choosing a frame

[Axher]

Hi, I'm planning of building a new bike and I'm looking for a cyclocross frame with disc mount but I have some trouble to find one. Anyone can suggest me some good frame ? It will be to commute and do some trail, not really for racing but I like to go fast thanks.

[jhota]

how much do you want to spend?

i just bought Nashbar (http://www.nashbar.com)'s cyclocross frame to build up - because it was cheap. like $310 or so for frame and carbon fork.

i would have liked a Salsa Las Cruces (http://www.salsacycles.com/frames_06LasCruces.html), but msrp is $1060.

and Redline (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/) offers the Conquest frame in both alumnium and Ti. but i have no idea what they cost.

Google is your friend.

[Axher]

I would like to stay under 500$

[jhota]

if you really want a disc frame in that price range, you're probably stuck with Nashbar or Redline... after using Google (http://www.google.com), it looks like the 2006 Conquest Pro frameset is around $400 street.

my Nashbar-framed bike is almost done (only missing tyres and tubes now) - and fully built with disc brakes it's right at 21 lbs. so fast shouldn't be an issue. total cost is going to end up around $1150 or so.

i did use eBay to source a lot of used parts, which helped me keep the weight and costs down. plus, i've got a good relationship with the owner of my LBS, and he hooked me up with some stuff at cost. if i'd sunk more money in the wheels, it'd probably be under a 20 lb bike.

[SAB]

Remember that disc brakes are not allowed at most races, although you mentioned you probably won't race so this shouldn't be a problem. Check out Surly frames as well, they are around $300-350 and I think they have at least one frame with mountings for disc brakes.

[phillybill]

Some people have been looking at the IBEX or the Fetish frames. Though I think a Cannondale CX frame, fork and headset can be had for 500.00. When I was shopping around the LBS quoted me that price. In the end I got a Ridley for a bit more.

[jhota]

i looked at Surly (http://www.surlybikes.com/) and Fetish (http://www.fetishcycles.com/) before i bought my frame. some observations:

the Surly Cross-Check (http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck.html) doesn't have disc mounts, and it's heavy.
the Surly Karate Monkey (http://www.surlybikes.com/karatemonkey.html) does have disc mounts, but it's really heavy.
the Fetish ankh (http://www.fetishcycles.com/road1.html) has disc mounts, but it only has 130 mm spacing. 130 mm disc hubs are thin on the ground.

[fogrider]

why do you want disc brakes? they are heavy, and I hate the look of the cables. A friend of mine rides a full suspension mt. bike and he wants to go with disc brakes because of extreme mud and wet conditions. but if you don't ride in those conditions, I don't see a good reason for them.

my criterial for a cross bike: ti would be great, but too expensive. steel had a nice ride but rust is an issue since it was likely to get wet and steel is on the heavy side. alum was good because there are many lightweight frames out there and with bigger tires with lower psi, harsh ride was less of an issue than road bikes with 120+ psi.

I got an alum. rock lobster, rides great!

[roamer]

Check http://www.noxcycles.com/site/frame_cross1.htm
frame crossfire1 199,- Euro -> 240,- USD

[Ronsonic]

I would like to stay under 500$

That'll get you a Redline frame and some parts and some parts to go on it. I know they ain't fancy, but they are a very well designed and engineered frame.6

Ron

[outofthesaddle]

Hey SAB - I think that discs are only a problem in UCI calendar races and then only in the UCI categories at those races. Unless he's going to be racing with a UCI license I don't think that the discs will be a problem even if he wants to try his hand at racing. FWIW - although I agree with the other poster that there's really no need for need for discs on a 'cross bike, I expect that the UCI will change its position on discs before too long and allow them.

[enduro]

How about a Soma doublecross?

[Pzary3233]

What about a Planet X Uncle John (http://www.planet-x-bikes.com/road/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=158&MMN_position=355:355) frame? www.planet-x-bikes.com