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So the fancy balloon tyred commuter thread got me thinking...
What's like an inbred but not built from something sufficiently dense that there's a serious risk an owner's group get together might coalesce into a black hole and destroy all human life (admittedly there's upsides to this).
As i see it I've got three choices:
1) I've currently got a nice ti hardtail which it occurred to me could be split down and rebuilt with the kit off my seemingly lead framed road bike to make a fun drop bar commuter hybrid thing, and the parts all moved over to a new hardtail frame for more mountain bike-y duties. I will never refer to it as a gravel, adventure or gnarmac bike or anything like that without immediately throwing my self in the nearest canal so that's one potential downside dealt with.
2) i could get something to swap the kit off the road bike onto and have a less fancy commuter-brid thing. Something like an inbred seems the obvious choice, only I'd like something ideally with a head tube designed since the turn of the 20th century and which weighs less than the current behemoth, and the inbred fails on both counts.
3) do nothing and not have to explain the shiny new bike to mrs brain. Obviously this is the path of least resistance and has a certain resulting appeal but falls down elsewhere.
So budget of about 500 for the frame, less is better.
2kg ish sounds sensible to me for a ht frame but is a figure i made up. Seems to discount anything in steel i can find weights for and a fair amount of ali so probably needs revising up.
29er
Either good for rigid forks head angle unimportant or 120mm forks and 68° or lower ideally.
44mm or tapered head tube.
Properly single speed capable would be nice on either option, esp. for swapping the suspension forks unto, probably won't ever get used on the commuter, but nice to have.
135 or 142 preferred, boost is acceptable though.
Front mech compatible would be nice on mtb build but it'll be getting 1x11 in the first instance. There's hills here so definitely important on the commuter/hybrid build for longer road days.
Xl option available
Standard threaded bb.
So far I've found the sc chameleon which is over budget but ticks pretty much every box.
Orange p7, probably over weight, but my first real bike was a p7 so I've a soft spot. No ss option.
Cotic solaris max, not bad weight wise, ticks most boxes barring ss. I don't really like the colour options, price wise similar to the p7 and doesn't have the same draw.
Lots of heavy steel options
Commencal camino, way below budget, light enough, be fine for commuting etc, looking like a reasonable choice for the hybrid build.
Genesis tarn and vagabond, look to be heavy - no published weight. oh and they call them adventure bikes so they're out.
Sonder, ditto bandwagon branding of their 29er and more importantly boost qr, i mean, wtaf.
So what's the stw, suggest what you've got answer.
Scandal? Don't know if there's an XL though but it's literally an alloy Inbred.
It seems there is no scandal anymore, nor a whippet which is a shame though like you I'm unsure either came in xl any how.
I think these look great.
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/hybrid-bikes/carrera-subway-1-mens-hybrid-bike-18-20-22-frames
Tempting as that is brant it would mean explaining a whole new bike.n at the moment I'm fair confident i can get away with using the "well it's only a new frame" rationale, especially as it'll get some of the "do i really need 4 spare sets of wheels for 3 bikes" clutter in the corner of the garage i [s]get whinged at[/s] oft reminded about.
That actually looks like a nice piece of kit for the money and purpose though.
Are you expecting the end product to be much more than a commuter or possibly upcycle it later into a trail bike? While I see the reasoning in terms of compatibility there are some very fancy frames there for bombing to work and back.
If you already have all the parts and don’t mind the idea, building up that Ti frame possibly as a singlespeeder seems like a good mix of bling/practicality and economy and save the brownie points towards the next thing instead?
Ah sorry, of those mentioned by me above they're largely for building as an actual mountain bike, (the exception being the commencal.) The ti being then refitted for commuting duties and longer weekend rides.
To put it into perspective the commute is 9 miles each way, about 200m/140m of climb so nothing strenuous in winter. in summer that gets up to 20ish three nights and 40 miles and 1500m twice a week oh way home, with fair chunks of bridal way/farm track so the commuter needs to be capable enough for that but also for quick winter evening 20 miller's and long weekend road duties too. I'm not quick - I'll hold 15-18mph average on that - so want something comfortable for 5 our 6 hours plus pub/cafe stop, if it's lighter than the present road bike, it can't hurt!
If you want cheap, would the 19' one of these fit?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ragley-big-wig-hardtail-frame-2017/rp-prod145970
Ok, so the commuter is basically covered from your old Ti hardtail and parts then and you’re looking for a new MTB frame?
Out of that lot then, I’d probably pick the Chameleon as a new hardtail in the absence of a longshot Solaris. (I’m a serial Cotic owner). For balance, had you considered something like a Sherpa?
That pace looks very nice but my past (limited) experience of pace back when they were dt service centre tells me no.
The big wig is tempting, but i think too small and no chance i can swing a leg over it to check and it also looks like it weighs about the same as a large and grumpy walrus. (3kg seems a lot for a hardtail frame imho)
Sherpa looks lovely but is definitely over budget. I'm heading towards the chameleon i think. Might swing by stif at the weekend and see if i can do a quick car park spin. Its got to beat watching the inevitable outcome of the rugby.
Why are you so worried about the head tube if you are running ridgid forks?
Two reasons really (ok 2.5)
- rigid forks with tapered steerers are available, just as easily as straight ones.
- like it or not straight steerers are dead and not coming back, if i decide i want to replace the fork with something else a year or two from now chances are my choice is old rigid or a suntour xcm out similar bag o spanners.
- It's not so relevant to the commuter type build but deliberately buying old hat tends to be shortsighted.