Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.comradehoser
10-26-05, 10:53 AM
let's see:
I need an all-terrain quick-commuting machine, needs to take a lot of abuse on trails, jumping curbs and potholes in d.c. streets, and I am totally stoked to try cross riding in a big way. Want to try a steel road-ish frame with drops, as I have my alu. hardtail mtn bike.
LBS bike guy suggests: Surly Cross-Check, versatile, strong, proven. With the build I want, it'll come close to $1200, (shimano 105 gruppo, crank bros candy pedals, STIs, mavic rims, don't know about the brakes yet) but the ordering seems to be taking forever.
LBS bike gal suggests: Kona Sutra, (touring bike) don't know the clearances for tires, looks to be their "dew" frame--more mountain-bikey geometry?, comes complete for about $1200 with disc brakes, shimano 105 components, etc.
Will the Sutra do it, or am I better off sticking to my building guns with the cross-check? I also kind of wanted to build myself so I can be a better bike mechanic (essential skills of the 1-bike commuter).
I need an all-terrain quick-commuting machine, needs to take a lot of abuse on trails, jumping curbs and potholes in d.c. streets, and I am totally stoked to try cross riding in a big way. Want to try a steel road-ish frame with drops, as I have my alu. hardtail mtn bike.
LBS bike guy suggests: Surly Cross-Check, versatile, strong, proven. With the build I want, it'll come close to $1200, (shimano 105 gruppo, crank bros candy pedals, STIs, mavic rims, don't know about the brakes yet) but the ordering seems to be taking forever.
LBS bike gal suggests: Kona Sutra, (touring bike) don't know the clearances for tires, looks to be their "dew" frame--more mountain-bikey geometry?, comes complete for about $1200 with disc brakes, shimano 105 components, etc.
Will the Sutra do it, or am I better off sticking to my building guns with the cross-check? I also kind of wanted to build myself so I can be a better bike mechanic (essential skills of the 1-bike commuter).