Specialized Rockhopper Kid Carrier" v2, now with a Clydesdale fork is dead!

I just realised that I when I set the front brake up, I set the pads up like I would if it was facing the other way... Including the direction of the pads and the toe-in. Will rectify tomorrow.

Went and picked up the Shimano T4000 brake levers today... and it’s absolutely pissing down so I can’t be bothered doing anything to my bike that involves going outside unless I really have to.

Had a thought in the middle of the night, that the new lever a won’t work with the rear canti due to not having adjustable cable pull, so I’ll swap that out to a v-brake. I’m glad I realised that now, and now after building the whole thing up.

Bought some Ergon GA3 grips at lunch as well as some 40mm and 20mm spacers. Hopefully I won’t have a million spacers now.

Now I just need to find time to finish it.

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Was given a Maxxis DTH rear tyre this morning, so I have everything to finish the build. I’m hoping the rear brake fits over the tyre, as they’re a bit nicer than what I was using. Can’t wait to finish it.

Where’d you source the spacers?

Im sure you won’t have an issue with clearance on the V-Brake, I’ve had a pair of V-brakes over the top of 65mm GB guards before with no issues

Got the spacers from one of my local bike shops. I guessed what I needed and I managed to get it perfect. Just need to use a 5mm spacer as well.

As for the brakes, they’re mini-v’s, so the arm length is 95mm. They just clear the rear tyre, so if I put mudguards on, I’ll have to go with longer arms.

Related to the rear brake, I’m hoping I can use the cable routing for the canti’s for the v-brakes. Before I just cable tied the housing along the top tube after the cable stop, but I want it to look neater. I’m thinking I can get away with it, if I can get the housing to sit snugly against or in the cable guide around the seat collar. If I had a step-down ferrule it’d work perfectly, but the only one I have is for gear cable housing so it’s too narrow. I might try and drill a few mm out tomorrow so the ferrule sits in there. There’s plenty of room for the cable to curve back to the brake noodle once it comes out of the cable guide.

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The cable inner would originally have run through a slim plastic sleeve as is passed throught that tube. The liner of a v brake noodle would be a good replacement for it and you might even be able to wrangle a cut down noodle through the tube, which would leave you with a cable stop on the brake side. Alternatively, Problem Solvers do a clamp-on cable stop which I've got on the top tube of my Rockhopper.

I like the way you’re thinking! I have a spare noodle I can try and thread through tomorrow. If not, I can try the noodle inner.

Well the noodle seems to work. The brake arms move and the cable seems to move freely enough. I’ll see how it is when I install pads. The biggest issue (so far) was getting that small bit of housing the right length.

EDIT: It works!

EDIT 2: The difference of nicer brake levers as well!

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Top bodging.

Finally finished it this afternoon. I need to tweak a few things. The front brake shudders and squeals, and one of the rear brake arms rubs on the tyre when braking. I also need to figure out the right pressure for the front wheel. The front derailleur needs to be adjusted as well. I stupidly cut the shifter cable before getting it all sorted and now it’s fraying, so I have to replace that soon.

Other than that it rides great. It handles well, it doesn’t feel weird at all. It probably rides better than it did with the original forks. The new tyres make a huge difference as well.

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Look fcken awesome dude. Loved following this build. The rear brake noodling is genius btw, wish I had thought of that

Thanks. If it wasn’t for @ffm, I wouldn’t have thought of it.

I also would love a crate like this, but they don’t ship internationally. I can only find similar square crates here.

https://store.bluelug.com/bl-select-rectangular-milk-crate.html

Fair dos! How far does that noodle go through the tube? Did you have to cut the metal of the noodle back but leave the inner full length? My only concern would be the tension slowly pulling it further through which would throw the braking off.

I've used a noodle in a similar situation before to make the tight turn from under the bar tape to a headset-mounted cable stop from which the inner went down to a set of centre-pulls. They are dead useful little things.

Incidentally, the washers on your seat QR look like they are the wrong way round. The one with the radius cut into it should go under the lever.

Super cool build, well done!

turned out awesome!

The noodle was cut pretty much in half. The curve of the guide stops it from pulling further in (at this stage). I kept the liner pretty much the same length and fed that in.

And yeah, looking at it now, you’re right, I was in a rush putting it back together. I’ll fix it today.

I might buy one of these. It’s a blue lug crate, just not a Blue Lug crate.

https://admerch.com.au/product/m-lb001bl-lug-box-crate-blue/

Parts list for those interested:

• Frame - 90’s Specialized Rockhopper with custom paint splatter by me and my son
• Fork - Crust Clydesdale
• Headset - Velo Orange Slimstak
• Stem - Nitto UI-5EX
• Bars - Sim Works “Get Around” bars
• Shifters - Shimano Alivio
• Brake levers - Shimano Alivio
• Grips - Ergon GA3
• Bell - Crane “E-ne”
• Brakes - Tektro 930AL mini-v
• Seat & seat post - Selle Italia Flite and alloy seat post
• Cranks - Sugino triple
• Pedals - Jet Black MTB flats
• Front derailleur - Shimano Alivio
• Rear derailleur- Shimano Sora
• Cassette - Shimano 9 speed (11-36)
• Wheels - unknown (Shimano rear hub)
• Tyres - Maxxis DTH (26x2.3” rear, 20x2.2” front)
• Kid seat - Do Little
• Basket - Wald 139
• Bottle cages - Velo Orange “Moderniste”
• Other - Hungry mini muncher stem bag, Hungry basket bag, Safety Pizza

Lovely build. Exactly how I would have done it I think. Shame the BlueLug milk crate isn't available.

Thanks.

Ordinarily I’d just put one of those crates on my wish list for when I go back there... but I don’t see that happening anytime soon.

I do also like the idea of a tub with a lid on it.

Rear brake is working perfectly now, no rubbing. Front brake is squawking and honking and shuddering. Didn’t have time / couldn’t be bothered trying to fix that today.

Picked my son up from kindergarten on it this afternoon and everything rode great. Bike still handles well with his extra weight on the top tube.

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