Originally Posted by dpr

Hi all, can any one recommend to me a bike or frame and fork that I could use as a winter training bike and touring bike?

Requirements:

Cheap.
Clearence for full mudguards/fenders and 32c tires.
Accepts a rear pannier rack for touring duties. A front rack would be a real bonus too but the absence of one wont be a deal killer necessarily.
Attachment points for two bottle cages. A third would be nice, but again not too important.
A front disc brake or facility for one on the fork would be very handy. Is this unusual?

In terms of bikes (as opposed to frames and forks that I would equip myself), lower end component groups would be fine. Sora, Tiagra or the Campagnolo equivilants. A compact (50/34) would be preferable to a triple and a double is certainly out as I want to multi-task the crank, not have two!. 8, 9 or 10 speed is preferable but will consider 7.

Weight isnt too important. I would hope to keep the total bike weight under 25 lbs if possible. Of more importance is comfort and longevity. Given that I dont want to spend much more than £400/$800 USD on a frame or £800/$1600 USD on the bike, I expect I will be limited to Steel only. I don't want too mushy a bike though. Devon is hilly, as is Italy where I might be going touring next summer.

Something that had crossed my mind is a cyclo-cross frame. But which would be recommended and which will carry atleast a rear pannier rack, if not front as well?

I think that covers everything. I'll add any other stuff as I think it up.

I have also posted this in winter cycling and touring to get as much exposure as possible. I looked but couldn't find any rules prohibiting cross-posting. My reason is that some people might not read other sections of the forum regularly, it at all.