Steel frame w cantilvers, mudguards and 700c wheels - where?

timbooth

I am after a steel frame that takes 700c wheels, mudguards and cantilever brakes, but I can't find one anywhere.

Does anybody know who makes something like this? I am trying to build this on a budget, as it is for commuting, so don't want to leave an expensive custom bike in the streets of London all day, every day.

Please help!!

notsoracy rich

Not steel, but cheap see here http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-SJSC ... -14036.htm

Any good?

Johno68

On-One (Planet X)?

Raleigh?

Dawes?

maddog 2

Kaffenbach

see http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/road/inde ... AGE_id=221

Steven Martin

Couple of suggestions:

I have seen frame & forks for Ridgeback Horizons on ebay going for about £50 unused. These were the frames for the old steel ones. They are heavy but fit the spec you are looking for. None on there at the moment though. Alternatively, you might pick up a complete bike 2nd hand.

Dawes Horizons of 2004 fit the bill too, and they can be picked up for about £200 complete. Most tourers fit the spec you request but you will have to search for a good deal.

Also, look here: http://www.bikesheduk.com/

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

Steven Martin

Oh, how about:

http://www.gearshift.co.uk/acatalog/Frames.html

Steven Martin

Found it!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Saracen-Panorama- ... dZViewItem

It is a 4130 CroMo Saracen Panorama frameset, not the Ridgeback Horizon.

This looks perfect for your needs, hope you are about 5'8"

Monty Dog

Planet-X Kaffenback - they sometimes sell the frame for about £125 on clearance. It's not the lightest, but it handles really well and is tough as old boots - can handle a bit of off-roading too.

timbooth

Thanks to all - these are just the kind of thing I am after.

I now need to decide whether to go for the 6lb Saracen at only £60 or spend a bit more and get something lighter/livelier.

Cheers!

acorn_user

Kaffenback is no lightweight either
Otherwise, just trawl ebay looking for old touring bikes. If you can find an old Dawes Galaxy in your size, go for it. They are grreat!

acorn_user

Forgot one. FORT of the Czech Republic make some frames that would suit you really well. They are available from Sonic Cycles.

http://soniccycles.co.uk/shop/products.php?id=112&cat=3

Spinacilight

Surly Cross-Check and Surly Long Haul Trucker

Soma Double Cross

Note that some of the smaller Surly's take 650 wheels.

piedwagtail91

bob jackson or ellis briggs for new ones.

thedoctor

Byercycles.co.uk (my LBS) have two - £295 for 631 tubes, or £185 for 520. Both prices are frame + forks. the expensive one comes with a headset, but I don't think the cheaper one does. Clearance for 28mm tyres and 'guards.

Usual disclaimer - no connection other than as a customer.

Edit - the cheaper one doesn't take Cantis. The expensive one does. Are you dead set on cantis? I've always found dual pivots work just as well, and they're easier to set up.

timbooth

Hi,

Yes, I want cantis so that I can run bigger tires - with them you can often get guards and 32c tires in.

Thanks - I'll have a look at the more expensive one.

PHcp

TheDoctor wrote:

Byercycles.co.uk (my LBS) have two - £295 for 631 tubes, or £185 for 520. Both prices are frame + forks. the expensive one comes with a headset, but I don't think the cheaper one does. Clearance for 28mm tyres and 'guards.

Thanks - I'll have a look at the more expensive one

The dearer one is available from a variety of dealers under a variety of names.
The best known being the Hewitt Cheviot.
If you have a favorite LBS they could get one for you direct from the importer.

another jacko

I want cantis so that I can run bigger tires - with them you can often get guards and 32c tires in.

The old 27 x 1 1/4 size is 630 x 32mm in new money. Most bikes which took them had massive clearances. They were invariably fitted with mudguards and centre or sidepull brakes, cantis hadn't been invented. You don't need canti lever brakes to get 32mm in, just a frame which doesnlt have racing bike fag paper thin clearances around thin tyres.

If you want something cheap, try doing up an old ten speed bike or an early Raleigh Pioneer or suchlike. You can get one for peanuts from the council tip or blagged from a friend who hasn't ridden theirs for years. Look out for one with a Reynolds 531 frame, it will be much better quality and lighter than a new Kaffenbacks and its ilk. Some will have 700c wheels fitted, but if not, Continental do the excellent Ultragatorskin tyre in 630x32 mm.

I've done LEJoG and climbed Ventoux on such beasts in the last couple of years, so I can vouch for their usability, even if not their cutting edge style or technology!

Monty Dog

Yes, but how do you know that the 'skip' bike you've spend ages doing up hasn't spend years with it's chainstays full of water and will collapse you in a rusted heap first time you go over a bump. Even the best steel bikes are known to corrode through at some stage.

another jacko

I've got 7 'tip bikes' currently on the go - a Colnago, 2 Carltons, a Holdsworth, a Dawes Galaxy, a Moulton and a tandem. They all get ridden regularly including for shopping, touring and commuting as well as the aforementioned LEJoG and Ventoux. I have never had any problem and neither have the rest of my family (who have 2 each!) or the dozens of friends and colleagues I've given bikes to.

Go by the general condition and ignore stuff that is rusty or otherwise doesn't have signs of having been looked after. Old steel bikes are made of quite thick metal and won't fail suddenly if you do get a bad one. If one fails, keep the good components and go back for another frame. You could buy 40 or more before it's cost you as much as a new bare Kaffenback, Surly or Hewitt frame. A custom steel frame will set you back 200 'tip bikes'.

Eurostar

What is this 'tip' you speak of? Are you from the North?