Need the holy grail of frames, please help
 

Just placed an order for a Sturney-Archer XRK8 8 speed disc internally geared hub (very psyched about this btw)

Need to make my frame selection now and having great difficulty

I need a frame that has these qualities:

• Horizontal dropouts (or other chain tensioning method)
• IS disc tab
• Rack/fender eyelets
• < $250

Problem I'm running into is that I can find a horizontal dropout frame with disc tab but then it doesn't have rack/fender eyelets and conversely I can find a horizontal dropout frame with rack/fender eyelets but then it doesn't have a disc tab!!

Can anyone find a way out of this personal hell I've created?

How about the Surly Karate Monkey?

+1
I suggested the same frame in his cross-post to the commuting forums...though it might not meet his budget.

Oh, I missed the price limit. Take a look at the Redline Monocog 29er frame. Pricepoint.com sells it for $200. It has disc brake tabs and rear facing ends to accommodate chain tensioning.

The Monocog is actually where I was headed until I realized it doesn't have fender/rack eyelets (AFAIK, someone correct me if I'm wrong)
I can get the Monocog 29er at Nashbar for $183-15%, this would be the best deal, if only it had eyelets

If you forget the disc tab, there's a million frames out there.

Use p-clips for rack and fender mounting, done.

I'd like to just forget the disc tab to make this all easier but I really want/need disc brakes



I tossed around the idea of P-clips but I'm not confident that a P-clip fastened rack would bear heavy loads. The logistics of mounting a standard rack using P-clips is also questionable IMO.

You could probably search the Internet and find some fenders that don't need threaded dropouts.
Here's a page of links to fender manufactuers.
http://www.mikebentley.com/bike/fenders.htm
I would think you could improvise or buy clamps for this purpose.
An Old Man Mountain rack needs no provisions for racks.
The Monocog 29er is a cool frame.
The one at Nashbar is matte green and is available in sizes 15, 19, & 21.
The one at Pricepoint is a really cool flat black and is available in sizes 17, 19, & 21.
Both have cantilever studs and disk brake tabs.
The Old Man Mountain rack can be mounted on the cantilever studs.
Both the Nashbar and Pricepoint bikes are 29er's, awesome.
I'm thinking of getting one and using an axle mounted derailleur such as the Shimano Saint.

OK, how about this:
Monocog 29er
P-clamps for the fenders
Tap out my own mounting holes for the rack

I've got these Planet Bike fenders that don't need a threaded eyelet on a bike and they're fine.

http://tinyurl.com/3xlx3t

If you have the skills to drill and tap the holes, that's great. It looks like there's plenty of room on the rear dropouts for a hole. If you're in doubt about your skills, take it to a bike shop. You'll still be dollars ahead.
P-clamps for the fenders is a great idea.

You are going to have to make some compromises with all that you want; the budget is the killer. Check out some of these frames; they should work with a tensioner.

http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?c...it=y&pagename=

This seems to be the closest you'll find on the cheap. http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/151...e-%26-Fork.htm
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/157...rk-'07.htm

Sounds like a really great bike you're putting together. The price is a little unrealistic though. Kind of like saying I want a car that I can race at LeMans but don't want to spend more than 10K. If it could be done, someone would have done it. Try raising the price up to the $350-$500 range. It isn't really that much more to spend and the results will be worth the extra cash. Good luck whatever you choose, still sounds like a great bike.

Tim