Looking for a MTB frameset
 

I've given up on finding a specific commuting bike frame for my commute which is a mixture of road and trails, such that my current steed is a '95 Marin team steel hardtail ('97 Marzocchi Bomber Z2) with a mix of 8psd LX/XT components, and semislick tires. with an Old Man Mountain Red Rocks rear rack.

I'd like to buy a small bike mfgr's frameset and transfer as much as I can over. I can't get my BB out and my seatpost is fused to the seattube which is one of the reasons I think it's time for a new commuter.

Need:

1) linear pull brake bosses, for my rack and simplicity, Disc brakes are nice in winter but I can get by without it and will save weight, cost, and complexity.
2)26" wheels, can't go 29 since I have a set of winter wheels with studs that I will use.
3)Kind of think I should go AL just for the rain and salt (wintertime) aspects... but kind of flexible on this.

I looked at Surly but the only bike that would work is the 1x1 and I cannot go singlespeed as I have a big monster hill to go up and over, I can get by with a 34 front chainring but I need the multispeed rear for the most part. The Surly Instigator is a bit heavy since it's a MTB and intended as such.

I looked at Voodoo, Viscous Cycle (cause it's somewhat local).. I like the smaller big frame mfgrs and came across a Soma Groove which seems like it is nice, Tange steel, $375 for the frame, based somewhere in CA. Has anybody ridden one, good quality?

What other small mfgrs would be in the $300-$500 range for the frame.

I'm not sure if I can reuse my Marzocchi as I have a feeling it might be a 1" headtube whereas most bikes these days are 1 1/8" and of course, it's cut already so it would have to be long enough for whatever bike frame I get, other than that, it's still in fine mechanical shape.

Jay

Vicious Cycles is awesome if you can swing it. They're right down the road from me. They are excellent quality, and I know the former guy who made all of the frames. The owner, Carl, is also a sponsor for my club. A+.

Any random older MTB from CL?

jim

How about this from Nashbar ?
http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...Frames%2FBikes

Thanks... Viscous Cycles is way out of my range for a commuter bike, I knew of the name, didn't know they were custom and high end! :)

The nashbar bike sounds like it would fit, it's bright and has both disc brake mounts and canti bosses. Does it come with rear rack braze-ons? I don't see any, my OMM red Rocks needs lower eyelets...

jay

Nope. But you can have them put on, or use an Old Man rack.

Here's proof that the NBar frame is practically bomb-proof though.

http://davesnewadventure.wordpress.c...on-by-bicycle/

I really dig the Performance MTB frame, the Access frame: http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=3020

It doesn't have eyelets or braze ons, but that's not a problem as long as you are ok with P-Clamps and/or axle mounted racks!

I'll be pickin' one up soon myself, and you can get a Surly 1x1 fork for it with disc and canti mounts and be set. Very cheap, and very sturdy. In fact, I read a review one time that spoke of a guy placing in the top 5 MTB XC nationals on an Access frame...did it because he was self-funded, so he spent his money on components and wheels instead.