A little help sourcing old dropouts

[Tom Kellogg]

Hey folks;

Jeff and I need to restock on old style vertical dropouts. We've used Shimano SFRs, the Suntour version, even the "no-name" version. But now we are having trouble finding old stock. The new stuff available either doesn't look "right" to us or is deficient in some way. Below, please find a few shots of what we've been using and what we want to continue using. Anyone know of any NOS dropouts like these? Please use my e-mail address: spectrum.tom@gmail.com to respond. Thanks all.

img_6286.jpg.

img_6288.jpg img_6287.jpg

[Zimmermanbicycle]

Tom,
I'm about to use my last set of the Shimanos and was wondering the same thing,maybe we could pool our needs/resources and get a run made?
-Eric

[zetroc]

Do you have an opinion on the Ritchey dropouts? I have a few sets of these (on bikes and otherwise) and like them.

Rit.Forge.1 on Peter's website: Forged Frame Ends/Drop outs

[Tom Kellogg]

The Ritcheys don't give the QR enough room to clear a modern derailleur and they are only semi-verticals, which defeats the purpose for us ... ease of wheel change with fenders, etc. Also, we'd prefer to not have logos on our drops. But thanks for the thought.

[Eric Estlund]

Tom- let Peter at Ceeway know you are looking. I've been working on him to bring one in (have it recast). With enough market voices I think it's more likely to happen.

[shiggy]

You do not like the Novas?
DROPOUT REAR VERTICAL 65 DEG ANGLE :: DROPOUTS :: Nova Cycles Supply Inc.

They do look a bit "soft" rather than crisp.

[Tom Kellogg]

Tom- let Peter at Ceeway know you are looking. I've been working on him to bring one in (have it recast). With enough market voices I think it's more likely to happen.

Eric:

Good idea, I'll do that. I'd much prefer hot forged ones like the SFRs since the hangers are much stronger. Cast dropouts can't be straightened as many times, and they fail much more easily than the forged ones do. We'll keep at it. I'm hoping that someone has a box in the back of their shop that they don't plan on using.

[Eric Estlund]

Between the shape, the angle and the fact that the top is offset, those are pretty well a non starter (for me). Functionally they are fine, but not my bag.


Tom- yes, forged. I was short handing. He had some that dried up, and works with vendors that have the pattern but not the stock.

If you find a box (or two), please keep me in mind for any surplus. I've been on the hunt for a bit, but not as aggressively as I should.

[Tom Kellogg]

You do not like the Novas?
DROPOUT REAR VERTICAL 65 DEG ANGLE :: DROPOUTS :: Nova Cycles Supply Inc.

They do look a bit "soft" rather than crisp.

We can of course clean this kind of thing up, but the tab angles are too tight except for small frames and as you point out, the forging die was created by someone without much of an eye. Still looking.

[Jess Couch]

Talk to Kirk Pacenti or just go to his website. He has a close match to the first one you show.

[Tom Kellogg]

Talk to Kirk Pacenti or just go to his website. He has a close match to the first one you show.

Nope again. Kirk's are really nicely made, but the hanger dimensions make for really slow wheel changes when the QR head runs into a modern rear derailleur pivot. Again, these are all really good ideas, but I'm a picky SOB.

[Jess Couch]

U maybe a picky SOB, but u should still call him. He may be able to get u what u want. Couldn't hurt.

[blasdelf]

Nope again. Kirk's are really nicely made, but the hanger dimensions make for really slow wheel changes when the QR head runs into a modern rear derailleur pivot.

I really don't know why people keep designing things that way, we've been using drop parallelogram derailleurs for over 30 years now

this one's really a baffler, the hanger is just smack dab in the way: BREEZE STYLE DROPOUT WITH EYELET

and I don't see there being any excuse at all for semi-verticals, worst of both worlds!

[Jonathan]

Tom, Wyganowski has some nos suntour drops for sale on his site.

Jonathan

[Tom Kellogg]

Tom, Wyganowski has some nos suntour drops for sale on his site.

Jonathan

Great, thanks.

[Eric Estlund]

Yes, thanks! Great lead.

[pruckelshaus]

Would these work?

Frame Building Parts, BikeStash.com

[Peter Polack]

The Ritcheys don't give the QR enough room to clear a modern derailleur...

At least SOME builders are paying attention. Thanks, Tom.

As a consumer, I always wondered why the vertical dropouts my framebuilder used wouldn't clear the nut on my rear skewer. I had to take the skewer nut to a bench grinder to turn down the O.D. .

Aren't there any standards for this stuff?

[Eric Estlund]

There are (Shimano for one published specs on hanger/ axle relationships). Finding corresponding data from the drop out mfgs if quite a bit harder.