Surly Cross Check, Bridgeston XO-1, Handsome Devil
 

I currently have a specialized Tricross Singlecross, which I like very much, but I'm building up a nice cross bike and never really use the Singlecross much on trails. I was hoping to build up as an alternative a versatile steel frame i could use fixed or geared, I plan on using it as a commuter/Pub Crawl bike. The Handsome Devil is the bike I really have my eye on, but they are out of stock at the moment so I was wondering what else is available.

The XO-1 was designed around what I'm looking to do but is real hard to find and real expensive for an around the town bike. I think the Cross Check and Devil were the effective evolution of the XO-1 and was wondering if there is anything out there of the same design as those two but lacked the publicity of the Cross Check. I know Voodoo used to make a steel cross frame with sliding dropouts but didn't have the rack mounts.

If anyone has any suggestions they would be really appreciated.

In the part of the world that I live in the year seems to go like this, 7 months of winter, 4 months of bad weather and August. Here we are in June and Handsome Devil is sold out of most of their products. If I was looking for a new bike and the HD was one of my choices it would simply be eliminated, the riding season is way to short for me to wait months to get a bike.

Just wondering if selling bikes is a business or just a hobby for these guys? Chances are I could find a Surly today!

I think it's a business for them that they started about a year and a half ago, I don't think you could financially support offering frames as a hobby. For me I have a bunch of bikes already and I'm looking for a bike more to switch out with the Tricross, so finding the right bike is more important than just finding a bike. I also live in Tampa which is miserably hot until about November so there is still plenty of time before it's really nice to ride, and I have my left arm in a sling for another month and then have to do some rehab on it before I can really start biking. So the immediacy isn't essential but at the same time I don' like waiting.

The reason I don't go for the Surly is because it's a bike that quite simply has much more support than anyone else out there, and I don't really like supporting the company that has been able to spread it's image best, that being said the CC is a great bike, I'd just rather get a frame from a smaller company.

Does anyone know anything about the Velo Orange Polyvalent? I suppose this is probably not the place to ask but it seems to fit my needs pretty well, it has a 650b wheel size which is a bit weird, but I've never tried a 650b bike so maybe it's the way to go.

Oh you live in the PNW also huh? :)

OP, what about finding you an older late 80's model mountain bike for this? I built up an '87 Bianchi Grizzly for taking down town and locking up outside while I go into places. Built it up with inexpensive parts because I didn't want to be out too much if it got nicked. That's the route I'd go for a "pub crawl" type of bike. Leave it ugly also.

Not really what I was hoping to do, I would really like a very nice looking very versatile bike, my immediate plans are to go on long casual rides with it and some commuting. A lot of the reason I'm getting rid of the Tri-Cross is because it has more of a race bike look and the aluminum frame, neither are bad things, but not what I want from my Sunday bike. I am more than anything else a bike lover, I'm not looking to find myself a beater bike, but looking for a real nice bike to spend my Sundays on doing casual group rides in the city.

Like I said the Devil and the Cross Check fit the bill of what I'm looking for pretty well, but I always like knowing what else is out there, always possible something fits my needs better, the XO-1 is really ideal but damn near impossible to find at a reasonable price, maybe the Polyvalent fills similar needs.

I just sold a polyvalent and got a cross check, my second. the polyvalent is great city bike, but the tubing and fork are way too flexy for any kind of aggressive off road riding. i think i prefer the higher trail of the cross check because its more fun. if you need a shopping bike with the convenience of having a front load the vo is the most economical choice. i also really dont feel like the details of the design are quite worked out on the vo. hated not having the option of downtube shifters and the shorter vertical drops. the finish is very resilient however

Thanks that was exactly what I was looking for, and I think you lead me to the Polyvalent, I plan on using it for city riding, and I don't plan on needing downtube shifters as I plan on using it as a single and bar ends if I ever run it geared. I have myself ordered one of the 2011 Raleigh RX 1.0s and building it up with Campy Centaur 10 speed, so I'll have a fine off road city bike anyway.

Just look for a late Eighties or early Nineties MTB. That's all an X0-1 was. Bridgestones were nice but a bit overrated. I scored this 87 Rockhopper with all XT for $100. You could easily put some drop bars or Mustache bars on and have a welded X0-1.

http://i553.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/img_1812.jpg

I like the MTB idea a lot, but I think I already have myself sold on the Polyvalent, I'm real curious about the 650b setup, and the bike has a beautiful look to it.

It's actually on sale. http://www.velo-orange.com/powmibukit.html
Be the first on the forum to own one! Seriously, I'd love to build one up.

That is a nice looking frame. I've looked at it myself a few times. Personally, I don't think it'd be worth the extra expense since 650 is pretty much the same as 26" so the old mountain bike route would make more sense. Some of the higher quality mountain bikes come with nice tubing and lugs also. My Bianchi Grizzly has OX Platinum tubing and nice lugging and I picked it up for $50.

Edit: Picture for reference. Just got it back to being a sudo MTB.

http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/z...cycles/003.jpg

How about this?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...MG_0012a-1.jpg

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b3...00513-1823.jpg

That is a very beautiful bike, the Polyvalant has really piqued my interest though and really want to see that through.

Have a look at Traitor Bikes http://www.traitorcycles.com/Bikes.cfm. I built a road bike using the Ruben frame.

That cross bike looks real nice.

If you want single speed only and want to support a small company, take a look at the upcoming Rawland Halvaane:

http://rawlandcycles.blogspot.com/20...prototype.html