I need some advice. Ive been through what I have in the spare box and have not found a good fit. I need a front derailleur for a road frame that I have put a MTB 44T large crankset on. I am using flat bar Shimano Rapid Fire shifters (8sp by the way).
My problem is the clearance between the seat tube and the rear tire is very small. Typical of a road bike. There is maybe 3/4" of clearance.
I have tried a Deore with Top/Bottom pull design and it is WAY too deep behind the seat tube. A brand new LX top pull top swing is "just" able to clear the tire. It has maybe 1/4" clearance at full swing and I really should angle the derailleur just a hair more, but that would make it even closer.
Would a bottom swing derailleur do the trick? Is there something I am missing entirely? Im trying to do this on the cheap since one of these days I will be switching to drop bars and road cranks, but for now I want to stay with the flats.
I have tried a Deore with Top/Bottom pull design and it is WAY too deep behind the seat tube. A brand new LX top pull top swing is "just" able to clear the tire. It has maybe 1/4" clearance at full swing and I really should angle the derailleur just a hair more, but that would make it even closer.
If you can use a braze or 31.8 clamp, I have just what you need. It's a Sachs will shift the 44,46,48 large ring on a road bike. $20.
Should you change your large ring to a 46, a current 105 with some of the front part of the outer cage ground down can work for a double. The problem with the 44t ring with a road derailleur is that the inward movement of the derailleur cage can be limited by the chain stay.
