TheOutdoorsman

Is the Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO the only SSCX that comes in 64cm? Thanks

fietsbob

... As If .. this is Match dot com for bikes and riders,, gimme a break ..

check 'the usual' sites ..

TheOutdoorsman

Sorry, I was just hoping someone was in the same boat as me and could pass me on some advice.

thermalattorney

I don't know your budget, but any BB30 frame can be converted to a SS using an eccentric bottom bracket. Motorbacon's site doesn't list head tube length, but from a top-tube standpoint Cannondale's 60cm is 10mm shorter and Felt's 60cm is only 5mm.

azgreg

Don't listen to him. He knows his shyt, but he's rarely of any help.

Andy_K 

This is true -- PF30 also using a different adapter. If you're planning to race this bike the EBB solution has some real advantages over horizontal dropouts.

fietsbob

I am shorter and older , and put a lot of years in bike shop jobs . which meant I was also poor.

never had any races that were around when I was younger, but I do like the bike style.

most people want to know about Amazon stocked inventory
maybe mr Bezos is better then.

TheOutdoorsman

As for budget, either a lower cost like the motobecane uno or a used bike is what my plans are.
Was really looking for a complete bike I can upgrade as opposed to building one up.
Why are the horizontal dropouts less advantageous?
Thank you for your input, I really appreciate it.

thanks

Andy_K 

Horizontal dropouts, whether rear facing or forward facing, can introduce problems with brake alignment. That is, if you slide the wheel to a different position then the brakes need to be adjusted. Also, it is faster to change wheels with vertical dropouts.

On the other hand, some eccentric bottom brackets are prone to creaking and frames with BB30 or PF30 bottom brackets tend to be more expensive.

fietsbob

IDK creaking for a :45 race seems tolerable .. [but Im 66 and not racing anyhow]

sliding dropout piece and vertical dropout is another solution..
Rohloffs engineering drawings for framebuilders slides on a 20 degree angle ,
which seems to keep the brake pad over the rim . moving relatively parallel.

Paragon . popular with US frame builders moves horizontal..

as long as the disc mount is on the slider , no problems..

Kopsis

https://sscx.me/single-speed-cyclocross-bikes/ has a pretty good list of current SSCX offerings, but I've never looked at sizing at your end of the spectrum. Note that some racers do prefer to go one or two frame sizes down from their road bike. Depending on how you're going to use the bike, that may increase your options. I had an FCXUno and it was a fun, cheap ride. Even in the used market you'll have a tough time hitting that price point. However the FCXUno geometry is way more aggressive than your typical CX bike -- enough so that I found racing it to be very challenging.

johnnyo

I appreciate your question, and I'm glad you asked it. I too am in the market for a similar bike, and like to believe that this is a forum that can be used to find out that sort of info. I'm guessing that you're over 6'4" otherwise the question wouldn't be so specific. I have found that the loudest naysayers / ridiculers to your type of question tend to be of average height, and have no concept of the difficulties tall folks have in this sport.

I've looked around at a lot of shops, and a lot of sites, and it appears that unless you go custom, 61 cm (centre to top of top tube) is pretty much it. Or Bikes Direct... Mind you, I did read somewhere (sorry, can't find it now) that the Fantom Cross Uno measures ~61 cm ctc. The geometry chart for the Uno shows it to be 64 cm from the centre of the bb to the top of the seat tube, not ctc or to the top of the top tube. I haven't seen one to measure it though...

I'm interested in what other offerings turn up. Thanks for posting

TheOutdoorsman

"...Note that some racers do prefer to go one or two frame sizes down from their road bike..."

Is this the case with most of you here or do you use the same size as your road bike? Thanks

idc

I ride a "53" CX bike and a "54" road bike, but they're different bikes, and I think the CX bike's effective TT is actually slightly longer. I think I could easily go down a size on my CX bike and still be comfortable but I prefer the bars a bit higher for CX/gravel and as there's no toe overlap on the CX bike, I'm happy with it.

If I was using the CX bike purely for CX races I would probably take one size down.

chriskmurray

I personally use the same size bike as on the road although I do like a slightly taller head tube (or simply more spacers under the stem)

You can turn any frame into a SS by using the White Industries Ecentric ENO hub. It is super solid, mine has done gravel grinding, single track, commuting and even at 200 lbs and riding aggressively has never once slipped.

idc

Yeah, I love mine too, I converted a road bike to SS/FG with an ENO eccentric.

The only caveat would be if you want disc brakes.

chriskmurray

As long as you have tab mounts instead of post mounts you are still covered! https://www.whiteind.com/kits-and-adpators.html

idc

I've seen that! But it says "For post mount disc brakes and to be used in conjunction with the Eric's Eccentric ENO disc hub, when installed the adaptor will allow the caliper mount to move in the same arc as the movement of the hub/brake rotor allowing the caliper and rotor to be properly aligned." so you need post mount? Or IS?

TheOutdoorsman

Thank you for the idea...I was not even considering making a bike single speed, which is what I want. So is it pretty easy to buy a geared CX bike and swap it to a SS ? This way i can also set my own gear ratio too, which seems better....Now I will look for some 62-64cm geared CX's and see what my results are....Thanks all

idc

The main thing you need with a SS frame is something to get the chain length just right so it is tensioned correctly - that's why dedicated SS frames have horizontal dropouts.

The solution chriskmurray is talking about involves getting a rear wheel built with a specific hub (the eccentric eno). This is one way you can ride SS with any frame (although I have no experience with disc brakes and eccentric ENO hubs).

There are other ways too - you can use an eccentric bottom bracket with certain frames as mentioned above, or you can use a chain tensioner (there are many styles on the market, and you can even finagle a rear derailleur to do this, which I did before I had an eccentric ENO hub). Some of these solutions may make it easier to change out a wheel quickly in a race situation than traditional horizontal dropouts.

(If you ever want to ride fixed gear you can't use a tensioner.)

TheOutdoorsman

Well I was thinking, the only two 62-64cm SS bikes I found were the Motobecane Uno and the Surly Cross Check SS. If I just get a SS and not worry about the flip, these are my top options. What are everyone's feelings about the Surly, I'd put drop bars on it though? Thanks

Andy_K 

I used to have a Cross Check. I didn't like it for racing and the geometry wasn't to my liking either. It is a very versatile bike though.

TheOutdoorsman

Well, I thought about it for a while...and what I really wanted was a budget bike I wouldn't be afraid to venture out in that also came in my size...so I went ahead an purchased a Motobecane Fantom Cross UNO. From what I've learned from this forum and my own research, everyone has a personal downfall (opinions) to just about every bike out there, so spending a lot of money to start off seems too hurried for me, so I will just learn from this bike first.. This bike seems like a great starting place, and I thank you all for your help, I really do appreciate it.

Kopsis

I can't fault that reasoning. No sense making a big investment until you're certain you know exactly what you want/don't want in the bike. Folks will claim you could do better buying used, but that's not so easy for people living on the edges of the sizing bell curve. You can certainly have some fun on the Uno (though I'd start shopping for new brake levers now ... trust me on that one). Good luck!

idc

I think it's a good decision for a first bike, I've ridden a friend's (set up as fixed gear, with some upgrades), and it seemed pretty solid. Although he's since sold it for a Felt Breed.