Languishing in the shed is my 99 Caldera:

Its a bike/frame that has served me well since it was bought new in December 1998!

Sadly these days it just doesn’t get used. I won’t ever sell the frame but have thought about breaking the bike and using as many of the components as I can (sans fork, rims) to build a disc compatible road/touring/cross frame for more time spent on the black stuff.

I have some Midge bars and BB7 compatible drop levers so would need some bar end shifters or go the hybrid route and run a flat bar – yeah thats right hybrid 😆

I did try running an old Genesis IO as a SS mash up by the drop to the bars was quite severe although I liked the concept!

There seem plenty to choose from On One, Fairdale, Pinnacle, Genesis so am looking for some recommendations.

Budget wouldn’t be huge so say a maximum of £500 for frame, fork and shifters just leaving me needing a rims and a wheel build.

I would quite like steel as I am a Luddite at heart so one of these appeals:

Any hoo thoughts?

As I have a Pinnacle Arkrose, guess what I’ll suggest?

Excellent all rounder, ridden some easy off road, 100 mile audax, long “gravel road” adventures, and thousands of miles of tow path commuting.

Is that an alloy frame and carbon fork jobbie?

Not that I could ever see me going the cross route I would like decent clearance for 35mm tyres – Whats the Arkrose like?

Arkrose is aluminium and carbon forks. Came with 35mm tyres, clearance for mudguards and rack fittings.

Mine is a couple of years old now, but there are a couple of A krose threads on here for more details.

I do like that genesis!

I’ve got one of these, but I’m not sure if they’re being made at the moment. BB7s, midges and dura ace bar end shifters. Or TT500 if you want a clutchy mech and 10 speed.

There’s the Cotic Escapade, that might be worth a look?

You could look for an old Trek Portland. That had huge clearances, and should be unfashionable enough now to be cheap. Mine’s a 2009 model, and its been fine, even if the Shimano cable disc brakes aren’t very good, but the strange bontrager double spoke pattern wheels have been very reliable.

keeping it Genesis, had first ride on the 2015 CDF 30 yesterday and was impressed with it. Bit longer and lower setup than the 2014 one it replaced, very stable on a wild wet windy day and a little more sprightly.

@Iainc what sort of weight does your CDF come in at?

^^^ I haven’t weighed it, but my 2014 was about 25lbs and I’d say this one is around 23 (will check it tonight now as curious myself 🙂 )

Its a 54, standard spec. (the brakes are awesome and caused much jealousy in the wet amongst my rim braked riding buddies !)

If you’re looking for a small frame then Sam at Singular has (or had last week when I enquired) a small peregrine frameset still available.

I have an On One Pompetamine which is well below your budget for frame only. I’m still a little undecided on it though so not sure if I’d recommend one.

If you want a bike that can do a bit of everything then a CDF is a good bet BUT won’t be great at everything. I really want a touring bike so I am going for a Tour De Fer soon. It’ll be great for touring and ok for road bike use too – maybe a bit slow and long for CX though (especially when I want a kickstand!!).

Touring tends to add a bit more specialism requirement on a bike, less so than road/CX so probably best to really think exactly what you want the bike for before choosing.

A bit over your stated budget, but the Kinesis Pro6 is another option with plenty of clearance and all the fitting points for guards and rear rack.
Croix de Fer will do the job, but is heavy, and prone to corrosion (from personal experience and also seeing bikes belonging to a couple of friends)

Looking at that Genesis io set up, I’m not surprised you thought it was severe! I converted my io id to SS cross with 700C disk forks and the ride is excellent, as is the geometry. So I’d suggest the same, of course.

Have a look at the Norco Search S3 – I’ve got the older version (Indie Drop which had different chainstays) and it’s been great for road riding and touring. Even did the Ridgeway on it this summer with some 40c knobbly tyres. It’s got front & rear rack & mudguard mounts and a fairly high front end so it’s a fairly relaxed riding position. Probably a bit porky to win any CX races though. I think they only do complete bikes but you could always flog the groupset, wheels, etc if you had better stuff to go on.

Mine:

[recommend your own]

salsa vaya, has to be 😉

[/recommend your own]

I can recommend this http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/frames-forks-c6/cyclocross-frames-c49/all-city-macho-man-disc-frameset-p567 size 55 left. Built up very like steezysix bike up there even down to matching bags.

I like those Fugio’s, few people said they were heavy, but 1.94kg isn’t too bad for a cross frame, most alloy ones are 1600-1700g so it’s not unreasonable.

Trying to justify a fast/light tourer on the basis that my old bike needs a new shifter………..

Hi Mark

What size of frame are you after and have you got your heart set on steel

I’m selling my 60cm Kona Major Jake frame and Kinesis DC19 forks. I can include a Hope headset and seatpost clamp and can include a cutdown thomson elite post or a 3T carbon post. The frame is scandium, disc and canti compatible

Would do it all with carbon post for £200 posted or £180 collected

Here’s a pic of the complete bike

Let me know if you’re interested or want more info

Cheers

Ken