Camilo

I have an old hybrid frame and fork I picked up and converted to a commuter with drop bars, etc. Unfortunately the top tube is just too long and so I want to get a new frameset, but not spend a fortune.

Requirements (based on the parts I have and what I know will meet my needs):

Accommodate a conventional road triple: 52-42-30
700c wheel size
32 mm tire size
fenders
basic rear rack only will be used. No fully loaded touring anticipated
Rear spacing of 130 or 132.5 so I can use my existing road wheels.
mounting for V or Canti brakes

Almost anything else (wheelbase for example) I either don't care or can work around.

I'd like something fairly light - don't need a super heavy duty frame because I won't load it down heavily. The only reason I need fat tires is that my daily commute has a couple of miles of really nasty, (and steep - therefore the triple) gravel roads.

On the other hand, 90% of my commute is normal streets and roads and the gearing of my current triple w/ my exisiting 12-25 cassette is really perfect. I don't want or need a really low MTB type drive train. I'd like something as "sporty" as possible given the need for the wider tires and fenders. I don't it to be any heavier or sluggish than necessary.

My understanding is that many cross frames won't work because they have a limit of 48 or 50 for the chain wheel. Is this true? Probably a 48X11 gearing would work fine for me for high end, but I already have the above triple and cassette (actually, I have two) and I have no desire or need to change my crank and cassettes just for this reason. Other than that, I believe that many CX frames would meet my needs. Can anyone give me a pointer to a CX frame that will take my 52t triple?

I've been looking at the Nashbar touring frame.

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product..._200274_200334

Seems a very good approximation of what I've been looking at - is it a decent frame? Is it decently light (I'm NOT looking for a 1200 g frame, just not a total pig)? Is their steel fork OK or should I look for something else?

Thanks for any advice or pointers you can give.

Andy_K 

No, that's not true. a lot of CX bikes come with 48T or 46T big rings because you can hardly ever use a 50T ring in a CX race, but the frames will generally accomodate standard road cranksets.

I'm afraid I don't know anything about the Nashbar touring frame. There's a thread right now about the cyclocross frame (which is almost certainly lighter) over on the cyclocross subforum.

If you're able to up the budget a bit, you can get a 2010 Kona Jake the Snake frame with carbon fork for about $400 on bikeman.com right now.

EDIT: I just looked at the Nashabr CX frame on their site, and I see that they do recommend a maximum 48T ring. Strange. I've got a Kona Jake and a Surly Cross Check, and I've had a 50-39-30 triple on both of those with no problems.

buffalo_cody

The Pake C'mute, and the 2011 Salsa Casseroll frame come to mind.

eofelis 

How about the Nashbar touring frame and fork. They often have them on sale.

Boye

I don't have any experience with it, but it seems to me that if a frame will take af 48t ring on a double crankset, it would be no problem to use a 52 big ring on a triple. Your outer ring is further away from the frame than on a double.

Camilo

That's actually the one I pointed to in my OP. It seems pretty close to what I'm looking for and it's cheap ($99 minus 10% right now, frame only) Do you have any experience with it?

They also have an inexpensive cross frame with the 48t front ring limit I mentioned and is discussed below.

Excellent point. I can actually compare a double crankset I have to my triple and see if that makes sense. If it seems to look OK, I might just order it and see if it works. A fall back might be to buy a 50t ring to fit my crank (130 BCD spider), which wouldn't be a tragedy.

eofelis 

oops. I missed the part in your post about you already looking at the Nashbar touring frame.
I don't have any experience with one, but I have seen folks talking about them a lot in the Touring forum.

ItsJustAHill

I'm running a road triple on my Soma Double Cross with no problems. I purchased the frame for about $330 shipped, and the steel fork was a $20 eBay find. Even with the steel fork, the finished bike came in at just under 22 lbs, with 700C x 32s (but without fenders).