Sorry if this has all been done before...

Basically I'm bored stiff of my road bike as so am considering a different frame to re-build into a cross bike.
I'll use it for bike packing, touring, general road rides with bits of fields and tracks thrown in for good measure.

Cross bikes / bikes like the fargo etc are new to me so I'd like to ask a few questions.

Can I just move my compact gear system straight over to a cross bike?
If the gears are too hard (should be fine) Can I use an mtb cassette and rear mech, with road STI's
Can I get away with using hope / arch wheelset on a cross frame, or is this way too beefy, i.e. will the wider rims mean I smash them to bits with cross tyres on?
Can you suggest a wide, maybe 40c that will go up tubeless on said rims?
Are Avid bb7's the only way or does someone else make a good caliper?
Should I forget discs and go with canti's? (This would mean re building my wheels on new rims)
Should I forget about the whole thing and just ride the mtb?

I've got a frame in mind but am open to suggestions too.

Thanks for any info

Ive done similar.

You need a 9 speed mtb rear mech to work with 10 speed sti (cable actuation rates)

Crests/arch will be fine I've run 25-40mm tyres with and with out tubes on my 29er crests (arch are the same profile, just an extra level of stiffener in the profile)

If you want to keep your levers consider a hope v-twin hydrolic converter they are ace.

If you have a compact double and go 11-36 casstte you'll have plenty of range.

I got an on one dirty disco in the sale last year. Nice plastic frame but if I was buying now I'd look at some of the direct Chinese carbon jobs. I've seen some from flyxii.com that look very nice and are crazy cheap.

If you want cable calipers there are another brand that are good. Helpfully though I can't remember what they are called.

Simon at 18 bikes in hope has a set on his bike and rates them. Give him a call and ask what they are. He'd be more than happy to tell you about them!

Cheers, it was the cable rate I couldn't remember. I might just put the biggest road cassette on it

Taken the plunge, put a deposit on the frame.

Stem and tyre sizing are now the biggest issue

Gearing is going to be decidedly roadie compact as its what I have. Until I decide I need something different

Taken the plunge, put a deposit on the frame.

???

I've just fallen in love with the Surly Straggler.

Interested in what frame u picked up, as I'm looking to do something similar. I currently have a specialized Allez but am looking to pick up a steel frame I can use for touring/commuting/bike packing. Been looking at the kaffenback, as much as I love the straggler, I really could not pull off a purple frame!

s8tannorm wrote:

Taken the plunge, put a deposit on the frame.

???

I've just fallen in love with the Surly Straggler.

Me too, that's what I've gone for :)

Hopefully ill ride it more than I did my road bike lately :?

I'm looking to get a cyclocross bike by the end of the year, and notice that Planet X have the XLS: http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/CBP ... cross_bike

The spec seems great for the money, and leaves lots of room for improvement.

...But I wonder. Could I build an equivalent or better bike for less money?

OR... Are there other bikes for the same price that are better spec'd?

(Note; I don't want to spend any more than £1k)

FLV wrote:

s8tannorm wrote:

Taken the plunge, put a deposit on the frame.

???

I've just fallen in love with the Surly Straggler.

Me too, that's what I've gone for :)

Really?

Personally I prefer a dropped TT and the colour is (subjective) gopping. Bear in mind I have a Gryphon

I think the Straggler is the first readily available 'Monster Cross' frame ... rather than a drop bar 29er. I know the differences aren't massive but there are differences.

Colour? ... The upside of being colour blind.

EDIT:

Are there other bikes for the same price that are better spec'd?

Anything here: http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/browse/ ... ross-bikes

I guess it is almost monster cross yeah. I always liked the cross check, but not the dropouts or canti only brakes. and love the look of the co motion divide. Straggler seems to do it all for me.

The do quote a max of 42mm tyres though. Not sure what to get on that front.
Brakes too, one moving piston upsets me so may shell out for trp calipers yet.

6 weeks to wait though!

hmmm I'm in love too, the colour is vaguely exciting though they clearly copied me

Brakes too, one moving piston upsets me so may shell out for trp calipers yet

Fit floating discs, problem solved ... worked for the Japenese motorcycle industry for 20 years

6 weeks to wait though!

Triton cycles were showing stock of every size last night.

Re: triton. If they're the same as Charlie (which they were 3 days ago), the stock was due imminently, but has been delayed!

Floating discs... Hmmm. The only MTb discs I've seen claiming to be floating don't really float, they kind of just don't warp from excessive heat. They don't actually move along the 'rivet' when pushed from one side? (I'm ready to be corrected )

Floating discs... Hmmm. The only MTb discs I've seen claiming to be floating don't really float, they kind of just don't warp from excessive heat. They don't actually move along the 'rivet' when pushed from one side? (I'm ready to be corrected )

A bit of Peak District 'grinding paste' should soon sort that out.

I've some Gusset cable calipers (Chute, I believe) where the caliper body 'floats'. As the moving pad gets pushed onto the disc the whole caliper slides across bringing the inner pad into contact with the disc ... another design much favoured by Honda in the late 70's and 80's.

s8tannorm wrote:

Floating discs... Hmmm. The only MTb discs I've seen claiming to be floating don't really float, they kind of just don't warp from excessive heat. They don't actually move along the 'rivet' when pushed from one side? (I'm ready to be corrected )

A bit of Peak District 'grinding paste' should soon sort that out.

I've some Gusset cable calipers (Chute, I believe) where the caliper body 'floats'. As the moving pad gets pushed onto the disc the whole caliper slides across bringing the inner pad into contact with the disc ... another design much favoured by Honda in the late 70's and 80's.

And the majority of cars people drive these days. 8-)