functional) Tektro Mini V for cheaper than the travel agent. Neater and a more suited level of power.

Only because you got SRAM levers.

Ed, is that genuinely why? Would the tektro levers work properly?

I believe he means these levers.

I don't believe so, those will pull too much cable for mini-vs. Standard Tektro R200/RL340s work just fine.

Ahh, I missed the bit where JB had Minis. Doh.

I ended up using the travel agent. Luckily London Fields Cycles had one in their parts drawer. The mechanic was adamant that I couldn't use it as I intended , I guess he hadn't actually opened the packet to look at the instructions ever.

Took the bike out for a muddy 2hrs in Epping Forest this afternoon. Lot's of fun, but I always get lost there.

Nice. Looking forward to a regular Sunday off road ride.

Ed, is that genuinely why? Would the tektro levers work properly?

I really don't know why, I had S900 (on mini-v) and S500 (on Avid Road BB7), the modulation really suck with SRAM levers, even thought I loved the shape of the levers.

It was until I use the Cane Creek SCR-5* that it improved dramatically, and i'm not talking about those v-brake road levers that the other have mentioned.

I figure it down to the levers, i.e. Shimano Sora were crap with mini-v/disc brakes, but Tiagra to upward is a massive improvement.

*the cheaper Tektro of similar shape could work just as well but material difference can affect the modulation, i.e. flexy instead of a stiffer levers.

Dredge. Three years has gone quickly.

I'm now converting to disc brakes mostly because the front rim needs replacing and I'm so bored of that.

The Dolan will be going through a transformation to fixed gear bike packing tourer. In June I'll be cycling Amsterdam to Calais, camping on the way and will hopefully use it for a few long weekends in the UK too.

The changes are simple:
1) New forks and disc brakes
2) new front wheel
3) Some lovely 30c slicks from Challenge
4) Spinaci bars up front for battling headwinds and some extra hand positions. (Finding a 30.8mm clamp for these was tricky)
5) Maybe up the gearing. It's currently 48/22 for off-road or recovery rides but if all goes to plan I should be riding mostly with a tail wind and on the flat so 48/19 or 18 would probably be best.
6) I'm going to try and bodge a third bottle holder under the down tube to hold tools and spares.

48/19 with a load is decent, especially with headwind being a possibility.

What fork do you have in mind? Fork I recommend is the Surly Disc Trucker fork in 26" that give you a reasonable A2C length for the Dolan.

This also mean you can get away with a low rider + small panniers if necessary, mudguard too as the Dolan have hole on the dropout for it.

I've already got the fork. I did consider that one, but something about pairing a steel fork with an alu frame just didn't feel right to me.

I've got a Kinesis cx disc fork. Its still important the bike rides well in non-touring mode.

It work for Cannondale in the past.

The Kinesis fork is really long, like actually raised your front end a lots at 405mm, the original Alpine fork were more or less 367mm.

This is moot as you gotten used to the old Kinesis fork actually now that I think about it.

Bringing me to this, sell me your old Kinesis CX canti fork?

Yes, I was going to sell it on here anyway. PM'd.