Feel lame posting this but I can’t decide what to build. Want something for light touring, fire roads, hauling and shit. Want it to be lightweight w/ canti bosses, front load happy, fat tires, canti bosses, rack mounts.
I’m selling the La Cruz by the way.
Should I just build up a fucking cross check?
Ideas:
Soma Stanyan
Cross Check
VO Randonneur
Kogswell
Old touring frame.
Thoughts?
[quote=E-ROCK]Feel lame posting this but I can’t decide what to build. Want something for light touring, fire roads, hauling and shit. Want it to be lightweight w/ canti bosses, front load happy, fat tires, canti bosses, rack mounts.
I’m selling the La Cruz by the way.
I should just build up a fucking cross check.
Ideas:
Soma Stanyan
Cross Check
VO Randonneur
Kogswell
Old touring frame.
Thoughts?[/quote]
FTFY.
The Cross Check and Soma won’t be front load happy bikes. The VO, Kogswell, and some vintage touring would be A-OK with a front load. But, the VO takes long reach road calipers and limits tires to a 30mm W/ fenders or 32mm without I believe. With either a Kogswell or a Vintage tourer it might take a while to find. Kogswell was only 700c in 59cm and 64cm with everything else being 650b. As an current 700c Kogswell owner (64cm) and a current vintage touring frame (83’ Nishiki Seral) I like my Nishiki better. The Kogswell is fucked since it was made with too small of a downtube. I can get the BB to flex so much it ghost shifts horribly. Plus, Kogswell basically isn’t really a company anymore so you can’t get a new frame/fork anymore.
If you can find one to fit what about the VO Polyvalent mini build kit for $595. It is a pretty good deal for what you get with it.
I read this about the Polyvalent and it kind of turned me off.
http://whbikes.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/jonathans-velo-orange-polyvalent-650b-part-i/
Edit: and it kind of looks clunky and ugly IMO.
I’d love to find an old (or new) Mercian or Bob Jackson to build up but that will probably prove difficult.
I already have a VO porteur rack, paul touring cantis, a pair of ruffy tuffys, a saddle bag and a saddle bag support. I also have some old school xtr stuff and some 8 speed bar end shifters, but I’d ideally like to get some alloy campy brifters.
I guess I should maybe just keep on the look out for a nicer, old frame.
i’d hold out for something old and fun. what size do you ride?
yeah the vo polyvalent is pretty damn ugly with that flat black paint and bright orange logo.
I ride a 60 or 61. Something old and cool would be ideal and more fun to hunt for.
CC be a terrible frame, retarder short head tube
i have a 58 pake c’mute. its a cross check with big headtube. the tt is 59.5. buy it 
Nope
lulz
I’ve been riding with 20 pounds on the front of my crosscheck.
So far it has not:
I have no idea what the trail is and I don’t care. Don’t overthink these things.
in line with that guy,
please keep in mind; it’s a fucking bike.
nothing wrong with a xcheck (headtube notwithstanding), but in my experience they are NEVER found cheap. they’ve become like the ubiquitous commuter bike. always in high demand, and those who are selling know their value. seems like 300 is the going rate for used frameset, 800+ for complete.
also, why can’t the philippe do this?
FUUUCCCK V/O and their overly ornate psuedo-classy fusty old man bullshit. Keep a watch out for a funky old touring frame. Alternately go for the Soma. The Crosscheck is a nice bike but you’ll be glad to have something you don’t see every third guy in the street riding.
new guy: freshens your breath, hates V-O
I’d buy a stem or a bottle cage from them, but most of their stuff is Aerospokkery for dudes with prostate issues, non-union Mexican equivalent or both.
wat
[quote=toastycat]nothing wrong with a xcheck (headtube notwithstanding), but in my experience they are NEVER found cheap. they’ve become like the ubiquitous commuter bike. always in high demand, and those who are selling know their value. seems like 300 is the going rate for used frameset, 800+ for complete.
also, why can’t the philippe do this?[/quote]
I get deals, yo.
The Philippe has 0 rack mounts, the front fork is not drilled to accept my porteur rack and it has a very tight wheel base.
You work with the dude who builds black cat bikes right? Have him build you a frame.