Looking for a MTB frameset
06-06-08, 05:17 PM
#1
One less car
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: The Berkshires, MA
Posts: 981
Bikes: '08 Soma Groove (commuter/long distance tourer), '97 Lemond Zurich (road commuter/tourer),'01 Seven Axiom Ti, '03 Look KG381i, '01 Santa Cruz Superlite X
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Looking for a MTB frameset
I've given up on finding a specific commuting bike frame for my commute which is a mixture of road and trails, such that my current steed is a '95 Marin team steel hardtail ('97 Marzocchi Bomber Z2) with a mix of 8psd LX/XT components, and semislick tires. with an Old Man Mountain Red Rocks rear rack.
I'd like to buy a small bike mfgr's frameset and transfer as much as I can over. I can't get my BB out and my seatpost is fused to the seattube which is one of the reasons I think it's time for a new commuter.
Need:
1) linear pull brake bosses, for my rack and simplicity, Disc brakes are nice in winter but I can get by without it and will save weight, cost, and complexity.
2)26" wheels, can't go 29 since I have a set of winter wheels with studs that I will use.
3)Kind of think I should go AL just for the rain and salt (wintertime) aspects... but kind of flexible on this.
I looked at Surly but the only bike that would work is the 1x1 and I cannot go singlespeed as I have a big monster hill to go up and over, I can get by with a 34 front chainring but I need the multispeed rear for the most part. The Surly Instigator is a bit heavy since it's a MTB and intended as such.
I looked at Voodoo, Viscous Cycle (cause it's somewhat local).. I like the smaller big frame mfgrs and came across a Soma Groove which seems like it is nice, Tange steel, $375 for the frame, based somewhere in CA. Has anybody ridden one, good quality?
What other small mfgrs would be in the $300-$500 range for the frame.
I'm not sure if I can reuse my Marzocchi as I have a feeling it might be a 1" headtube whereas most bikes these days are 1 1/8" and of course, it's cut already so it would have to be long enough for whatever bike frame I get, other than that, it's still in fine mechanical shape.
Jay
I'd like to buy a small bike mfgr's frameset and transfer as much as I can over. I can't get my BB out and my seatpost is fused to the seattube which is one of the reasons I think it's time for a new commuter.
Need:
1) linear pull brake bosses, for my rack and simplicity, Disc brakes are nice in winter but I can get by without it and will save weight, cost, and complexity.
2)26" wheels, can't go 29 since I have a set of winter wheels with studs that I will use.
3)Kind of think I should go AL just for the rain and salt (wintertime) aspects... but kind of flexible on this.
I looked at Surly but the only bike that would work is the 1x1 and I cannot go singlespeed as I have a big monster hill to go up and over, I can get by with a 34 front chainring but I need the multispeed rear for the most part. The Surly Instigator is a bit heavy since it's a MTB and intended as such.
I looked at Voodoo, Viscous Cycle (cause it's somewhat local).. I like the smaller big frame mfgrs and came across a Soma Groove which seems like it is nice, Tange steel, $375 for the frame, based somewhere in CA. Has anybody ridden one, good quality?
What other small mfgrs would be in the $300-$500 range for the frame.
I'm not sure if I can reuse my Marzocchi as I have a feeling it might be a 1" headtube whereas most bikes these days are 1 1/8" and of course, it's cut already so it would have to be long enough for whatever bike frame I get, other than that, it's still in fine mechanical shape.
Jay
06-06-08, 05:24 PM
#2
hi
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Kingston, NY
Posts: 2,605
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Vicious Cycles is awesome if you can swing it. They're right down the road from me. They are excellent quality, and I know the former guy who made all of the frames. The owner, Carl, is also a sponsor for my club. A+.
06-06-08, 07:37 PM
#3
surly old man
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Carlisle, PA
Posts: 3,392
Bikes: IRO Mark V, Karate Monkey half fat, Trek 620 IGH, Cannondale 26/24 MTB, Amp Research B3, and more.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 46 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
18 Posts
Any random older MTB from CL?
jim
jim
__________________
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
Cross Check Nexus7, IRO Mark V, Trek 620 Nexus7, Karate Monkey half fat, IRO Model 19 fixed, Amp Research B3, Surly 1x1 half fat fixed, and more...
--------------------------
SB forever
06-06-08, 07:54 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Hampton Roads VA
Posts: 1,787
Bikes: '07 Trek 520, '09 Gary Fisher Triton, '04 Trek 8000, '85 Trek 500, '84 Trek 610, '85 Trek 510, '88 Trek 660, '92 Trek 930, Trek Multitrack 700
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
How about this from Nashbar ?
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...Frames%2FBikes
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...Frames%2FBikes
06-09-08, 07:32 AM
#5
One less car
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: The Berkshires, MA
Posts: 981
Bikes: '08 Soma Groove (commuter/long distance tourer), '97 Lemond Zurich (road commuter/tourer),'01 Seven Axiom Ti, '03 Look KG381i, '01 Santa Cruz Superlite X
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks... Viscous Cycles is way out of my range for a commuter bike, I knew of the name, didn't know they were custom and high end! 
The nashbar bike sounds like it would fit, it's bright and has both disc brake mounts and canti bosses. Does it come with rear rack braze-ons? I don't see any, my OMM red Rocks needs lower eyelets...
jay
The nashbar bike sounds like it would fit, it's bright and has both disc brake mounts and canti bosses. Does it come with rear rack braze-ons? I don't see any, my OMM red Rocks needs lower eyelets...
jay
06-09-08, 08:54 AM
#6
Soul filled with grease
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Hills-Vegas, NC
Posts: 254
Bikes: Early Surly XCheck;1960 Schwinn Speedster;1996 Giant CroMo Camper;1986 Fuji
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Here's proof that the NBar frame is practically bomb-proof though.
https://davesnewadventure.wordpress.c...on-by-bicycle/
06-09-08, 09:54 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Parker, CO
Posts: 1,654
Bikes: SS Surly Crosscheck; '91 Cannondale 3.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I really dig the Performance MTB frame, the Access frame: https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=3020
It doesn't have eyelets or braze ons, but that's not a problem as long as you are ok with P-Clamps and/or axle mounted racks!
I'll be pickin' one up soon myself, and you can get a Surly 1x1 fork for it with disc and canti mounts and be set. Very cheap, and very sturdy. In fact, I read a review one time that spoke of a guy placing in the top 5 MTB XC nationals on an Access frame...did it because he was self-funded, so he spent his money on components and wheels instead.
It doesn't have eyelets or braze ons, but that's not a problem as long as you are ok with P-Clamps and/or axle mounted racks!
I'll be pickin' one up soon myself, and you can get a Surly 1x1 fork for it with disc and canti mounts and be set. Very cheap, and very sturdy. In fact, I read a review one time that spoke of a guy placing in the top 5 MTB XC nationals on an Access frame...did it because he was self-funded, so he spent his money on components and wheels instead.
