cheap cross bike

[LightWeight]

AAAHHHH!! All these threads about riding fixies through Wirth and seeing the Cross Check for sale post yesterday has got my mind spinning again. I almost pulled the trigger on a Cross Check last summer, and I am once again feeling the B.A.S. (Bike Acquisition Syndrome) build up.

What options do I have for a cheap cross bike? So far I've come across this (http://www.irocycle.com/id111.html) which seems like a pretty good deal. Anyone know of anything else similarly priced? This will be used primarily for commuting and shooting through the River bottoms on occasion.

[jeffgude]

Wow, they don't get much cheaper than that IRO. I have a Cross Check. It's set up as a commuter with a flat bar and smooth tires. I have to say that with the 26c tires pumped up to 90 psi you feel every crack in the pavement as a harsh jolt. Other than that its a great bike, very versatile. I'm using a road crank and wheels, but an old mtb drivetrain. I may change over to drop bars someday, but I had the mtb parts laying around when I built it up.

[KleinCrazy]

I have been looking for something similar for a long time also.


My problem is I have short legs and a long torso, so to fit well on a bike I need something with compact or semi-compact geometry. i.e. <29" standover and >54 cm effectice top tube length.

The only frame yet that I have seen that meets these are the Il Pompino from On-One. I have yet had a chance to test fit one but hope to soon.

all the other Cross frames I have tried (salsa, surly, Trek, Cannondale) I either can stand over them and feel all crunched up in the cockpit or I feel comfortable in the cockpit but have to stand over the bike on my toes.

I also have this really weird wish to have a steel, disc, Single and gearable cross bike. Try finding that non-custom.

Once I can swing a leg over a 48 and 51 On-One I will probably just build up a frame with a disc compatible fork and go from there. Might have Bob or Eric see if they can install and brace and adjustable disc mount on the back.

On-One makes a tugnut derailure hanger that will turn thier singlespeeds into gearies. interesting option. but I will probably run it single most of the time.

that IRO is interesting but the geometry does not look like it will work for me.

Good luck.

[Kosk]

I also have this really weird wish to have a steel, disc, Single and gearable cross bike. Try finding that non-custom.


Whoa, that is scary, that's exactly what I want!! I was thinking cross-check with custom brazed-on disc tabs. I won't always be living 2.5 miles from work, so I want a faster rolling ride for a longer commuter, capable of handling year round weather (big tires, fenders, off-road abuse). Plus then I can get my Moab frame back to geary XC status. Too bad Surly has to wait on "the Boat" to get all their product over here.

Maybe we should start a support group for this affliction?!

[funky-funky-chicken]

I have been looking for something similar for a long time also.

I also have this really weird wish to have a steel, disc, Single and gearable cross bike. Try finding that non-custom.


I know that the title of this thread is "cheap" but... For you James... why not just buy a bike once? Go talk to GO over at OoO and order up a custom Vicious! Get something with an eccentric BB, vertical dropouts, and a derailleur hanger. Mmmm...

As for cheap cross bikes... I too wouldn't mind finding something to replace my old commuter. That IRO looks to be a pretty good deal. Anyone have experience with the Soma Double Cross (http://store.somafab.com/sodocrcyfr.html)? Reynolds 631 steel, relatively decent price (frame and fork for <$500)

Correct me if I'm wrong...in order of price we would have IRO, Surly, Soma?

[LightWeight]

Anyone have experience with the Soma Double Cross (http://store.somafab.com/sodocrcyfr.html)?

I rode a friend's Groove hardtail. It rode very nice.

Here's (http://vandesselsports.com/crb.php?bike=9) another option. I e-mailed Edwin and he said the CRB will handle up to a 45c tire.

[KleinCrazy]

Ken,


I have looked at doing a custom vicious but the cost is just astronomical.

Because of thier standard geometries, I would need to get a custom build. Thier small cyclocross frame is listed has having a standover heigth of >31 inches. and I need about a 29 with and extended cockpit. more of a compact or semi compact.

soooo, for the frame alone it would be $1950 to start with a EBB frame with fender and rack mounts.

I can build a complete Il Pompino for $1600 full disc all custom spec parts.

On-one does make a sliding Disc brake mount for thier frames which I just found so that solves that problem.

[funky-funky-chicken]

Ken,


I have looked at doing a custom vicious but the cost is just astronomical.

Because of thier standard geometries, I would need to get a custom build. Thier small cyclocross frame is listed has having a standover heigth of >31 inches. and I need about a 29 with and extended cockpit. more of a compact or semi compact.

soooo, for the frame alone it would be $1950 to start with a EBB frame with fender and rack mounts.

Yikes... I saw that their suggested price on a frame and fork was around $1300. I thought that was a lot. I didn't think custom would be ALL that much more. Definitely outside the context of this thread!

[Aaroneous]

What options do I have for a cheap cross bike?

Where's Beau? He's got road bikes up the wazoo, and would probably make you a complete singlespeed for $100. Older (70s & 80s) steel frames (like my Schwinn Traveler) usually have good tire clearance - I can fit 35c's on mine no prob. You'll probably have to dink around with it a bunch to get it the way you like it, but spend another $100 on some parts and you'll have a killer ride for two bills...

And spend some time browsing www.fixedgeargallery.com (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com) - you'll get all kinds of naughty ideas for wacky things to do with road bikes...

[gordanfreeman]

Where's Beau? He's got road bikes up the wazoo, and would probably make you a complete singlespeed for $100. Older (70s & 80s) steel frames (like my Schwinn Traveler) usually have good tire clearance - I can fit 35c's on mine no prob. You'll probably have to dink around with it a bunch to get it the way you like it, but spend another $100 on some parts and you'll have a killer ride for two bills...

And spend some time browsing www.fixedgeargallery.com (http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/) - you'll get all kinds of naughty ideas for wacky things to do with road bikes...once i pull the scratch together this is what i plan to do. cheap for me is under $300 and while some of those other bikes look nice i simply cannot afford a $600 commuter bike :embarass:

meanwhile the commuter beau posted up awhile ago for $100 looked damn nice and i might actually be able to afford something like that by the end of the summer :crazy2:

[GearDaddy]

You want to go cheap, then try these:

- Find a used cross or touring bike in a frame size that fits. The key ingredients are that it has cantilever brakes and is fairly lightweight. I managed to find just that at Richfield's Penn Cycle "garage" for $100. It had 7-speed grip-shifters. Perfect. I swapped over 7-speed Shimano 600 components and wheels from an old road bike, and only spent another $60 bucks for some cyclocross tires and swapping a 42t chainring for a 38t one. I used this bike to race cyclocross for half a season.

- I decided to later "upgrade" an old road bike for cyclocross. So, I found a Nashbar carbon cyclocross fork for $120. I got some new drop handlebars and a stem and headset for cheap at Nashbar. I found I could still fit 700X32c cyclocross tires in the rear, still using the side-pull road brake. With the added braking power of canti brakes on the new fork, it worked great. I used this bike for the rest of the cyclocross season. Only a $150 investment. Perfect commuter bike too!

[LightWeight]

Not cheap, but this looks really nice.

Aluminum:
http://www.airborne.net/eready/janette/store/cdalbike.asp
Titanium:
http://www.airborne.net/eready/janette/store/cdbike.asp

[mtnbykr]

The only frame yet that I have seen that meets these are the Il Pompino from On-One. I have yet had a chance to test fit one but hope to soon.



if you ever came to dulluth, you could try mine. it's probably a bit big but would give you a starting point.

kl

[el gueche]

kenwood has an il-pompino frame 17" or so hanging on the wall - i've a 17" steel lugged schwinn cross cut hanging in the basement with a steel cross fork - cheap -

[KleinCrazy]

if you ever came to dulluth, you could try mine. it's probably a bit big but would give you a starting point.

kl

Kurt.

I will be through tomorrow about noon and then late afternoon on Sunday. I'll give you a call sunday and maybe meet up and do a quick test fit.

Mara, Shad and I are going up to the Chain Drive.

Thanks
James

[pmschwei]

for people looking to make a cheap commuter/ss/fixed i saw some old "10 speeds" for free on twincitiesfreemarket.com

[KleinCrazy]

Woooo!!!!


I found a 51cm Il Pompino locally and am now all excited about building up a brand new bike!!!!!!

Granted I am even more happy about this since my fork failure this weekend should only be costing me $40.00 since I have all the other pieces in the house.

My day just got much much better!!!!

I'll keep everyone posted.

James