Should I sell my fixed geared bikes and get a CX bike? Hmmmmmm

I'm needing to upgrade the frame on my current fixed gear. Its an old chromoly steel frame about two sizes too big 33.5" top tube, I'm a 30" inseam. I don't really want to spend too much (more than 150). There are three frames I'm currently looking at getting, District Crew (3.37lbs) Cordoba (4lbs) or Pake Rum runner (4.2lbs). I have a spare carbon fork 1 1/8 from a road bike frameset I bought. All three frames are within $5 of each other including shipping. Just wondering opinions on which one to get.

Where I live is quite hilly. (Appalachian Mountains)

drops n levers, same thing as bullhorns but then you also get the drops
fyi the 500s dont have a spring return, so jam a pencil eraser in there or put a rubberband around the top

Are they pretty sluggish without the assistance?

Edit: I can't believe $70 levers don't have spring return.

i mentioned this only because most fg riders arent using brakes so theyre just phantom levers, and would jingle around not attached to a brake.

if you do, brakes have springs which do a perfectly fine job

Gotcha, thanks.

Going to Tokyo for vacation this fall. Want to bring one of my bikes to cycle/tour around the metro there. Considering the low crime and theft rates there I was thinking of bringing my Carbon (Switch) singlespeed. Should I bring my carbon roadbike (Giant) instead? The difference in value is...errr...significant between the two. Mostly just afraid of the airline mishandling the bike during the flight more than anything.

I used to put a hair tie in the inside of mine. It was pretty good effective.

Purchase a bike there and then bring it home with you :)

Oooh, don't tempt me.

Jtek makes bar end shifters for some IGH hubs: Jtek Bar-end Shifter

Also, I remembered seeing a cool blog post about a guy making a shiftmate-type adapter for his SRAM i9 hub. Well, I found it again and I thought you would get a kick out of his attempt.

Alex Wetmore is always busy with something? » Blog Archive » Hacking the Travel Agent

anyone know if the 8mm MKS chain tensioners will work with the drop-outs on a Dolan Pre Cursa?
I could wait till the frame arrives to measure but if someone knows already it would help.

Thanks.

Should I paint the lug details on my Steamroller fork white to match the decals/seat/tape/bottle cage?

Surly Steamroller - Pedal Room

No, it will just bring attention to the fact that the frame isn't lugged.

I was thinking about that too.

Should I get this for my next geared bike. I'm getting hard just thinking about it.

Warbird Carbon Rival 22 | Bikes | Salsa Cycles

TT, you know what your income is. I wouldn't think that buying that thing would be worth my money if I had your stable but if you are excited about it and you have the money then I wouldn't think it would be a waste either.

Whoa, whoa, whoa...easy there fella!

It is a pretty cool bike tho.

Theres not some Bikesdirect knock-off that "Compare to..."? ;)

Salsa's high-end stuff is so nice.

I was in a shop looking at one of their carbon fat bikes and the bulk of the bike vs. it's actual weight kinda blew my mind.

my lbs had the crabon beargrease and the mech that knows me was so excited about it, so he took it out of the back to show me and im like ooh thats cool.
he tells me to lift it up so i do and just blurt out "oh get the **** outta here!"

4" tires and gears and the thing weights about as little as my track bike, technology is some crazy ****.

salsa has never done anything that's blown me away.
I prefer surly and all-city...qbp's "working mans" brands over the more expensive salsa line.
the sexiest bike they've ever done was the titanium el mariachi.

Well, I've decided for the time being to stand pat and not n+1. It's not a matter of being able to afford this, just not really seeing myself using this kind of bike very much or having anywhere to put in a house already bursting with bikes. It's the same reason I won't be buying a Nature Boy 853, very sexy bike, but it would probably mostly gather dust in the back of my garage. If anything, I need to muster the courage to get rid of some of my bikes like my Cannondale Jekyll full suspension mtb that I haven't ridden in over 10 years.

My first bike was a really cheap Jamis Beatnik. I bought a Cretin frameset and transferred the wheels from the Jamis to the Cretin. The rims are laced to formula hubs. I'm planning on upgrading the wheels eventually.

Should I buy a set of H+Son rims laced to formula hubs, or save up and get something with nicer hubs? I'm wondering if the rims themselves will be a significant upgrade, or if I won't notice much of a difference if I stick with another set of formula hubs.

Well, assuming they are the Formula hubs with sealed cartridge bearings, I doubt that you will feel any difference when riding on them than you would with more expensive hubs. Better rims OTOH will build up better, and ride smoother while staying true longer. Cheaper rims are often not round or true, and the joint can be rough such that they act like cheese graters on brake pads. So, H+Son to Formula sounds like the most reasonable choice if you are looking to economize.

thanks

To me, hubs are mostly bling once you get past novatec/formula hubs with sealed cartridge bearings for SS/FG. Better rims would make a much bigger difference.

Good to know.

Should I put some 38's (and maybe some centerpulls) on the Steamroller and do the short course?

Rusty Spoke Ultra | FCA Endurance

No, you should do the long course.