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My mechanic recommends a new Surly Frame over retrofit drive train.

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My mechanic recommends a new Surly Frame over retrofit drive train.

Old 03-21-05, 05:06 PM
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I have been very loyal to my oldest Scott 520 road bike...My first bike since childhood..It has accompanied me from Italy to Hawaii...I have liked the ride of steel...I keep this bike to load onto airplanes, where carriers like BA like to bang the hell out of bikes...I would prefer them to bang on a $1000 bike over a $3000 bike....SO I keep it out of loyalty and for taking on the plane..
But multiple shops have made a mess out of the drive train..As a result it shifts hard..I considered refitting it to all road bike 105 equilivant..that would cost about $300 and it would shift just great.
Before commissioning the work..I asked frame worth it..NO telltale signs of fatique at welds, etc...It has to have 70,000 miles on it...So, he rode it...Said no signs of frame failure but it flexes too much..A sign of problems to come...
So for double the money, he suggests a "Surly " frame.."Cross Check" frame..
anyone familiar with this...For double the money I give my loyal Scott steed its well deserved rest and I still have a lesser expensive bike for BA to beat up..
Anyone have a Surly frame..Is this what you would do..? thanks...
the mechanic said some of the newer components should be tranferred to the new Surly frame..Saving me some dollars.
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Old 03-21-05, 06:21 PM
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You are the best judge regarding the frame. You have ridden the bike for 70,000 miles. Does the frame feel any less solid to you? Are you any less satisfied with the frame?

If the answer is no, treat your bike to new components. If the frame fails next year, buy just a frame then.
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Old 03-21-05, 07:20 PM
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That is a lot of miles, but I like billybobs idea. Retrofit your present frame and if you start to have trouble with it get a crosscheck, or long haul trucker, or pacer. Surly makes good frames for the money, you would like it.
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Old 03-21-05, 08:21 PM
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Rev and BillyBob are on the money - just keep riding. It's steel - it is not likely to "catastrophically fail". Upgrade the drivetrain, and exist happily.

Surly's are okay, but realistically you are not likely to get a much better frame out of them either (still steel, not the greatest tubings or construction methods - built to a price).
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Old 03-21-05, 11:21 PM
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Talked to some of my bike friends tonight about today's talk with the mechanic..They are in agreement with those who responded to this thread..Steel is strong.
Always a bright new shiny red bike catches a cyclists eye. It would cost me only about twice as much as retrofitting the componetry to 105...Gotta check out and see if the Surly has braze on's so I might be able to carry a rack and pack...Would give me more options..
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Old 03-22-05, 08:13 AM
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Nothing wrong with wanting a new bike.
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Old 03-22-05, 10:15 AM
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Originally Posted by cyclezealot
Talked to some of my bike friends tonight about today's talk with the mechanic..They are in agreement with those who responded to this thread..Steel is strong.
Always a bright new shiny red bike catches a cyclists eye. It would cost me only about twice as much as retrofitting the componetry to 105...Gotta check out and see if the Surly has braze on's so I might be able to carry a rack and pack...Would give me more options..
Surly definitely has braze-ons. They are designed to be extremely versatile.
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Old 03-22-05, 10:25 AM
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Their long haul trucker only comes in a funky green color..Gotta have red with braze ons.
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Old 03-22-05, 12:57 PM
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I believe the cross-check is a brick red. it does have braze-ons on the rear.
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Old 03-22-05, 06:59 PM
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at 70,000 miles does my Scott deserve its rest in the great bicycle beyond. Don't think the Scott will ever be considered a collectors item like a cruiser...Would want something more aerodynamic but with the braze on option..Should I upgrade the frame tomorrow, might as well use the Scott's parts for future posterity.
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Old 03-22-05, 09:39 PM
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The softness/sponginess of the frame probably has more to do with its engineering and materials than with metal fatigue. My Capo is VERY whippy, but in a lively, resilient way, which is consistent with its 72 degree angles, pencil-thin stays, long fork rake, etc. In the late 1950s, the Tour de France was still run mostly on cobblestones, and your frame was your suspension system. On a sprint or a steep climb, I'll take my Bianchi any time, but the Capo is superbly comfortable, relaxing, and forgiving on a long slow distance ride.

If I were in your position, I would fix up the Scott and keep riding it.
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Old 03-22-05, 09:54 PM
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This is what I'd do:

If you are happy with your current frame, which It seems like you are, then I'd go with the new 105 drivetrain on your scott. That way, your scott will ride/shift/feel like new again.
And if tomorrow or in a week or a month, your scott experiences frame failure or a baggage handler finally puts it to its death, then you can transfer the gruppo over to a new frame.
You may discover that the new drivetrain is really sweet on your scott, and that you would not want to ride anything else, ever.
If the new drive train just doesn't cut it for you on the scott, then transferr it over to a new frame, i.e surly.
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Old 03-22-05, 10:03 PM
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Bostonfixed and John E are being pretty pragmatic (excellent advice), and I'll take it one step further:

If you are happy with the Scott, take it to you local framebuilder, have him make any mods you need (new bottle mounts, new braze ons, headtube cable mounts, bottle opener, etc), and repray the frame that sexy red you like!

Put some nice new components on it (105 is great value for money - put a Connex/Wipperman chain on instead of Shimano - they're not so good).

If you have enough cash left over, slap in a carbon fork - the best development in Road Bikes ever (IMHO) - all road frames benefit from a good carbon fork. Steel forks actually add harshness to steel frames. It might work out that you need to update your headset, stem at the same time - but maybe that's not a bad thing.

You bike will look, shift, brake and in general ride like new.
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Old 03-22-05, 10:46 PM
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Bike 13, et al..Thanks for advice...Some of the motivation for a new bike ,besides the arguments of this mechanic...Nice new sexy red paint job and the braze on option.. But if I didn't have a frame builder add braze ons, always could break down and use my back pack...I am an impulse buyer..See what I do when I am off tomorrow and stop by the shop..
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Old 03-23-05, 01:15 AM
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Buy a new bike. Retire the old one and use it only for Sunday morning rides.
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Old 03-23-05, 01:25 AM
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Originally Posted by shabbasuraj
Buy a new bike. Retire the old one and use it only for Sunday morning rides.
Risky business, I have used that to justify the 11 bikes I currently own. This is an addiction that you don't need. I bet shabbasuraj only has a single digit prime number of bikes ..... that is my goal.
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Old 03-23-05, 07:20 AM
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so does anyone say the Surly frame is not that good of a frame , so might as well stay with what I already have..Will fly by the shop today, see how my sales resistance holds out.
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Old 03-23-05, 01:34 PM
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Surlys are so-so frames. Not worth what you'd pay for them, in my opinion (go ahead, flame me). If you're considering spending $300 on a new frame, watch eBay for the Gunnar brand. As-new Gunnar frames consistently sell for around $300, and the quality is excellent. I say stick with the Scott until you find a Gunnar in your size on eBay.
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Old 03-23-05, 02:02 PM
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How about making your bike a single speed or a fixed gear? You like it fine but it has a problem with shifting? Have them take all the nasty derailer crap off, take off the xtra chainrings, pick a gear you want and get a freewheel that size for the rear. Redish rear wheel. Bam, singlespeed. Try it you will like it. Also for travel the bike will be lighter with less things to go wrong.

Good luck.
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Old 03-23-05, 04:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Bike_13
Risky business, I have used that to justify the 11 bikes I currently own. This is an addiction that you don't need. I bet shabbasuraj only has a single digit prime number of bikes ..... that is my goal.
I'm there; the last time I checked, 5 was a single-digit prime number, but what's wrong with a non-prime, such as 4 or 6?
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Old 03-23-05, 06:35 PM
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Oh yea, and if your LBS has trouble adjusting your shifting, it's time to find a new LBS. Adjusting shifting is elementary stuff.
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Old 03-23-05, 07:13 PM
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Boston...They get it tuned..But is stays in tune only a couple weeks...This mechanic claims it is a mix match of components in part...Deore X rear derailleur and Ultegra Front derailleur..He also suggests the flex in the back could add to the shifters difficulty.
Several shops have had difficulty tuning it... Not saying I buy the fact that the bike is on its death bed, just as he mentioned replacing all the components adds up to half the price of a new frame. Got of Midnight shift today......Resisted the sales tempetation by being too tired to ride by the shop.
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Old 03-23-05, 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by cyclezealot
so does anyone say the Surly frame is not that good of a frame , so might as well stay with what I already have..Will fly by the shop today, see how my sales resistance holds out.
The Surly is a fine bike with braze ons. It will serve you well. Room for wide tires and fenders, very versitile.
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Old 03-24-05, 12:16 PM
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Heah guys...One thing I did not mention...On the head tube...There are beginning signs of rust on the exterior...Can only be worse on the inside...? guess this could be remedied...Called Scott( now again marketing a variety of bikes in the US.) but no upgrade policy on frames...
My question, I get a frame with braze ons...Will the price be that much different from a new Surly bike? mechanic says like $650. change out components on existing Scott about $350..
The customer service guy at Scott in Idaho agreed Deore on the back and Ultegra on the front is pretty messed up.
a thought , maybe the minimum I need do, in spite of the rust on the head tube..Just change out the Deore on the back.?might improve the ride enough to get up to 100,000 miles on the Scott frame and a couple more trans-Atlantic crossings.

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Old 03-24-05, 02:35 PM
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Friction shifting would solve many of your drivetrain problems.
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