I'm looking to build a custom commuter/light touring bike with a Rohloff Speedhub and need some frame recommendations.

My criteria are:
-Steel
-Classic geometry - horizontal top tube
-Fits the Rohloff speedhub without need for chain tensioner (horizontal dropouts?)
-Ability to run wide-ish tires (700x32 or x38)
-Ability to have a rear rack

So far, I've found the Surly Cross-Check frame. Are there any others that I should be looking at?

Thanks!

PS: Apologies if this is posted in the wrong subforum.

I was thinking of building the same thing you are but with a slightly smaller budget, nexus instead of a rohloff. Cross check is my go-to. The Straggler if you want disks. Alternatively, many classic steel bikes fit the criteria.

Also, the bike doesn't have to have "horizontal" dropouts, as long as they're not vertical, you're fine. Anything but vertical, (horizontal, 45 degrees, -45 degrees, etc. will work.)

I'd go with an All City Space Horse frame over the CC. Lighter,and the ED coating means no frame-savering or stuck seatposts.

Cool bike! But it doesn't really have a horizontal top tube. It's just a strong aesthetic preference for myself.

Soma Wolverine, It has the special dropouts for a rohloff. More of an all around/CX bike than a touring rig, so all rounder.

But the top tube is not perfectly flat.

GT Eightball - discontinued.

I have a Shimano Alfine 8 speed hub. Can take up to 42 c tires.

Its probably good for upgrading to a Rohloff Speedhub if your budget allows for it.

Interesting. What is the advantage of the Rohloff dropouts as opposed to horizontal dropouts > 25mm? According to Rohloff (Dropout styles: www.rohloff.de) both styles do not require a chain tensioner.

Looks cool but too non-traditional for my tastes.

Thanks for all the replies!

The Soma Wolverine uses a slider style dropout, so you can use an OEM Rohloff type dropout. I believe this is preferable because it doesn't require a torque arm.

What is the disadvantage of the torque arm? Other than looks?

No real disadvantage, it means more complexity. it adds one more part and more fasteners.

Rohloff choose to eliminate it when possible, hence their OEM drop out.

It wouldn't be a deal breaker on choosing a frame, but seems a nice feature if available. I like it when a frame manufacturer considers things like that and give the buyer options.

Agreed. I just wish there were such a frame with a horizontal top tube!

This one might work. It ticks all the boxes.

Or this one if you like a double top tube.

I have one and run 40mm tires with fenders.

Those won't work, they are 120 mm spacing and the Rohloff needs 135 mm.

Co-Motion makes ALMOST what you are looking for and use Rohloff specific designs, but they are very pricey:

Co-Motion Cycles | bikes-grid-all-singles

Cycle Monkey is the US distributor for Rohloff.... literally any bike shop you buy a Rohloff from in the US in turn buys it from Cycle Monkey, which is part of the reason Rohloffs are enormously more expensive through a bike shop than direct from Germany, but they also build bikes and nobody known Rohloffs better...

https://cyclemonkey.com/bikes.shtml

Unless is is Rodriguez Bikes (R+E Cycles) in Seattle, which is the US leader in building Rohloff bikes by volume.

Custom road bicycles and custom tandem bikes hand-built by Rodriguez and Erickson in Seattle

At this level all the bikes are custom so you can get any shape top tube you want.

True, but it is a cromoly frame so it can be cold set to 135mm.

With the new NWT rear end design the Bike Friday in both It and the Tikit have an Option
of the rear dropout tensioning the chain.
works with Belt drives too .

The Silk was their other Belt drive capable design ..

I own a Pocket Llama Disc With a Rohloff and the R'off chain tensioner (Rear Fold hinge between BB & Hub)

Yes Cycle Monkey in Richmond took over the Distribution of all, the R'off stuff .. QBP Imports just what they Want Direct.

The Rohloff USA service Center was in El Cerrito California .. next town Over .. That is where I Sent My Hub in for a seal replacement.

(the '04 and earlier Hub used a Nylon Seal , now they're Neoprene, types, just like transmission and engine seals in cars and trucks .

I have a Bike Friday Silk Rohloff and am feeling a little abandoned now that they have discontinued the Silk and have a "hinge forward" design change that makes my bike obsolete!

it s not obsolete as long as it still works.. Only the New! Improved! Marketing driven scheme
(making people feel inadequate with 'Only' 9 speeds, as evidenced by all the Upgrade Threads Here)

If worried, Call and ask if they will save the tooling to make replacement frame parts ,
if you crash, break things, and need some replacements .

I think there will be a batch of 100 made , maybe Buy extra frame parts and hoard them.

Those are great ideas, although I don't think I'm likely to crash the bike as I find I am riding it less and less... I got it specifically because I was not sure I'd be able to keep the weight off and my Bike Friday is rated for 250+ pound riders.

However, I have indeed kept the weight off and have also found I'm migrating towards lighter weight 700c bikes. Am waiting to take delivery on a new Moots Vamoots next week, which is credit card touring capable if not as fully laden touring capable as the BF. Also in between then and now had a Rodriguez Rohloff built and that can do anything the Silk can. Both bikes, however, are enormously heavier than the titanium Moots.

yea custom R&E uses the EBB, Co Motion, Thorn Raven and Tout Terrain all do similar , for the chain drive, of R'off hubs.

Greatly lightened wallets begat lighter bikes , fill your wallet abundantly before considering the quest...

I didn't realize there was only one distributor! I plan on buying my Rohloff from ebay directly from Germany. They run about ~$1100 that way.

Any more frame suggestions?

Thanks all!

There are at least 2 in the US, QBP is the other One , but they dont deal with the whole parts spectrum
their wheel building department, Via a retail seller , can ship a finished wheel.
any rim also in QBP inventory.

Rohloff company site has a list of some German Frame builders too.

Just because it can doesn't mean you should. Seriously why would take any of those two frames and spread it apart 15 mm and then make sure those long horizontal track drop outs are exactly parallel to each other? Bikes get spread from 120 to 130 at best not 135. Face it your suggestion was not a very good one and now your trying to prove yourself right. If you thought it was such a good suggestion why didn't you post that crucial piece of information that the frames you posted had to modified.

Other people posted frames that actually work and don't have to be modified.

Ok

Shortleggedcyclist posted about Co-Motion. Here are a few photos from the 2013 NAHBS. This was my second favorite bike at the show, the first being the Littleford Cycles. I am sure the Co-Motion is pricey, but it was really well done.