Ok, so, i managed to dent my cx frame crashing on the BB200, its still ridable, but does give me the opportunity to change frames at some point in the future
So, ive currently found
Van Dessel WTF
http://blog.beardedman.co.uk/?p=512

Salsa Vaya
http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m4b104s25 ... S_GB/29684

Surly Straggler
http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/sur ... 3999-p.asp

Any others i should consider?

Gryphon always looked like a fun bike to me - not proper monster-x but maybe more adaptable.

I so want a Van Dessel WTF

I don't need one but I so want one

JohnClimber wrote:I so want a Van Dessel WTF

I don't need one but I so want one

+1 for the van dessel

How about this, orange too! http://r.ebay.com/aLFmfx

johnnystorm wrote:How about this, orange too! http://r.ebay.com/aLFmfx

I can't tell if thats got rack and mudguard mounts on the back? Anyone know?
and also, whats the tyre clearance like on it? Looks very nice :D

Are you sure you want rack & 'guards fitted? My Fargo has and I binned the rack for soft luggage & the guards are replaced by mucky nuts fender benders.

I've got a Gryphon and, imo, it's great. Think they're on offer at £400 at the mo.

Know nothing about the others. Personally that Van Dessel looks cack, in the eye of the beholder and all.that :D

I came really close to buying a cross check frame this week to run with 47mm smart sams but in the end decided I'd rather have a cross bike that's more different to my mtb. Hopefully I am about to build something pretty light and fast* that I can still bivvy with if I want.

The Van Dessel looks vaguely exciting!

*unlike me

Hopefully I am about to build something pretty light and fast* that I can still bivvy with if I want.

Me too ... hopefully F+F will be here early next week.

The Van Dessel looks vaguely exciting!

Very, very nearly bought one a couple of years ago but funds dictated otherwise ... lovely looking frame.

johnnystorm wrote:Are you sure you want rack & 'guards fitted? My Fargo has and I binned the rack for soft luggage & the guards are replaced by mucky nuts fender benders.

Hi there, yes deffo want the ability to have both, im due to be attempt to do the C2C with my family and that would dictate at least a rear rack to cart all there stuff (im the strongest cyclist).
It will also be used for commuting to school, which i want to start using a rack and panniers for.
That and i cant afford full soft luggage atm :(

Not sure the straggler is a full on monster cross. I think it takes max 42c tyres so normal MTb tyres won't go in.

Waiting for mine to show

FLV wrote:Not sure the straggler is a full on monster cross. I think it takes max 42c tyres so normal MTb tyres won't go in.

Waiting for mine to show

42c would be fine, my current CX only takes 35c so 42c would be good (cause it would be enough to be riding with, but would necessitate a new MTB for company :D )

And whilst i love the gryphon, its just a bit to MTB for me atm, i want to be able to fit slick tires and ride it like a tourer/commuter thing.
I would still love to get one, but it would permanently be in MTB mode and would fill the need for a MTB :D

s8tannorm wrote: Me too ... hopefully F+F will be here early next week.

My frame should be here tuesday*, currently trying to decide whether 500g full carbon noodley forks is a good idea or not? There certainly won't be rack mounts on this thing.



Once you are much over 33mm tyres it's not really a cross bike any more. I can't decide between Maxxis Raze or 3 peaks favourite Schwalbe Land Cruisers (35mm) which are bomb proof and fast but not that grippy and heavy.

...and I swore I'd never have another bike with canti brakes yet here I go again :?

*I casually mentioned it to herself over breakfast this morning and I seem to have got away with it

Turning some of these options over myself, going to make the almost free first UK gravel race the second most expensive one I have ever done!

The Van Dessel looks more than I want to pay. Also looked at building up a Pinnacle Arkose which are £110 frame only at the moment, probably a different sort of bike though and may not work out so cheap.

The Gryphon looks nice at £400 and I have a few bits lying around. Anybody know if it will take a 28.6mm Shimano front derailleur? I have a square taper crankset and I think a rear mech and woodchipper bars that would fit. Disc brakes and perhaps some wheels would be the big expense.

The other option was the Giant Revolt 1 which comes in at £999 complete. If I could get something off in a sale or other offer this might be worth considering, aluminium frame and carbon fork and 10 speed groupset.

Also looked at building up a Pinnacle Arkose which are £110 frame only at the moment, probably a different sort of bike though and may not work out so cheap.

I'll let you know

The Van Dessel WTF seems popular. Can you tell me more, it's new to me.

Brian

The Van Dessel WTF seems popular. Can you tell me more, it's new to me.

The WTF has been around for a couple of years but you don't see many, Paul78 had one last year which looked lovely.

You can run them geared, SS or with a belt drive. They're very versatile, hence the name ... WTF is it?

s8tannorm wrote:

Also looked at building up a Pinnacle Arkose which are £110 frame only at the moment, probably a different sort of bike though and may not work out so cheap.

I'll let you know

Just had a look....£95 now!

Just had a look....£95 now!

That's for the 2 frame (non-disc) the 3 is still £110.

Stuart - how are you building the Arkose? What width tyres are you expecting to fit?

Stuart - how are you building the Arkose? What width tyres are you expecting to fit?

Hopefully it'll take the shape of a portly crosser but much will be dictated by the stuff I've already got laid about.

I know the full bike's fitted with 35c tyres but I'm not sure if there's clearance for anything bigger until it arrives.

Thanks Stuart. Even if all my spare bits fit - and they usually don't - it would not be that much more to buy a new bike.

seriously try and get a ride on a few bikes and make your mind up that way.

I have a pompino and a vaya and have ridden a friends crosscheck a bit.

The crosscheck is the same geo as the straggler and similar to the pompino; they are trad cross geo.

The vaya is modern 'gravel' geo (or old tourer geo!) much lower b.b much higher front end. I've spent a year getting the vaya set up right; and have had some of the headtube cut off to allow me a low enough front end with a -17 deg stem.

neither style of geo is better than the other; one is responsive/ twitchy the other stable/sluggish depending on opinions. make sure you get the set up you want.