So am I seeing that the Surly Cross Checks are basically not disc compatible?

From what I've read on here I hear that the Salsa Vaya is heavy?

What about the Redline Conquest Classic?

So far I like the sounds of the Redline b/c it has a triple on the front and I live in a VERY hilly area. I wondered if anyone had any experience with these? The Vaya has a compact double which I would have to change. Cool that it comes in Ti but a bit too pricey for me.

I think the redline conquest classic is an outstanding deal. I couldn't find anyone that carried it for a test drive, or it's probably what I would have bought. The Kona ***** Inc is a great bike also, but several hundred dollars more.

7lbs for the Vaya frame and fork. Never really noticed the weight. Rides like a Cadillac though.

Rather than switching parts out buy the frame and build it to suit. Can be done with better parts for cheaper than their full build if you shop.

the girlfriend and I recently both picked up jamis aurora elites. we're really satisfied. we got 2010 models for a pretty nice price so don't know if that would be an option for you. the stock fenders are complete crap, but other than that it's speced pretty well, imo.

I guess also I'm assuming that the gearing is more like a road bike. I'm not up on gear ratios right now but do cross bikes have mountain bike gearing or road typically?

CCres - Yes I've debated this as well. Then I saw the Ti frame and almost lost my mind. That would be one hot ride! My parking area is pretty safe, it sits in front of the security office. At home I keep all bikes inside so I think it would be ok to have a nice commuter like that. Still, I live in Philadelphia.

You really don't need disc on the rear, so you can pretty much retrofit a Crosscheck or most other bikes (or build up a non-disc-specific frame) to a front disc brake by getting the proper hub/wheel and disc fork...and of course the disc brake kit. I did just that on my Fuji World

If you're willing to build a bike (It's REALLY not that hard) the Soma Doublecross DC is a nice steel frame also.

Cross bikes typically have road gearing in the back, and a smaller crank in the front. Typical is a 46/36 for Cross cranks. Both my Fuji Cross Pro and my Vaya run 50/34 compact cranks now, although I run a 11/34 MTB rear cassette on my Vaya with a XT RD to get lower for loaded touring.

Seattle Bike Supply, Redline is a good company, QBP, likewise.., Salsa, Surly, Civia, etc.
both come thru the west coast Ports, of entry, Tacoma Oakland Or Long Beach..


want light? 1) don't bolt anything on your bike,
racks and fenders are not weightless, but they sure are practical..

after that its all parts.. want a different crank, change it.

it's not like cars, there are common thread standards makers agree on .
a brand is just the frame, they buy everything else , wholesale,
and someone in Taiwan bolts it on, and puts it's box on a boat.

[QUOTE=fietsbob;12882683]Seattle Bike Supply, Redline is a good company, QBP, likewise.., Salsa, Surly, Civia, etc.
both come thru the west coast Ports, of entry, Tacoma Oakland Or Long Beach..


I was just looking at the Civia Bryant frameset. I have no problem building something, in fact being as how picky I am I think that will be best. This bike will be ridden almost every single day atleast 20 miles per day so I want it to be as light as a commuter bike can be. I'm reasonable I realize its not gonna be my road bike weight. I wish like hell I could afford a Ti frame but that is a bit out of my budget if I want to get nice components too. Anywho, back to the Civia, anyone have a clue what the Bryant frame set weighs? I found a Soma frameset that was steel in a 54cm that weighed 4.1 lbs but I really don't care for the color at all; very blah. I LOVE some of the Salsa's but I can't get a good deal on them like I can some of the others. I'm open to any suggestions, I'm still at the drawing board.

Interesting thought on retrofitting a disc on a bike. Is that as secure as a normal disc mount? That would simplify things for sure but I have some nasty hills here so it needs to be robust.

It IS a normal disc mount because the original non-disk fork is replaced with a disc-compatible fork. The majority of your braking power is in the front...so unless you are riding daily in rain/muck/snow, you really don't need disc on the rear. If you are worried about weight, obviously a single front wheel disc brake is lighter than having discs on both wheels.

My Kona Sutra has full Disc Braking. Came with Avid 7's, I really like riding this bike. i have done a few upgrades to it since buying it.....Brooks Saddle and XT drivetrain. That was just a personal choice the way it was setup worked great. it is a very comfortable ride.

My Novara Element has drop bars and disc brakes. I wouldn't recommend this particular bike, but I do like the overall package for commuting and running errands.

I'd stop sweating the weight so much on the commuter. It'll never be road bike weight unless it's a weight weenie road bike. Commuters by definition are a bit more robust. Accept that and enjoy that while you may have a Ferrari in the garage you drive a Camry to work

Throw away the gram scale, If you go with a Rohloff hub
its a whole mountain bike like drive train
all in side in an oil bath I have 2 bikes .. newer: Bike Friday with discs is my go to..

Koga WTR wears racks and panniers to go retrieve food and beverages.

there are several drop bar work-arounds, to mount the
2 cable grip shifter..

Because of rule changes in cross racing (disc brakes are now allowed) there will be a lot of cross bikes with disc brakes coming onto market this coming year. Commuters should start saving their pennies.

smart

here's mine:

Also recommend the Marin Lombard.

If I hadn't gone hog wild with my Ti Lynskey Cooper CX build, I probably would have gone with the Jamis Aurora Elite, for what may well be the same commute you have (I go from Mt. Airy to Center City). The Jamis is a Compact Double, but so is my Lynskey and it's been fine--there are only a couple spots I ever even go into the smaller front chain ring around here, and usually that's on rough terrain.

Nice! Bike? Frame? Model? More info!

Trek has a couple all weather commuters with 32 wide tires and disc brakes. too.

The difference is they pay wholesale but we do not. A nice crankset might cost three figures and what do you do with the OEM one? It's even worse when you buy a bare frame and build it up. I suppose a gruppo isn't the worst thing one could do but item by item spec'ing out to get the ultimate road machine will just get you the ultimate in cost overrun. Somewhere someone retails the exact level and quality of bike but for far less money because it is off the floor. FWIW.

H

You put the OEM one on ebay or craigslist and someone looking to spec their bike buys if from you. If you want to build with nice quality parts on the cheap, you don't buy them from retailers.

I've got one for my commuter. Added some sks fenders, a rack and a bottle cage. Oh and a brooks. Now I think I'm set for a decade or so. The redline is a nice ride, though the fork gets a little flexy under hard braking. It's not the lightest thing you'll test ride, but for me it fufills my needs.

One comment on sizing the redline, the top tubes are long compared to the seat tube. I think the 56cm has a 55.5 cm seat tube and a 57cm top tube or something. I got a professional fit before Iorsered mine. But I bought sight unseen.

Good luck shopping that's probably the most enjoyable part.

THAT is a perfect commuter to me. Even sexy.