What frame do I need?

[vbc]

Previously in Bikeradar, sorry if you've read this already.

At the moment , I've got a Planet-X Kaffenback for winters/commuting/pootling about etc. Much as like it, it is flawed - not enough rear tyre clearance, no cable hanger at the back for cantilever brakes (I hate the mini Vs) & poor paint finish.

What I would like is a steel bike, clearance for 32mm tyres at the back, 28mm at the front (with mud guards), fully rigged for canti brakes, 130mm OLN rear chainstays and with the cracking handling that I love the Kaff for.

I've looked for other frames - Surly Crosscheck, Hewitt Cheviot/Byer Cycles Super Tourist, various Audax frames but I can't find anything that is really what I want.

Is my only option now to go see Argos Cycles (local to me) and get them to build exactly what I want and pay double than what I might for an off the shelf frame?

Any ideas would be welcome.

 

[GrahamG]

Brian, how do?!

Argos strike me as being bloody expensive - I don't think you could get anything that wasn't a basic 531 type build for less than £1000.

I reckon you're probably best off going custom from one of the builders well known for steel audax/tourers like Roberts, Dave Yates, Hewitt etc. I ended up with a custom Hewitt Audax frame that ended up coming to £850 but it's dead posh.

There might be a couple of other options for off-the-peg frames:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/frames/touring/product/peregrine-frame-09-33404

You hear a lot of recommendations for both custom and OTP frames from Ellis Briggs as they're apparently a bit cheaper than most simply because they're less well known.

http://customframebuilding.ellisbriggscycles.co.uk/

 

[Christopher]

I wanted almost exactly the same thing as you and ended up getting Dave Yates to build me a frame - a slightly tweaked Audax Populaire. Lovely bike but not cheap, cost roughly £1,000 and I had some parts already (wheels, handlebars)

Meanwhile, Genisis have brought out the Croix de Fer - big clearances, steel frame, but disc brakes (so probably 135mm at the back) and Shimano 20-speed 105 gearing. Will take rack + 'guards though. AFAIK it is not available frame-only and does not have canti studs.

 

[vbc]

Thanks for the ideas.

Argos does seem quite expensive if I go down the custom route but I did think of getting them to modify my Kaffenback - put on a rear cable hanger, much like the latest Pompino, get an Uncle John carbon cyclo cross fork and get it resprayed. Doesn't solve the rear tyre clearance issue but should be a bit cheaper than the custom build route.

The Pearson Compass in this months C+ looks quite nice but don't know if they sell frame & forks only. I'm standard sized and usually fit a 'medium' in a S, M, L & XL range so don't really need a custom frame for size reasons.

Anyway, I'll keep my eyes open.

 

[Sheriff_Fatman]

I've just bought a Salsa Casseroll frame to replace my old but now sadly broken Dave Yates Frame and first impressions are really good. It would seem to meet most of your requirements - Steel, reasonably light, clearance for 32mm tyres front and back with mudguards (or 37mm without mudguards), 130mm OLN rear spacing, a good range of sizes and great paintwork! The only thing is it uses long drop road callipers rather than cantis, but for me at least this was an advantage as I much prefer the performance and ease of maintenance of dual pivots over cantis!

 

[Cope]

Previously in Bikeradar, sorry if you've read this already.

What I would like is a steel bike, clearance for 32mm tyres at the back, 28mm at the front (with mud guards), fully rigged for canti brakes, 130mm OLN rear chainstays and with the cracking handling that I love the Kaff for.

Don't know if they can take canti brakes, but what about one of the Thorn audax frames?

I ended up looking out for what I wanted on ebay, and got lucky with an Orbit Harrier. Probably paid over the odds for it, but it's what I wanted.

S.

 

[P.H]

Are you stuck on the idea of a steel frame?
On 32mm tyres a decent aluminium frame would be fine for anything short of all day touring/Audax and there's plenty think they're fine for that. have a look at the Kinesis Crosslight which fit the bill and would give you change out of £200. I have the Raclight T version on 25mm tyres and although not as smooth as my Hewitt tourer it's not far short.

I did think of getting them to modify my Kaffenback - put on a rear cable hanger, much like the latest Pompino, get an Uncle John carbon cyclo cross fork and get it resprayed.

can't you use a seatpost cable hanger? I use the rear brake so little I wouldn't be that bothered as long as I had a good front one. You could then get a decent powder coat for £50ish and have enough change from the Argos frame price for another bike.

 

[giant man]

The Condor Fratello (f+f) is about £550 I think and has a lot of fans, extremely versatile by all accounts

http://condorcycles.com/fratello.html

A trip to London could settle your mind.

 

[John the Monkey]

I must say those Kinesis frames look interesting - I'm toying with buying/building something along these lines to replace my too small hybrid - I know I want bigger tyres (32mm) but a racy frame and drop bars. I had my eye on the Croix de Fer, but it's quite a bit of money for a second bike (and I do have some bits I could press into service for a build)

 

[Christopher]

Agree with the Croix de Fer being a bit pricy. I was hoping to get one through the bike-to-work scheme

 

[John the Monkey]

I think the big plus on the Croix De Fer is the disc brakes, which are quite appealing. Crosslight builds (check 'em out on Epic Cycles) look like better value though (imho) and seem to do more or less the same thing.

See how I'm talking myself into getting one? :/

 

[vbc]

Pearson will do the Compass F&F with headset for £400.

I think I've sidelined the idea of modifying & painting the Kaff as it's too expensive without getting what I want.

The Crosslight 4T sounds good and can be had for about £270 F&F and will build up in to a very nice all round bike. Just got to convince Mrs C that I need another bike now!