Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg)
Reload this Page >

help me spec a bike build (Please) building a frame!

Notices
Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) Looking to lose that spare tire? Ideal weight 200+? Frustrated being a large cyclist in a sport geared for the ultra-light? Learn about the bikes and parts that can take the abuse of a heavier cyclist, how to keep your body going while losing the weight, and get support from others who've been successful.

help me spec a bike build (Please) building a frame!

Old 06-18-07, 07:26 AM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
JOHN J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: upstate NY (eastern side)
Posts: 600

Bikes: giant ATX 760, Falcon Road Bike (ss) custom marinoni tourismo (full dresser) ,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
help me spec a bike build (Please) building a frame!

good morning big brothers and sisters!

I hope all is well ,

anyway all my recent threads were aimed at my short leg long torso build and the fact its hard getting a good fit off the shelf.

well I decided to build a frame, not right away but in the near to mid future.

the frame will be fillet brazed, I cant use lugs since I need a sloping top tube.

my biggest issue right now is what to build.?? heres whats in my stable right now.

1) surly cross check size 50 cm, this is my do everything bike! this bike is too small in the head tube and top tube.

I have my seat all the way back, plus 5 " of stack washers and a long riser stem so it works ok since I have all the variables that are availabe maxed out. this bike also weighs a ton !! with touring rims , 40 spoke rear 36 front, carradice bag , cross brake levers , tripple cranks, fenders with full length mudflaps, permanent 12 volt lights ,full water bottles ,brooks sprung seat, rack, ortlieb handlebar bag ,tools,and raingear ... 52LBS. I rode this bike in the tour de cure (no clothes in bags)
and got lots of funny looks from the roadies, one asked if harley davidson made my bike for me

2) second bike is a beautiful Falcon road bike from 1992, reynolds 531 frame and fork, this bike fits good as a racing type bike except if I want the bars up like now. its a SS right now ,I have a NITTO very long stem with bull horns at the moment and the exposed Quill is just over 5 " I may get a dirt drop stem for it and that should work good. the blue Falcon is racing geometry though and quite twitchy

3) my last bike is a 90s giant ATX 760 mtb WAY TO SMALL 16" frame , the saleman back then talked me into it smaller frame is more durable thing well thats was fine for off road but this bike is way too small for a comfy road ride.


so im torn on what to build. here are a few thoughts

1) build a proper sized bike using 700 c wheels and strip the cross check sell the frame convert the ss back to geared ride (I love my SS though)

2) build another 700c (sport tour) bike. keep the cross check as My commuter since it does work ok due to all the maxed out adjustments.

3) since the mountain bike is pretty much worthless to me and it has very good 26" wheels and LX components strip it and build up a sport tour using 26" wheels, and again keep the cross check as is.

would a bike made with 26" wheels and slick work as a comfy century bike, group rides, benifits ??


the main use for this bike would be benifit rides like tour de cure Ive done a few this year, I'll also use it for longer fun rides, metrics ...and will commute on it some too daylight fair weather, Ill build it to hang a big carradice bag but no racks or permanent lights... KEEP THE WEIGHT DOWN AT LEAST A LITTLE.



Your thoughts please!!!

many thanks and please I need your input!

have a great day

"John"
JOHN J is offline  
Old 06-18-07, 07:31 AM
  #2  
Chubby super biker
 
bdinger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,980
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Why not sell the cross-check and get one size up? Or is the standover too high on the next size up?

I'd say.. man, that's a tough one. I know that I'm going to be researching various things on my next purchase, and have been kind of surprised at the different fits of different manufacturers. Heck, even between different models! I know that a 58cm Trek X01 fits me great, while something equivalent sized in a Trek FX or MTB is way too small. Go figure, right?

Have you tried getting a "fit kit" done?
bdinger is offline  
Old 06-18-07, 07:38 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
JOHN J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: upstate NY (eastern side)
Posts: 600

Bikes: giant ATX 760, Falcon Road Bike (ss) custom marinoni tourismo (full dresser) ,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
thanks for the reply,

yeah the next size up in the cross check is a tad tight on the standover.

another factor is building a frame will be a hoot, and will solve a problem.

Ive looked at a bunch of frames and no Joy!! all the compact frames I looked at are not relaxed enough and horizontal top tube bikes Im stuck with a smaller size due to standover the only frame that looked like a nice compromise is the SOMA Juice 29er frame in the 18".

"John"
JOHN J is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 01:30 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
breadbin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: West of Ireland
Posts: 753

Bikes: Raleigh 531c, Marin Muirwoods, Brodie Romax

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Good luck with the build, it will be great fun and a great experience too. If it were me, I might do something to the 531 you have. You say it fits well. Maybe put some knobbly tyres on it so it is not just a road bike? Maybe something more cyclo-cross. - ed
breadbin is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 02:26 AM
  #5  
Steel is Real.
 
markw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Lakeside, CA
Posts: 967
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Is the standover too tight, or can you still pick the bike up without hitting yourself? How much seatpost do you have showing now? Look at Rivendell's site for proper fitment. Look under how to pick your bike.

https://www.rivbike.com/

Most the guys I've seen with reach problems have been on way to small of frames. If your saddle height is more than 2" or so above your bars, then your frame is most likely too small.

Custom is nice, but expensive.
markw is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 06:24 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
JOHN J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: upstate NY (eastern side)
Posts: 600

Bikes: giant ATX 760, Falcon Road Bike (ss) custom marinoni tourismo (full dresser) ,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by markw
https://www.rivbike.com/

Most the guys I've seen with reach problems have been on way to small of frames. If your saddle height is more than 2" or so above your bars, then your frame is most likely too small. Custom is nice, but expensive.
WHATS UP MARK, Thanks for the reply yeppers the Cross check frame is too small! I have about 5" of seat post showing my stack height is 5" and I need a bit more so yes the frame is too small.

I dont think any horizontal top tube bike will work including a Riv (though riv looks much better than most size wize id be a 52 in a riv but realy need a 54). My falcon road bike top tube is longer than the cross check but again the bars need way too much stem to get them close to the saddle
the falcon was fit kit to me back in 1993 when I bought it, no compact frames then so it was as close as it could get.

custom is nice but pricey but Im not buying custom im BUILDING the frame Myself.

have a great day

"John"

Last edited by JOHN J; 06-19-07 at 06:49 AM.
JOHN J is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 07:40 AM
  #7  
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
 
Tom Stormcrowe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,057

Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times in 17 Posts
John, have you asked these questions in the frambuilders subforum? There are a lot of experienced builders there and you may get some input of aspects you haven't thought of!
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
Tom Stormcrowe is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 08:05 AM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
JOHN J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: upstate NY (eastern side)
Posts: 600

Bikes: giant ATX 760, Falcon Road Bike (ss) custom marinoni tourismo (full dresser) ,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Hi Tom,

no I havn't tried the framebuilders forum yet as I figured Id get some decent input from other big riders

but Ill re word and shorten the post some.

Maybe ill try the long distance group as their bikes are set up for long haul comfort! my biggest issue is wether to build up using 26" or 700c???

Ill have lots of questions for the frame build forum when I start.

actually there is a gent that posts alot on the frame build forum that lives 20mins from me one of my co workers lives in the same village and thinks he knows him but not quite sure.

but he hasnt posted in a while as hes been ill, I hear he's up and about now.

so One of these days I hope he gets back on the Forums and I can hook up with him.

hes a Hobby builder but does real nice work by the looks of the photos hes posted on the Fb forum.

have a great day

"John"

Last edited by JOHN J; 06-19-07 at 08:25 AM.
JOHN J is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 08:12 AM
  #9  
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
 
Tom Stormcrowe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,057

Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times in 17 Posts
Cool, and to address the wheel question now:

26" wheels are stronger, especially if you are going to be hauling a load and spoke count and strength are more important than shaving a few grams.

Frame material:
For me, Steel is real! It gives a virtual unlimited stress/life cycle as compared with Aluminum and it's a heck of a lot cheaper than Ti. Steel fork as well.

Geometry for a long distance bike: Relaxed and compliant ride under load. Longer chainstays are a plus because you can ride with panniers with no heel strike.

Lots of braze ons for racks and multiple bottle bosses for bottle cages.

Here's my current setup for long distance riding.
Originally Posted by JOHN J
Hi Tom,

no I havn't tried the framebuilders forum yet as I figured Id get some decent input from other big riders

but Ill re word and shorten the post some.

Maybe ill try the long distance group as there bikes are set up for long haul comfort my biggest issue is whether to build up using 26" or 700c???

Ill have lots of questions for the frame build forum when I start.

actually there is a gent that posts alot on the frame build forum that lives 20mins from me one of my co workers lives in the same village and thinks he knows him but not quite sure.

but he hasnt posted in a while as hes been ill, I hear he's up and about now.

so One of these days I hope he gets back on the Forums and I can hook up with him.

hes a Hobby builder but does real nice work by the looks of the photos hes posted on the Fb forum.

have a great day

"John"
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
Tom Stormcrowe is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 08:51 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
JOHN J's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: upstate NY (eastern side)
Posts: 600

Bikes: giant ATX 760, Falcon Road Bike (ss) custom marinoni tourismo (full dresser) ,

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
thanks agian Tom,

your rig looks like 700C,

Ill be building with steel for sure Lon at Nova Builder supply (great gents) has sent me the reccomended tubing Ill need.

Im going to Fillet braze. for geometry Im going to use the Cross check geometry and soften it up a good bit.

longer chainstay for sure a tad more rake in the fork, longer sloping top tube, a bit less seat tube angle, the only real strange thing will be my head tube is going to need to be pretty darn long maybe 6-7 " or even a tad longer to get the bars up enough with My APE build.

cables are going to be all top run, ill follow the underside of the top tube then down the seat tube for fd and follow seat stay for RD.

again I toil on the wheel size.

Brakes are another issue, I was originaly wanting to use the new tektro ultra long reach side pulls But Lon at Nova builder supply said with My weight cantis or Disk would be the only thing he'd use Esp in wet weather.

I guess cantis make more sence since I have 3 spare pairs to choose from and they work fine in winter for me.


26" is tempting as it will give a great ride and give me much more room for fenders carradice bag (hang space without a rear rack)

BUT GEEZ 26" seems so klunky for a sporty light tour, group ride bike ???

(Sigh) the Atlantis uses 26" wheel in the sizes I could ride (Sigh) what to do!!

thanks again.

BTW the stillwater NY tour de cure benifit raised almost $500K maybe more by now. over 1000 riders registered. we had a great day!!

I did the 50 mile ride as the gent I rode with was a ride official (he was in charge of all food) and he had to be back earlier. I also ran into a old High school buddy he was attemping the 100 mile ride.

out of 1000+ bikes I was the only one with fenders (HUH??) I got lots of funny looks esp from some roadies that I passed on climbs.

[/B]have a great day

"John"
JOHN J is offline  
Old 06-19-07, 10:30 AM
  #11  
Out fishing with Annie on his lap, a cigar in one hand and a ginger ale in the other, watching the sunset.
 
Tom Stormcrowe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South Florida
Posts: 16,057

Bikes: Techna Wheelchair and a Sun EZ 3 Recumbent Trike

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 22 Times in 17 Posts
My rig is "Old School", with 27" and 40 spoke rear/36 spoke front. I intentionally kept the 27" wheels because I tour in remote areas and can get tires anywhere that way, even KMart or Walmart or a little backyard shop. I can even generally get tires at Western Auto if I need to.
Originally Posted by JOHN J
thanks agian Tom,

your rig looks like 700C,

Ill be building with steel for sure Lon at Nova Builder supply (great gents) has sent me the reccomended tubing Ill need.

Im going to Fillet braze. for geometry Im going to use the Cross check geometry and soften it up a good bit.

longer chainstay for sure a tad more rake in the fork, longer sloping top tube, a bit less seat tube angle, the only real strange thing will be my head tube is going to need to be pretty darn long maybe 6-7 " or even a tad longer to get the bars up enough with My APE build.

cables are going to be all top run, ill follow the underside of the top tube then down the seat tube for fd and follow seat stay for RD.

again I toil on the wheel size.

Brakes are another issue, I was originaly wanting to use the new tektro ultra long reach side pulls But Lon at Nova builder supply said with My weight cantis or Disk would be the only thing he'd use Esp in wet weather.

I guess cantis make more sence since I have 3 spare pairs to choose from and they work fine in winter for me.


26" is tempting as it will give a great ride and give me much more room for fenders carradice bag (hang space without a rear rack)

BUT GEEZ 26" seems so klunky for a sporty light tour, group ride bike ???

(Sigh) the Atlantis uses 26" wheel in the sizes I could ride (Sigh) what to do!!

thanks again.

BTW the stillwater NY tour de cure benifit raised almost $500K maybe more by now. over 1000 riders registered. we had a great day!!

I did the 50 mile ride as the gent I rode with was a ride official (he was in charge of all food) and he had to be back earlier. I also ran into a old High school buddy he was attemping the 100 mile ride.

out of 1000+ bikes I was the only one with fenders (HUH??) I got lots of funny looks esp from some roadies that I passed on climbs.

[/B]have a great day

"John"
__________________
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche

"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
Tom Stormcrowe is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.