Nashbar has an 853 mtb frame; I've been thinking about it too. I hope this link works for you: https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...Frames%2FBikes

I'm sure you'll have a reason why not, but if you are looking at Salsa frames, wouldn't the Casseroll be better suited for your purpose?

That's a sharp looking bike, but my biggest problem is the very low slope to the top tube. It isn't too much different than from a traditional horizontal tube. To get up to my optimal range top tube of 560mm, it puts me on the 53cm Casseroll. Unfortunately, that size has an 804mm standover. And it isn't going to be very much lower right in front of the saddle.

I've looked at a number of bikes like this and rarely find one that fits.

I do fit the Marin Mill Valley bike, in their 17" size. Could pop all the way up to their full carbon, DuraAce RD, hollow crank arms, etc. Could probably get it at a price close to what it would cost to build the Gunnar Rock Tour. I like the Mill Valley, except for its 52/42/30 crank. That's pretty tall gearing for me.

Specialized makes a Globe Pro that they sell in the UK, but not in the USA. They sold it here in '07. I've ridden other Globe models and found the 52cm to fit me well. If I could find one of these, I would think very seriously about buying it.

Aluminum frame with carbon fork, seat stays, and seat post ... all with their Zertz vibration dampers. Very smooth ride.

https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...sp?sid=08Globe

That's a great looking bike. Looks like just about ideal for what you have described. Are there no 2007 models left in the warehouses?

Alas, no. They didn't sell many in the USA in 2007. Back in December, I checked with 21 different Specialized dealers, representing a total of 55 bike shops (some were members of chains) and found only 1 2007 Globe Pro, and it was a 58cm.

I did find one in a Colorado shop, but they don't ship.

The door isn't completely closed. The shop that was with the largest chain, in fact the biggest Specialized dealer in the USA, told me that there was a chance they could order a UK bike. Haven't followed up on it yet.

When I was in Florida a couple of weeks ago, I did ride a Globe Sport 52cm again, just to check the fit one more time. Rode it for about 20 minutes. Very comfortable.

This bike has been on my radar screen for about 7 months now. Have ridden three different types of Globes, a total of at least 5 times now. This includes having test ridden a 55cm Globe Pro last August - ride was very nice over gravel but the frame was a bit too large. It was #1 on my list, until I became enamored of sleeker, lighter flat bar road bikes. But, as I've written before, there are just too many components I would need to swap out on those road bikes, whereas on the Globe, if I replace the thumb shifters with twist shifters, I'm pretty much there.

There's a few pieces that aren't #1 in my book, such as having XT RD insteam of SRAM X.9, but that's a close call anyway. It has good quality V-brakes instead of disc, but I don't need disc and I know it. I just kinda like them a bit better. I wouldn't bother trying to swap out the XT or the Avid SD-7 brakes.

All in all, it is the closest stock bike to my functional requirements. It even has 32 spoke wheels.

The Globe's geometry is designed to be a comfortable rider too.

Long trail: 80mm
Long chainstay: 452mm
Long wheelbase: 1090mm

It even has one of those plastic crank ring protectors ... so I wouldn't have to wear a Fred Strap when I ride wearing my long pants.

Late last night I ran a comparison of the 2007 Globe Expert vs 07 Globe Pro vs 08 Globe Pro

The 08 Globe Pro is cheaper than the 07, and given the weakness of the dollar and price increases on 08 models, I knew this translated into some lesser components on the 08 model, and I was correct. They dropped the carbon handlebar, went from an Avid 7R on the rear brake to a 3R, dropped one model on the Octalink bottom bracket (ES-30 to ES-25), and went from XT to LX shift levers. In essense the 08 Pro lies midway between the 07 Elite and 07 Pro.

My local Specialized shop still has an 07 Globe Elite in 52cm. And they have SRAM X.9 RDs and Twistshifters. They quoted me a price of $1040 for the Elite with the X.9 upgrades from the standard LX RD and Deore thumbshifters.

https://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkM...007&spid=22057

Now we are talking about a bike that is extremely close to my specs. And is a near perfect fit. Except it is black, and a flat black at that. One of my least favorite colors. Not that I give much weight to color, unless it is something I would be embarrassed to be seen on.

Black is the new black.

...and there's always the option of custom paint.

Rode an interesting bike the other day ... a Pinarello! A Pinarello Treviso to be exact. A flat bar hybrid from Pinarello. Image below.

While this bike has a lot of name and image, I have to say that it was one of the least comfortable hybrids I've ever ridden, and didn't offer a lot for the money, outside of the badge on the frame. $1200 gets you an aluminum frame, aluminum fork, and Sora-level components (as compared to say a Trek flat bar hybrid where $1100 gets you a carbon fork, carbon seat stays, and 105-level). It was light, stiff, and zippy. But oh was it a rough ride.

If someone is looking for a very performance oriented flat bar hybrid and who doesn't mind dropping $1200 to get a lot of components typically found on $700 bikes, this would be the ticket.

Don't let this hold you back. I have an XT rd on my touring bike. I would put its performance up at least with the DuraAce rd on my road bike. Maybe even better (possibly because it's shifting 9 sp instead of 10).

It isn't that I dislike the XT, it is an excellent derailleur. It is just that it doesn't match up as well with twist shifters. In the end I might not go with twist shifters, at least at the start. But if I do, then a SRAM X.9 RD with X.9 twistshifters is a better combo than a XT RD with SRAM Attack twistshifters.

This has all come down to an interesting mind vs heart vs wallet final duel.

My mind tells me that an upgraded Globe Expert w/X.9 gear for $1050'ish would be a near perfect fit to my needs. It has just about everything I want and is probably the most comfortable bike I've ridden.

My heart tells me that my test rides on a 2006 Fuji Absolute 1.0 were the most fun rides I've ever taken. It was comfortable and combined a very smooth ride with more zip & performance than I am used to. This bike has a full 105 groupset, including a 10-speed hub (12-27) and SL-R770 thumbshifters, specifically designed by Shimano for use on higher-end flat bar road bikes and 10 speed compatible. It has a road triple (52/39/30) and weighs a hair over 20 pounds (about 3 pounds lighter than the Globe). All of these parts contribute to its performance and make for a very well coordinated bike.

So the Fuji works well as a complete bike, but isn't as easily modified. If I don't end up liking 52/39/30 as much as say an easier hybrid crank of 48/36/26, then I'm tossing a nice external bearing crankset that I'm getting for a song on the Fuji. If I can't live with thumbshifters, then I'd have to toss a set of thumbshifters that go for $150 on-line. And I'd have to toss the cassette, and probably the rear derailleur too. In the end, it just doesn't make sense to buy the well-coordinated Fuji and gut it to turn it into a more MTB-oriented hybrid.

In all probability, I would find the stock Fuji to be very good. I should be able to handle the hills that I ride with a lowest gear of 30-27. The thumbshifters are excellent - but I can't be certain that I will be able to shift effectively with my bad right thumb, after riding for 3+ hours. OTOH, I don't shift all that often and if I have a problem, I can use another finger to shift!

My LBS is down to their last 2 '06 Fujis and has them on sale for just $850. It's a heckeva bike for that price. Original price was $1210 and that was before two years of inflation and dollar devaluation. By comparison the '08 Specialized Sirrus has gone up to $1200 and now has lower level components than this Fuji (they were very similar in back in '06). This LBS is also my favorite LBS, with their repair shop located 1/2 block from my office parking space.

Then my heart and my mind find the Gunnar option attractive. But my wallet informs me that I just might end up dropping $1400 extra for the Gunnar and end up not getting a ride experience that is any better than the Globe or the Fuji.

So back and forth I go. One day leaning one way, the next day another way. And then the next day telling myself to just go ride my recumbent all of the time.

Not that I'm having any serious angst about it. It's kinda fun to ponder and compare. I'm sure I'll miss the pondering if I actually buy something.

As soon as you buy something you can return to pondering due to the N+1 clause. The secret here is that you can have your bike and ponder too.

When all else fails, I go for the most fun option.