Need Suggestions for Cyclocross Racing Frame
 

I want something lighter than my steel Gunnar. I guess that means CF or aluminum.

I am not so worried about budget.

Suggestions please. Thanks....

Custom Ti.

Kona JTS seems to be the most popular around here (New England).

I wish I didn't have to worry about a budget...but since I do (and did) I built mine on a donated old Redline Conquest frame for this year. Not the lightest frame, but it will do. I raced a Cannondale CX last year, which got stolen :mad: over the winter, and before that, I raced a borrowed Surly (which I didn't like - too big and too heavy.)

As for you my good sir, I suggest a nice Ti frame. Litespeed will be selling one this year again. If you want serious bling, Seven and IF. Perhaps Moots, but we don't get a lot of those here in New England.

A nice compromise would be a good Al frame from Kona, Cannondale, etc. - you know, the usual suspects.

Seriously though, this will be my third 'cross season and I can tell you that your equipment will be beaten to hell. I don't think it's a good idea to spend too much on 'cross bikes. But I'm poor, so may be it's just me.

Any thoughts on:

Van Dessel "Gin and Trombones"?

CAAD9 cyclocross?

Redline Conquest Pro Team?

I think what I really want is the "best" of the not-crazy-expensive frames....

I was looking at a CAAD9 at the LBS yesterday -- just kicking tires. It seemed like a really nice rig. I agree with bitterken, you're going to beat on it, so it pains me to think about some of the really nice custom options. I'd LOVE to find a used steel IF or a Moots in my size, but I'm an odd fit. Redline makes a good and popular bike too. The only bikes I haven't liked were the TriCross and the Poprad (no offence to anyone) as they seemed more focused toward being all-around bikes and good commuter options and not race-rigs.

Of the three, I would go C'dale 1st. They are the best Al guys out there in my opinion. Then I would focus on the wheels. Stock wheels on factory built bike tend to be pretty crappy in my experience. Some race on Ksyriums and other stronger race wheels - but I stick to the tried and true hand build Open Pro's on mid-level hubs (they are my training wheels from my road bike.) I may try using my Ksyrium Elites (old race wheels from the road bike) this year since I got great deal on a used set of SL's for my road bike. Then the brakes - get good brakes. Seriously. Finally, everything else should be something you don't mind trashing. I run 9sp 105's (mis-matched brifters in fact! one silver and one black :rolleyes: ) I was planning on going single ring this year, but ran out of funds to do it right (dual chain guards, 42T ring, etc.) but that would be great for the muddy courses we have up here.

JTS is awesome. I don't have one, but we sell them in the shop where I work.

but if price is no object. I say major jake or perhaps jamis super nova.

oh yeah, the FELT F1X is amazing.

at least now i know why you are selling the gunnar

Since I got the Look 585 for the road bike, my steel bikes feel unbelievably heavy.

Rumor of fact? Did you read this somewhere? How did you find out?

Inquiring minds need to know.

If money were no object to me I'd be racing a Moots Psyclo-X.

Speaking of the very cheap end of the scale..anybody have a Motobecane Fantom frame? I have been eyeing one of these for my commuter rig that I'd like to run cross tires on.

Heard it from the pres. of ABG. Nice guy, BTW. He also said to keep an eye on the Litespeed website. The bike, along with other new models, should be announced in a few months.

No budget, I'd go ti - redline makes one. Indy fab ti is pretty sweet.

I work at a shop and have the luxury of getting most any bike at about half of retail. That being said I was able to look at a lot of bikes that would have otherwise been out of my price range. My dream rig would be a moots psychlo-x but I can't see that ever happening. My other options included the kona line, redline bikes, cannondales, felts, and scotts. I ended up with the Felt F1X that I just finished building this evening. The nice thing about the felt is that it was lighter than the cdale 105 compact and not too much heavier than the cdale caad9. The only reason I didn't go with the caad9 (and I am a cdale junky) is that the price was a bit higher than I wanted and I don't like the new rig (ultegra equipped with kyseriums) as compared to the rival equipped model which cannondale told me was no longer available. Although I have yet to ride the F1X as I just got it built, I will say it is pretty light, feels stiff when standing on the pedals and torquing it, and looks great with the matte black paint job. Also, at 1400$ you get a full 105 10-speed drivetrain with ultegra RD. I really like the looks and also the fact that it seems to me that their geometry on these frames is perfect for cross. I usually ride a 58cm caad9 which has a ~58cm TT. The 55cm F1X that I got has a 55c ST with a ~57cm TT which should be perfect for cross (while still maintaining a high BB height). Give er a look.
~Nick

KendallF-

Sorry I missed this post when it was put up. I have a Fantom Cross. Raced on it all last 'cross season. I'm very pleased.

I race a Redline Conquest Pro frame with Ultegra 10 and it's a solid bike. It comes in right at 18 pounds so it's reasonably light as well. You couldn't go wrong with the Redline.

[and now to bring up some Canadian brands no one's ever ridden ...]

Devinci's coming out with a race-specific cx frame for next year. I'm unsure of when it will come out but I've been really happy with my '06 Tosca and will likely upgrade to this new model.

Argon 18 makes a lugged carbon frameset that's stupidly nice but I could never buy myself a carbon cx bike ... I'd slow down to protect the bike which completely defeats the purpose. The attention to detail on their bikes is amazing ... the red kevlar weave through the driveside chainstay to protect it from chainslap and stiffen it up is one thing that comes to mind. The aesthetics are almost always black/red/white (aka: go forth and kill) so they're always very hot race machines).

Getting back to the Devinci for a second, I find the geometry fits me nicely (long legs, short torso). I ride the M/55 which has a 140mm headtube. That keeps me comfortable on the bike without having to go crazy with postive rise stems/spacers. Oh, and lifetime warranty on the frame - that's something I value a lot.

www.devinci.com
www.argon18.com

If I had all the money in the world ... Moots.

Frame and fork are going for $200 on ebay now. Can't say anything about the quality but the price is right.

Tim

2007 Kona Scandium Major Jake

http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/p/KON-MMJAKE07

If I had $550 to drop on a new frame this is probably what I'd get.

Did you ever find a frame? If so, how much weight did you save? As far as steel goes, Gunnar is fairly light.

Tim

Chili Con Crosso :)

I was *this close* to doing a build with a Merckx CX frame last year. Otherwise, Moots, Indy Fab, Desalvo, Sachs, Vanilla.... You get the picture.