qw1a

I have built up an old Peugeot as a "cross" bike that I use for both commuting and racing (this cross stuff is addictive). The frame was originally made for 27" tires so with long reach brake calipers it was able to take 30mm tires. After a couple of muddy races and riding it in the snow I found myself wishing for more mud/snow clearance, it actually get's stuck in the break calipers.

Trick is that's my commuting bike too and if I go out and buy a new frame I am definitely increasing chances of it being stolen. Right now, it's a pure "stealth" bicycle - the dinged-up frame, combined with the dirt masks the fact that it has part-ultergra, part DA 9-speed group and a pretty good (though not too blingy) wheelset. I am forced to lock the bike up at the train station without a guard, so I have to maintain the "stealth" quality as much as possible.

This said - is it possible to find someplace a well-used but quality cross frame, something that has been raced for some 5 seasons, has scratches, bumps and peeling paint? I looked on Ebay and CL, but no luck so far. Are there team liquidations or something of that sort that I could latch onto?

dirtyphotons

where do you live?

surly cross checks look pretty low profile in my humble opinion. i live in a very high theft part of a very high theft city and my experience has been that if you lock smart (u lock through the frame, cable through both wheels, out of the view of passing crackheads if possible) then that's all you need to do.

qw1a

Live in New Jersey in the summer and New York City in the winter. Surly CC does not look a whole lot different from my current frame, and yes, it does look pretty low profile. Not that cheap, though - would be a shame to loose that to theft. And it's HEAVVVY, man - how do you carry that over the barriers? I was hoping for a lighter aluminium frame, to be honest.

dirtyphotons

that's fair. fortunately you're in a pretty good cross area. i think you've got the right idea checking local teams' lists and seeing if anybody's selling something. also the week after christmas is a great time to score parts and frames that have just gotten "upgraded."

i hear you on the weight. a carbon fork and light wheels drop that down considerably, but it's still heavy.

M_S

Yeah. And you can always rattlecan whatever you get. Easier to do with a used frame than a brand new bike.

bonechilling

Seriously. I love my Cross-Check because it's versatile and rides great, but racing with it in some serious punishment. I put a carbon fork on it, and swapped the front wheel out with a Bontrager Race Light for racing, and it was still probably four pounds heavier than the aluminum bikes I fiddled with.

Next season, I think I'm going aluminum.

Sawtooth

You didn't mention a price range...but I would say be patient. I see have been watching poprads on ebay for a while now and have seen multiple older and well used frame sets go for $100-$250.

qw1a

Up to 350. I would spend more, but it would be too painful to lock up.

Edit: Actually, there are Leader frames on ebay for way less, but no, no way. If there is anything I'd love to get, it's a very used GT cross bike or a frameset.

Ronsonic 

Slightly aside from the question, you can have canti mounts and hangers brazed on. A spray of primer over the bare metal and your stealth factor is actually enhanced.

Ron

qw1a

Right I could. However, that would not change the mud clearance on the frame.