Wheels Of Steel

Critical specs include

700C wheels
130 rear spacing
canti studs
clearance for 45 mm tires or wider
1" headset
double eyelets at both dropouts
mid-blake fork eyelets

Older Bruce Gordon Rock N Road Tours had 130 rear spacing. The new ones have 135. Black Mountain Cycles uses a 1 1/8" headtube for their cross frame. A Rivendell Atlantis would break the bank, and they too have 135 rear spacing. Construction whether it be lugged, tig or fillet brazed doesn't matter too much. Any suggestions gentlemen and gentlewomen of the C&V inclination?

chi-james

a 1990s MTB frame would fit the the listed specs...

Darth Lefty 

You are chasing a chimera... most C&V touring bikes with all those rack mounts & canti brakes will take 120 spaced wheels (you can cold-set to 130). There's a cool Centurion Pro Tour on my local Craigslist that I covet, but can't afford two projects at once; it's a 15-speed and eyeballing the chain stays I don't think it will be anything special for tire clearance. I think if you switched it to 700c and respaced it, it might gain you a couple mm of tire size. But not as big as you want.

Wheels Of Steel

700C, neglected to mention. I'm prepared to be patient as likely I'll have to be.

chi-james

Nashbar touring or cyclocross frame with adapters to reduce the headset to 1"

no1mad 

Moved from C & V Sales.

non-fixie 

Having a little trouble getting my head around that concept.

bikemig 

Lots of frame would work if you drop two requirements: (a) 130 mm rear spacing and (b) one inch headset. Why these two requirements?

Surly, Soma, and Velo Orange make monster cross frames that won't break the bank. Personally I've been thinking of getting the VO Camargue but then I think it is an advantage to have a modern headset and a 135 mm rear triangle for a monster cross/touring build.

oddjob2

What about using a 1990's hybrid frame?

GT Arrente - there are higher class versions than this one, which rides great.


Miyata 618GT


All Trek MultiTracks as well.

OTS 

+1 on a 90's Hybrid
Schwinn Cross Cut, Criss Cross, Myata Triple Cross, Cannondale H, Specialized Cross Road all come to mind but you would need to check specs

Sir_Name 

What size? I've been looking to replace mine (frame damage).
Assuming Wheels of Steel isn't interested.

OP: I'm sure you're aware, but I'll still mention. 126 OLD steel will accept 130 without much negotiation. This alone opens a lot of opportunities. Finding a frame with canti bosses that will work with 700c will take some attention as the C&V tourers take 27" (such as the Centurion mentioned above).

gomango

I would go modern with a Singular Peregrine.

Tires to 50mm, plenty of braze-ons and good looks.

I ride with a guy that has one and it is an incredibly versatile frameset for the $$$.







Singular Peregrine

kaliayev

Also early 90's Trek 790 and 750. They can take up to 700x50. Added benefit of being made in the USA if that is your thing.

Darth Lefty 

Not listed. Looks medium largish.

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/bik/4562507161.html

Wheels Of Steel

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi-james

Nashbar touring or cyclocross frame with adapters to reduce the headset to 1"

I avoid using adapters at all costs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikemig

Lots of frame would work if you drop two requirements: (a) 130 mm rear spacing and (b) one inch headset. Why these two requirements?

Surly, Soma, and Velo Orange make monster cross frames that won't break the bank. Personally I've been thinking of getting the VO Camargue but then I think it is an advantage to have a modern headset and a 135 mm rear triangle for a monster cross/touring build.

I built up a Soma Double Cross and have decided I'd really prefer a 1" headtube for this build. Regarding the hybrid suggestions, they're on track but lack the braze-ons I'm after. 130 mm spacing so I can use road wheels and touring wheels. 1" headsets are much easier to deal with, and I prefer the aesthetics and function of quill stems over threadless stems. The BG Rock N Road would fit the bill perfectly if it had 130 mm rear spacing.

gomango

This would work for you quite well then.

I could fit BG Rock 'n Road tires without breaking a sweat.

[IMG]DSCN2851 by gomango1849, on Flickr[/IMG]

Sir_Name 

Too small for me, too bad. Good price.

Wheels Of Steel

Yes, it would provided it's the right size. I could ride a 58x58, 58x57 or 58x56. Still have yet to fill out the paperwork on the BG site and get in touch with him as to what size he'd recommend. Do you know anyone with an older BG RnR with these specs they'd be willing to part with?

SomaFab would make a killing if they were to start having a frameset like this produced for them. Many manufacturers are transitioning to disc breaks.

gomango

Hmmm, not atm.

I sold mine a year ago.

Not the brightest thing I have ever done.

Does Bruce build the current R'n R, or are they still Taiwanese?

Wheels Of Steel

According to him they're built at his facility by a guy who has many years of fabrication experience.

Darth Lefty 

I don't see why you can't cold set any such frame to the spacing you want

gomango

Very cool.

That's a lot of value in a true handbuilt then.

Would you have them do the entire XT build?

Wheels Of Steel

Which I could do, but then I have to pay close attention to make and model year. We're all familiar with the difficulties of fitting modern cantilevers on vintage frames. Even then, will they fit 700x43 tires?

Wheels Of Steel

I have 8-speed bar end shifters, XT derailleurs and a Sugino XD triple crankset that I'd move over. Planning on purchasing some IRD Cafam cantilevers as I've been dissatisfied with the performance of the Shimano CX70s I'm currently using.

Bianchigirll 

Try looking at some of the early '90s better hybrids. Something a Univega Via Carisma or Via Montega will have a great ChroMo F/F and should have the desired tire clearance.

What size and where are you? There was a nice looking Bianchi Project 5 in CL alerts last week I'll look and see if I still have it marked.

130 v 135 isn't that big a deal and it is easier to squeeze a frame a little fixing a flat than it is to spread it. If you want a x45 why not go for an older MTB? Nice ones are inexpensive and you can up the chainrings or freak the cassette a bit to get the same gear inch.