Touring - Nashbar touring frame

tried to find out about this in the search but couldn't. I can get the Nashbar aluminum touring frame for 119.00 plus shipping. Are these things any good and worthy of building up?

I've seen a discussion on here about that... http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=72422&highlight=nashbar+touring+frame

Most of those comments are at least 2 years. I'm wondering if Nashbar has changed the frame and fork since then.

I recently built up a touring bike using the Nashbar frameset. I love it!

The fork is aluminum (not CrMo as the per the catalog description). I'm using the Nashbar Trekking crankset, 48-38-28, with a junior racing cassette, 14 to 25 9-speed, and 27" wheels with 1 1/4" Gatorskins. (The terrain is really flat around here!) There's plenty of room for fenders and even larger tires if you wish. The "7 o'clock" rear brake cable location makes it difficult to run cantilever brakes, however. The cable run from the rear housing stop on the top tube to any sort of add-on housing stop is pretty tortuous so I opted for V-brakes, which has worked out pretty well. I'm using drop bars with bar-cons and road levers with Travel Agents to get adequate cable pull (and adjustability to boot).

A word to the wise - don't even try a trial fit of the bottom bracket without using Never-Seize on the threads!

I have about 1,000 miles on this bike so far with zero problems. It's my primary bike for both utility and recreation riding.

Cheers,
Bob P.

Pictures of a build out. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ewwhite/sets/72157617106008079/)

Cool: Thanks for the pics.The bike looks great.

Most of those comments are at least 2 years. I'm wondering if Nashbar has changed the frame and fork since then.

Looking at the current geometry listed on their website, it does look like they've sourced a frame with a more sensible top tube length than their previous model. I had a 58cm frame and found the 60cm c-c top tube too long, even with a very short, high-rise stem. I also think the previous frame was 7001 alloy tubing, but I'm not sure what difference that makes.

+1 on what Bob Pringle says about cable routing. I believe I mentioned it in the thread previously linked. I also had trouble with fork chatter using Tektro Oryx cantilever brakes with Kool Stop pads, but I solved it with a fork mounted cable stop. If the forks on the new offering are different, this may not be a problem.

Stringbreaker

We just discussed this in commuting (your own thread) in June::p

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=556007

Just buy the frame already...you'll probably like it, and for the price you can't go wrong.:thumb:

Older frame has a 1" head tube. New one has a 1.125".

Probably many other differences as well.

How are you getting it for $119? $145 at Nashbar.

20% off a single item.
20%=$30.00 off

$149.99 - $30 = $119

I'm still thinking of getting another one in size 56...have one in 58. Rides pretty good.

Stringbreaker

We just discussed this in commuting (your own thread) in June::p

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=556007

Just buy the frame already...you'll probably like it, and for the price you can't go wrong.:thumb:

Oh crap no wonder I couldn't find it, :o

Stringbreaker

We just discussed this in commuting (your own thread) in June::p

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=556007

Just buy the frame already...you'll probably like it, and for the price you can't go wrong.:thumb:

I knew I saw it somewhere recently.

Must be the heat in the Puget Sound area. Its making me forgetful either that or the bedroom project is taking its toll on me.

So...did you order the frame yet?

"don't even try a trial fit of the bottom bracket without using Never-Seize on the threads!"

Or better still chase and face the BB before build-out.

I rode on tour last month with someone who built his bike on the Nashbar Touring Frame. It looked like a nice bike.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2581/3670331536_d4dcae6195_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2607/3670335810_f7c71ffe4c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3603/3670339046_8ecd3c9a25_b.jpg