crashwins

Hi folks. Just joined this forum to get some feedback on a bike purchase.

I'm looking to build up a street/road SS bike. My background is lots of road riding, but these days I'm almost exclusively downhill and all-mountain -- i.e., mountain biking. BUT, I really want to get back into some road/street riding. I've built up a lot of DJ bikes and love the simplicity. That said, I'm looking for a SS bike (preferably steel) that can take a little beating, but still ride quickly and smoothly if I want to keep up with my GF for the first few miles of her road rides So, I'd be using proper road bars I'd think. Also, I'd need a rear brake mount - my fixed days are behind me.

I've been looking at the following:

Gunnar Street Dog (sweet frame, but pricey for what I'm needing)
Black Market NSF (I've owned several Mobs, but not sure this is road ready?)
Some of the All-city frames
Pake
Tonic (love these, but also super pricey)
Volume

So, any suggestions would be welcome! Thanks a lot.

calv

In order:

Gunnar is worth it. They're actually "cheaper" than higher end custom steel frames due to their blend of tubing I think.
Soma or All City.
Pake.

crashwins

Thanks. Surly is another I overlooked. Steamroller is steel and pretty sweet. No experience with the NSF then?

ddeadserious

If I were purchasing a new steel fixed gear frame, I'd go All City.

ilikebikes

Would you consider a conversion? If so I've got a sweet frame that will take care of all your needs!

Philasteve

Nsf is sweet and pretty bullet proof. I think of that frame more as a trick frame though kind of like the volume cutter. I ride a Surly Steamroller and love it, you can make it into any kind of bike really.

FakeFuji

I'd say steam roller so that you can make it geared if down the road that I something you would like to do.

FKMTB07

Gunnars are really nice and you definitely won't be disappointed if you end up with that.

Lower price options like the All-City Big Block and Surly Steamroller are also really solid choices. I used to have a Steamroller and I currently have a Big Block.

The Big Block has an agressive, twitchy, and "sportier" ride due to the frame being very stiff and the geometry being more track-oriented. You can fit up to a 30-32c tire with very little clearance. It's definitely a very fun bike to ride fast. The ED coating makes the frame rust-proof without having to apply frame-saver to the inside of the tubes.

The Steamroller has more road-oriented geometry and not as stiff a frame as the BB. It's more comfortable for general road riding and especially for longer distances. The bottom bracket is lower and the angles slacker, so it tends to be a little more stable than the BB. It can handle 38c tires, so you'll be able to increase its versatility by running cyclocross tires which will allow you to ride gravel, dirt roads, etc. Sometimes I really miss my SR and contemplate buying another one.

Both bikes will require zipties or cable clips for the rear brake cable housing.

FKMTB07

The Steamroller has 120mm rear spacing and track ends. The only way to run it geared would be with a 120mm spaced internal geared hub (SA makes 3, 5, and 8 speed options w/ 120mm spacing). It is not any more "gear-able" than any other track frame.

You might be thinking about the Cross-Check.

ilikebikes

Check it out man, if this is your size its the perfect bike for you as it fits ALL of your needs! https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t-Tourer-52-cm

LeosLeader

Fyxation Quiver.

crashwins

Thanks folks for the advice. Lots of good information here. I've really liked what I've read on the Gunnar. Finding them used isn't easy, but I did find a frame that's a 54, which I'm a little hesitant of. I'm 5'10.5 (5'11 on a good day), 32" inseam. For mtn bikes I always go with a M, though I could take a L, because I do A LOT of stand-over riding and like my center of gravity that way -- twitchy, beneath me, where I can turn sharply instead of pointing far off and aiming. In this case a 54 would be sort of a medium, lower end of the size range for me. The road bike I bought years ago and road religiously was a 56, but I seldom stood on it unless I was taking a hill. Ideally a 55cm frame would be for me, but Gunnar doesn't make those. Would I be remiss in buying a 54 in this case? I know this is a hard question to answer, but my gut is saying that with the amount of out-of-the-saddle riding I'd be doing on a SS road bike a smaller size might actually be better, but I'll defer to the experts here! Thanks

FKMTB07

Being able to move around on the bike is nice, and won't necessarily make it slugging or slow. A 56 would also fit well, but I'm sure that 54 can be made to fit and ride wonderfully. Few people can only ride one size of bike.

prooftheory

Use a fit calculator. Top tube length is the most important measurement. But from what you are saying, my guess is that the 54 would be fine.

thewilson 

Have you checked out Wabi Cycles?

crashwins

Ok, sounds good. I think 54 would probably be fine and I'm ok with a little gamble. I had a 54 CX bike once and it felt good at that size. I can't get any info on Gunnar's site on their forks. I have a sweet Black Market Contraband, but I'm guessing there's no way that would fit this bike.

It's this:
Axle to Crown: 435mm
Rake: 33mm
Steer Tube Length: 162mm
Fork Legs: 31.75mm

I imagine the fork is too long in the legs and would mess up the geo. This is one reason I was considering the NSF bc I think it would work great with that frame.

ilikebikes

In the land of newbies the elder is ignored. Oh well, such is life.

crashwins

Easy..I saw your post. Sorry, I'm not interested in a conversion and a 52 is well small, unfortunately. Good luck with the sale.