Frames? 700c/29er, racks, fenders, disc?
 

I know it has probably been asked a thousand times but I've been searching for hours and still can't find any info on commuter frames that have the above specifications.

I want a new commuter frame that is disc compatable, can take 700c/29er wheels with Big Apple 2.35 and have room or fixings for racks and fenders. I have the Salsa Cr Moto fork so I'm sorted there but would like other ideas too.

A few of you will say "why do you want discs". Well I just prefer them as I like the braking performance and have been through 2 rims in 3 years with V's on.

Already looked at the Fargo but apparently it is no good with flat or riser bars. Can anyone explain how this changes the geometry. I was going to run it with a Thomson lay back post and flip the 6 degree stem over to lower the front. I do not like a long stretched out cockpit, much prefer it more upright like my MTB's. This would be the ideal set up if it suited flat or riser bars in that it has the mounts for discs, fenders and big tyre compatability.

Also do not mind if the frame is steel, aluminium or titanium. Or if it's custom made and available in the UK. Probably no more than £1000 would be nice.

Please ask if there is anything else you need to know.

Choccy...

The 2.35's are going to be the sticking point. I've got a Gary Fisher that meets a lot of the specs, but it maxes at 2.1's

You can run the Fargo with flat bars. I do, though I do plan to try out drops someday.

One key difference in geometry between the Fargo and a bike designed for flat bars is that the Fargo will have a shorter top-tube for a given size. The Fargo also has a fairly tall head tube. The combination of those two things compensates for the additional reach and drop that are inherent in drop bars.

Since you like a somewhat upright position, you might look at a Fargo. FWIW, I bought up one size. I'm 5'9" in my riding shoes, and Salsa recommended that I go with a 16-inch frame. However, I bought an 18-inch frame because the effective top tube length on the 18-inch Fargo frame happened to be only one millimeter different from the bike that I had been riding, that I very much liked. To compensate for the higher head tube, I run a perfectly flat bar rather than a riser bar. I may flip the stem. I'm still dialing in the fit.

I do wish Salsa would do something like the Fargo, but with flat bars in mind. I want the same things in a commuter bike that you do, and there aren't many frames that provide them all.

CCrew, which model Gary Fisher?

Well I'm 5'8" in my riding shoes and find my 16" MTB with risers a little stretched so I'm hoping the combination of layback post and flipped stem will help solve the Fargo problem.

Just hope they don't bring out a flat bar version if I decide to get one.

Choccy...

The Kaitai... Which means the Utopia and the Montare also, since all three use the same 29'er frame. I run mine with 38's and rack/fenders, but have a spare set of wheels with 2.1's on them that takes me like 10 mins to swap to.

I had Seven Cycles make a frame (Ti) for me. It meets all your qualifications and fits like a glove. Might be the way to go for you too. Consider your theft issues first, if you have that covered then why not.

Dunno about the tire width, but the Salsa Chili Con Crosso looks pretty close

no discs
no rack/fender mounts
definitely no clearance for a 2.3" tire

You need a mountain bike. If you back down to the 2" tires your frame options will increase.

You're correct, I was in fact thinking of the La Cruz. It has fender eyelets. Rack mounts on disk bikes seem to be best done on a bike-by-bike basis, but I've no doubt they can be managed. And disks. 42mm tires max though.

Motorbecane Outcast 29er? I have the older, no disc version for winter commuting, new one has discs and sliding dropouts for SS/IGH:

http://bikeisland.com/cgi-bin/BKTK_S...ls&ProdID=1262

Surly Karate Monkey. "Both frame and fork have enough tire clearance for the largest 29" fatties on the market." --Surly website

This would do the trick: Willits Monster-X. Cyclocross bike from hell. build with a flat bar, no worries.
http://www.willitsbikes.com/Willits.html

I would seriously question why you need 2.35" tyres unless you commute through a war zone. I commute on a Marin Muirwoods 29er which has 1.6" wide tyres and these are more than adequate. Anything wider is just going to slow you down. Good luck in your search!

Where do you mount the racks and fenders. Is it an extra option on the website.

Choccy...

Well I currently use Schwalbe Marathon 1.5" but they get uncomfortable when fully loaded.

Choccy...

See that link called "add ons"?

Not that I think throwing a custom builder into the discussion really makes sense, as any custom builder can obviously make you whatever you want.

True

Doesn't the dropout and rear brake configuration on the KM mean that you have to remove the disk brake caliper just to remove the rear wheel?

I also note the lack of a chainstay brace to which to attach the rear fender.

Gunnar Fastlane (click here) is worth a look. They're one of the few builders who understand that the chainstay is the best place to locate the rear caliper mount, preserving rack and fender possibilities. I also appreciate that they don't include vestigial canti mounts. But, the 2.3 tire requirement is a deal breaker. They claim 38 w/fenders, or 40 without.

I have a Surly Karate monkey that I have set up as a trail/camping bike but mostly I just ride to work on it. It has as much tire clearance as you'd ever need and one set of front and rear eyelets, which means you can still mount a rack and fenders but it takes some creativity. It's probably heavier than you need for commuting, just like any other bike that accepts 29inch tires.

Since you're in the UK, have you ever heard of Singular Cycles? You should check out their Perigrine (http://www.singularcycles.com/bikes.htm). Yeah, I guess it only takes 2.0 tyre, but otherwise it lookes pretty wicked.

ps. I had my heart set on 26x2.35 Big Apples for a different bike but they didn't fit, so I got 2.0s. They're plenty cushy. I can run them as low as 35-40psi without severe rolling resistance penalty. Usually, I'll pump them higher, but lower pressure sure helps you float over potholes during half-asleep morning commutes.

The Perigrine looks very nice. I could actually deal with 2" tyres as the biggest I need to get in would be the winter studs which are 1.9". Now the only problem is waiting until October 09.

If there are other suggestions then please let me know.

Choccy...

Gary Fisher also..

Check Cotic's site for the tyre clearance of the Roadrat. You could order a frame and have it built as you want.

on one inbred. takes a wide tire and works really well with flat bars. plus it looks cool.

http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalo...d_29er_29.html

they look 'yellow' on the website....but they're a nice 'sand' color irl.

http://www.thehubsa.co.za/uploads/20...d_29er_San.jpg

I'm now looking at the Soma Double Cross Disc. I've realised the 2.3" tyres are not really needed.

What I need are discs, racks and mudguards. Also space to fit Schwalbe Marathons and Schwalbe Snow Studs. I've found that both of these tyres come in 700x38c. The biggest I think I'll ever use is the Schwalbe Marathon Plus ATB at 700x40c.

Does this open up any more options.

1: Discs
2: Mudguards
3: Racks
4: 700x40c

Choccy...

Just to ask, did you look at the Trek Portland?

I have no idea how those half fenders work out; but, people seem to like them. I had the 700x28s' on my Giant and they seemed to work on road and on trails.

Frameset
Sizes 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 63cm
Frame Alpha Black Aluminum
Fork Bontrager Satellite Elite, carbon
Wheels
Wheels Bontrager Select Road Disc
Tires Bontrager Race Lite Hardcase, 700x28c; 60 tpi
Drivetrain
Shifters Shimano Tiagra STI, 9 speed
Front Derailleur Shimano Tiagra
Rear Derailleur Shimano 105
Crank FSA Gossamer Triple 50/39/30
Cassette SRAM PG950 11-26, 9 speed
Pedals Shimano 520, clipless
Components
Saddle Bontrager Race
Seat Post Bontrager Race
Handlebars Bontrager Race, 31.8mm
Stem Bontrager Race Lite, 7 degree, 31.8mm
Headset Aheadset Slimstak w/cartridge bearings, sealed, alloy
Brakeset Shimano R505, mechanical disc

Good point there Robert C.

Other things I should have mentioned were full mudguards and hydraulic disc brakes.

Choccy...

It's true, it is and they do.

Interesting. When did they stop putting rack mounts on the seat stay bridge?

Coincidentally, I've been considering repurposing my 'not-sliding-dropout' Inbred 29er into a drop bar exped bike for an upcoming on/offroad tour.

On the Surly note -- doesn't the 1x1 do a lot of what you want it to? And the 1x1 = 11 variant comes with 24x3's standard . . . :)