Cyclocross - Project: Budget Race Bike

I just thought I'd share my latest bike build. I wanted to build up a decent performing bike for as little $$ as possible. I already had most of the parts lying around so it has only cost about $250. Tires were a huge portion of that. At some point I plan to put on drop bars and a 9 speed Ultegra group from another bike I have. For now though I'll just run a flat bar with rapidfire.

I should have it built up tomorrow, and hopefully will be able to race this weekend. I'll post more photos once it's completely built. The paint isn't perfect, but I think it turned out pretty good for a rattle can job.

Frame............'85 Nishiki Riviera GT Touring (Tange Infinity)
Wheels/Hubs...Mavic MA40 / Shimano 600
Tires..............IRD Crossfire
RD.................Deore LX
Crankset.........Specialized (Single ring w/ bash guard)
Shifters..........9 speed LX
Brake levers....Shimano
Brake calipers..V brakes for now (cantis eventually)
Bars...............Ritchey ForceLite
Stem..............Specialized
Saddle............Selle Stratos Hyper Pro
Pedals.............SPD

Frame as purchased:
http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo1.jpg

Mockup to make sure everything will work:
http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo4.jpg

Bar setup:
http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo5.jpg

Frame stripped:
http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo6.jpg

Mmmm creamy blue:
http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo15.jpg

http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo14.jpg

http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo13.jpg

http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/cyclo12.jpg

Congats you got it! That's one nice looking blue! Did you find the frame on CL? How much do you think the Tange Infinity frame weighed? I know the Soma Tange Prestige Double Cross is 4.2 lbs. It should be a bit lighter.

Thanks! Yeah, I got the frame, fork, and brake calipers on CL for $50. Not too bad for a handbuilt frame with forged dropouts. I'm not sure how much the frame itself weighs but the complete bike feels pretty close to my Gazelle which is 22lbs. I'm guessing 20-22lbs.

Wow, that is a really nice looking paint job! Rattle can, you say? I just dropped off a frame to be powder coated, and I'll be thrilled if it comes out anywhere near that sharp.

So, do you plan to get it muddy this week at Sherwood?

Apoligies for being a nube what is CL where you got parts?

craigslist

Congats you got it! That's one nice looking blue! Did you find the frame on CL? How much do you think the Tange Infinity frame weighed? I know the Soma Tange Prestige Double Cross is 4.2 lbs. It should be a bit lighter.

I have an old shogun road bike made with tange infinity. It's definitely not light, but it rides really well. I think that's generally the case with this tubing (though of course it matters how it was designed, rider weight, blah blah blah).

I don't know about Tange Prestige.

Thanks! Yeah, I got the frame, fork, and brake calipers on CL for $50. Not too bad for a handbuilt frame with forged dropouts. I'm not sure how much the frame itself weighs but the complete bike feels pretty close to my Gazelle which is 22lbs. I'm guessing 20-22lbs.

I'd like to hear more about your Gazelle maybe some pictures? I have a Gazelle track bike I've had for years and I don't see a lot of the around.

Thanks! Yeah, I got the frame, fork, and brake calipers on CL for $50. Not too bad for a handbuilt frame with forged dropouts. I'm not sure how much the frame itself weighs but the complete bike feels pretty close to my Gazelle which is 22lbs. I'm guessing 20-22lbs.

I'd like to hear more about your Gazelle maybe some pictures? I have a Gazelle track bike I've had for years and I don't see a lot of the around.

same boat as you, sort of...but you are ahead of me by far. for now, got a race in a couple of weeks...and i am going with a mtbike....but at least, for the flat bars, i am going with some Origin 8 drop bar ends that might do fine (i hope)...just won on evilBay for about $14

no plans to put road brakes on it, but here's a picture of the potential...nice

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-Origin8-Origin8-Pro-pulsion-Road-Ends--Drop-Bar-Bar-Ends--Black-18606.htm

click the right picture...looks decent and workable

I'd like to hear more about your Gazelle maybe some pictures? I have a Gazelle track bike I've had for years and I don't see a lot of the around.

Nice. I have a Gazelle Champion Mondial AA-frame road bike. I love that bike. If I lived closer to a velodrome, I'd kill to have a Gazelle track bike.

[end thread derail]

Nice budget CX!

Cool bike. I love cobbled together bikes.

I'd like to know how those tires fare. They're a 700c version of panasonic fire xc pros, right? I was thinking of getting those but thought the knobs might be a bit too big and I was looking for something fast, so I went with maxxis raze which is kinda similar but lower profile.

derail and maybe get back on trail....


i have to ask what's the frame size (smaller than what you would ride a road bike?)...and what's your height, etc in relation?

i'm looking at a Nishiki tomorrow...frame is a bit small i hear...but i want to see. 17.5 inches. is that REAL small? like for 'kids' small?

back to the thread: i do love the color of that frame now. makes me think of my Giant...:)

Here's a thread about my Gazelle.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=489288&highlight=gazelle

And a more recent photo:
http://vurjgraphics.com/bike/mondial6small.jpg

I'm 6'0" and my Gazelle is 57cm c-c with a 55.5cm top tube. The Nishiki is 56cm c-c however the top tube is longer at 56.5cm. My Gazelle fits me perfectly and I think the Nishiki will too once I get the stem length/angle worked out. One day I really want to find a Gazelle cross frame and preferably the same color combo. I'm not sure if I could bring myself to race it though.

Oh and yeah I painted it with a rattle can. I was pleasantly surprised with the results. I guess building and painting model cars payed off. :) I'll probably end up getting it powdercoated once this paint job starts looking bad. I'm planning on racing at Sherwood if I can get all the kinks in the bike worked out, but I'm not sure if that's going to be realistic. I may have to postpone another week.

Yeah the tires are made by Panaracer and are the same pattern as the FireXCPro. They are pretty aggressive but I figured there should be plenty of mud here in Oregon. I may end up having to get a second set of dry tires.

Thanks for all the feedback! :thumb:

That's a beautiful bike, you do like that blue don't you? If you run across a cross frame you don't want let me know. You have a good eye for frames and you have gotten hooked on steel. I am now looking for a steel frame that will take fenders, a rack wider tires (Poprad??).

(I bought darkmagus's Lemond Sarthe, and I am very happy with it.)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e156/rrost54/100_1290-1.jpg

Hey, I was thinking about a buildup with a Raleigh frame. Will the tubing suffice? Or should I find some old triple butted tank?