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I bought a 2017 CdF frame last summer and built it up with a mix of old and new components as a commuter bike. On paper the frame fit the bill totally but from day one I’ve found it slow and dull to ride. I went for a 51cm so was at the upper end of sizing but geometry looked ok - I ride a 54cm usually (5’7” ish) but with my pdw guards on there’s a pretty big toe overlap which is not ideal for inner city riding obviously.
Could the sizing issue be why I don’t enjoy riding this bike? I see loads of other commuters on CdFs and they get a lot of love on here.
I’m torn between getting a CdF that fits or accepting the bike isn’t for me and getting a new frame.
Lifes too short to ride bikes you don't like. Therefore, new bike.
I found exactly the same. Correct size but just always seemed slow/dull.
get rid.
Not much useful to add to the specific issue. But there is a whole load of love in french circles for the CDF. It is IMO almost verging on Hysteria!
Maybe because it has a French name they all like it on principle, regardless of weight or handling?
I have a Surly Straggler (105, Hope wheels, nice finishing kit), which is a similar kind of bike to the CdF. I ran it with two sets of wheels in the past and have had various similar bikes over the years.
If you are looking for something more sprightly, then why not indulge n+1 or run two sets of wheels?
I planned to replace my Straggler with my Shand. They seemed to overlap on paper, but once the Shand arrived I decided to build it up with the lighter set of wheels and new components - rather than move everything across from the Surly. This bike is now my good weather roadie.
Crucially, I decided to keep the Surly because it's very good at the remaining scope of my riding: namely urban commuting, mixed surfaces and general bad weather use. It weighs a good 30% more than the Shand build despite some fairly nice parts of its own, but is also very stable courtesy of its 41c knobblies. It also has terrible toe overlap, but I suspect this is mainly to do with the 'guards.
If you do sufficient miles and have the space / money, then I suggest there is very much a place for a utility / slower bike - and a more sprightly one.
I had both a CDF (Reynolds 725) and a Day One Alfine 11 (Reynolds 853) in 2013/14 - they were both dull as ditchwater to ride. Steel is real(ly) dull, heavy, boring and cumbersome.
IMO, it's not just the sizing that's putting you off.
Cheers all. I already have a few other bikes, the nicest one being a Tripster ATR which I was commuting on but decided it was too nice / nickable to commute on.
I like the straggler and considered it prior to buying the CdF but was sold on the Reynolds tubing of the genesis.
My mountain bike is a Surly Ogre which I enjoy riding and I think with some road wheels and drops on it would probably be a decent commuter.
Given I do a 20 mile round trip I want something more fun and sprightlier. I’m very tempted by the new Fairlight Strael but we’re entering into best bike territory again ££££.
I have a somewhat mutant CDF built single speed with Titec H-bars and a 120mm stem. It's probably the most fun bike I have -- I've been out for big 40mile (50% on 50% off road, from the doorstep) rides on it out of choice over my MTB.
I think it depends totally upon what you are riding. If you're on very easy MTB trails, a CDF would IMO typically be a lot of fun. But on the road things will always be a little slow and dull
I had a MKII kaffenback that felt like a bus and as long as one.
Had a Croix de Fer since 2012, love it. Quite a light build so yeah it's heavier than a carbon road bike but it's not ridiculous! Use it for all sorts, commuting, short & fast road rides, long lazy rides, done 100 mile gravel rides on it. Don't really do singletrack as I don't like drops for that.
I like the straggler and considered it prior to buying the CdF but was sold on the Reynolds tubing of the genesis.
I'm fairly certain only one or two tubes are actually 725...
Try a carbon fork with longer offset - it’ll potentially cure the overlap issue, and speed up handling while dropping a bit of weight.
One man’s “dull” is another man’s “stable”. One man’s “flickable” is another man’s “twitchy mess”.
I had a 725 - 2016 I built up for a year, it fitted well and was comfy but a bit dull and heavy. Took all the bits and built up a Ritchey Swiss Cross and it was like night and day. The CDF felt like a tourer...which is sort of what it is but that wasn't what I wanted.
Sounds like I need a Swiss Cross, but for that sort of cash I could get a Shand... better start saving.