Decent disc brake frameset for self build

fatdaz

Hi

I have no bike maintenance experience at all other than cleaning the drivetrain and fixing punctures but I have decided to self build a winter bike as a project for fun and to learn how to maintain my own bikes.

The bike won't be raced but will be used for anything from pottering to the shops to long road rides to riding canal paths, dirt tracks and gravel trails. To that end I am looking for a decent alloy or possibly titanium road/CX frame which can take disc brakes, 32mm tyres, mudguards and a pannier rack. Initially I will put 11-speed Ultegra on it with a compact chainset with the aim of swapping that groupset onto my main bike once I am comfortable with how to do it.

I don't have a budget in mind, I'm more interested in getting a reasonably light, strong, comfortable frame. That said this will be a second bike so I don't want to throw money at it unnecessarily.

I've looked at suitable framesets on the web but the choice is simply bewildering, does anybody have any recommendations for a suitable frameset or for webites where I can easily compare multiple framesets?

Thanks

ugo.santalucia

Genesis croix de Fer, look no further

Markjaspi

Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 (I'm a bit bias) or the Planet X Flanders (carbon) looks good.

bobinski

I would echo the Crosslight pro6. It replaced this...
http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FROOPO135/ ... mine-frame,
which i also liked but the frame was too small for me. In fact I still have it if you are interested. I was supposed to use it as a base for a build for my 15 yr old son but he is now taller than me! A medium in white.

cycleclinic

The Croix der fer would be my choice too for that tyre width. Chinese CX frame would also work. Just ordered a road disc frame for my wife (chinese) I am sure it will be fine.

KulaBen

I love my Croix de Fer. It has done everything- commuting, touring, off road, transporting my son on his seat, winter duties and the odd sportive. My only wish is that I bought it as a frame and built it up

kingstonian

ugo.santalucia wrote:

Genesis croix de Fer, look no further

You can close the thread now

maddog 2

s/hand Carpe Diem ti

chip42

Malcolm, will that be an FR-320 frame you've ordered for your wife?
Andy

aberdeen_lune

Has to be the Kinesis Crosslight Pro 6. It's much lighter than the heavy Genesis CDF. I've ran my Crosslight with 50mm mudguards and 30 mm ice spiker tyres no problem so 32 mm slicks will be fine.

fatdaz

Thanks for all of the replies folks. I think I have settled on the Croix de Fer. I now need to do some research on brakes

Thanks

gabriel959

If you change your mind on the Croix de Fer, I would look at the Surly Straggler.

Costs around the same but a lot more frame options, the frame sizes at least suit me a lot better and as a bonus it can fit much larger tyres.

meanredspider

Something from left field - Volagi Viaje: without doubt what I'd buy

Grill

WyndyMilla told me that they're developing a disc brake Johnny Cake for another Transcontinental rider. Might be worth shooting them a message to see if they're going to make it available.

gabriel959

meanredspider wrote:

Something from left field - Volagi Viaje: without doubt what I'd buy

I had a look and it indeed looks great, but the frame costs upwards of £1k and it has no clear advantages from the Surly or the Croix de Fer apart from a carbon fork.

In fact it has a press fit BB which some would say is a downgrade for a bike that is going to spend some time in the mud and dirt.

rafletcher

fatdaz wrote:

Thanks for all of the replies folks. I think I have settled on the Croix de Fer. I now need to do some research on brakes

Thanks

If using drop bars I'd say TRP Hy/ Rd - they're what I use.

fatdaz

Thanks - I'd come to the same conclusion after a couple of hours of internet research last night

passout

I'd go for a kinesis decade tripster myself - even more versatile than the genesis & lighter. The pro 6 also looks good.

See: http://road.cc/content/review/59634-kin ... e-and-fork

and

http://vimeo.com/27292534 (video)

joelsim

I want to do a very similar thing, disks and 28 tyres, mainly for commuting.

I've sent an email to Planet X as I really fancy the Ti Pro SRAM but seeing if they can change the brakes/wheels. I'll keep you posted on what they say.

marcusww

Im looking for a used CX bike. Am thinking about buying a cheap used hybrid with discs and fitting drop handlebars and new shifters etc, has anyone ever seen or done this?

drlodge

Marcusww wrote:

Im looking for a used CX bike. Am thinking about buying a cheap used hybrid with discs and fitting drop handlebars and new shifters etc, has anyone ever seen or done this?

I did think about it, but saw a used Boardman CX Pro and bought it. I would keep an eye out for the right used CX bike.

marcusww

Funnily enough the boardmans caught my eye on the cx side, good value for money. But seem few and far between so am considering the hybrid with drops, did you look into the geometry whilst considering it. The Top Tube centre to centre on Hybrids seem to be long - or am I not comparing them correctly - from the boardman website.

drlodge

Boardman top tubes are a little longer - 555mm on my medium CX compared to 545mm on the Rourke but with a more relaxed seat tube angle its actually only 5mm longer in practice.