Cycling UK Forum

Thank you! My local dealer was so kind to fit the p50's for free!

And boy am I glad he did! Took it for a ride (60 km) through endless rain and heavy wind and it was a blast! Never been on a bike that is that fast and absorbs that much (never been on any road type bike or anything decent actually but ok)! First thing I'm going to do tomorrow is pick up a helmet Now I finally understand why all these cyclists wear helmets

I do have to admit I'm pretty wrecked. Possibly because I'm rather out of shape at the moment, or because I'm not used to ride in that position. But I do think (as all of you warned me about) that the bars are to low

But I love everything else about the bike so I'm on the lookout for a decent compatible extender steering tube. Colin suggested something like this a few pages back:

http://www.highonbikes.com/bbb-extender-quill-to-ahead-bike-handlebar-stem-adapter.html?gclid=CITowL62tbsCFWbLtAodUw0ABQ#.Uv6E_WJdWSp

Any advice on how to know if a certain extender steering tube fits my frame?

Hi Folks!

Few days ago my Croix de Fer 60 arrived in Brussels! My local dealer replaced the standard rear Tiagra mech with a deore, and the standard rear cassette with a 11-34T (as some of you advised). Will see how that goes, and if I have the money I can always switch to triple in the future, if that should be necessary.

Only thing I haven't decided yet is if I want him to mount full mudguards (SKS P50), or rather MTB style mudguards that are easily removable. I currently have no idea how these compare with respect to keeping yourself and the bike clean. Any suggestions are welcome!

Can't wait to pick it up (which is going to be on Saturday at the latest)!

For the remainder, I'm thinking of getting Alpkit's bikepacking luggage and possibly combining those with classic rack/panniers

Thanks again for all the interesting suggestions and discussions!

Claireysmurf wrote:I suspect the Evans' offers finish on Monday though!

Thanks for this, didn't know that. I guess my best bet is to buy locally. But 10% off and more at these online shops is tempting.

Hopping over to the UK by plane or train and cycling back home to Belgium with the new bike is something I would LOVE to do. However, in total that would cost me more than buying a bike from a local dealer.

Thanks for the answers guys, appreciate the effort!

Interesting bike that Civa. I'm a little hesitant of buying a belt-drive bike, because of the replies in this thread on my question regarding the use of belt-drive for touring purposes. And simply because for now it is still harder to find spare parts and people that can repair one globally speaking I guess. But I would have found it a plus if I had found a bike that has the possibility to install a belt-drive and internal gearing hub in the future (But also can take derailleur gearing right now; e.g. Awol Comp for example). However, I'm not going to select specifically on that feature.

Another concern that has surfaced is the reviews I have been reading about buying a bike online from Evans... It seems ALOT of people have had horrible experiences with them! The sales that are going right now seem great, but of what use are they if the possibility exists I get a damaged item sent to Belgium or if something is not functioning properly. I'm reading posts from UK residents that had a very hard time dealing with the customer service of Evans when a component of a delivered bike was not functioning properly. I'm guessing I will have an even harder time if that would happen to me, because I first need to get the bike back to Evans all the way to the UK.

Any experiences with Evans? Is it really that bad? Do the advantages of buying locally outweigh the sales at Evans? (I have found Surly, Kona, Specialized and Genesis dealers here in Belgium in the meantime)?

hm good tip about toe overlap, thanks. But what about the riding position?


And I think I have finally found my dream bike(s):

http://www.shandcycles.com/frames/allroad-plus/stoater-plus-overview/

http://www.shandcycles.com/frames/fat-tyre-stoater/stoater-ft-overview/

If only I had such amounts of money. They seem perfect

Which reminds me, are other bikes such as the Cross-Check and Croix de Fer compatible with a Rohloff hub?

reohn2 wrote:

SamSam wrote:About those toptubes:

You told me with my length (1m92 or 1m93, and 90/91cm inside leg length) I should be looking at something with a 600 mm toptube. Any advice on the range around that value I should be looking at? In other words, what do you advice regarding minimum and maximum toptube length I should be looking at? If I understand correctly a long top tube in combination with a short head tube is what you want on a racy roadbike and a bit less on a adventure/all rounder bike?

Check back up thread,things are beginning to get circular...........

I went back and I have reread the whole thread, but what I'm still wondering is the following:

Isn't a slightly shorter ETT beneficial if you want a riding position slightly more upright?

For example:

Surly Cross-Check 60: ETT 600 and headtube 160
Croix de Fer 60: ETT 575 and headtube 165

From those numbers my (inexperienced) brain would deduce that the Croix de Fer 60 would be a bit more comfortable than the Surly Cross-Check 60? Or not?

About those toptubes:

You told me with my length (1m92 or 1m93, and 90/91cm inside leg length) I should be looking at something with a 600 mm toptube. Any advice on the range around that value I should be looking at? In other words, what do you advice regarding minimum and maximum toptube length I should be looking at? If I understand correctly a long top tube in combination with a short head tube is what you want on a racy roadbike and a bit less on a adventure/all rounder bike?

Thanks guys, learning a bunch here!

Taking your advice and will drop the idea of starting with a singlespeed build and trying to convert later on. So singlespeed is not a desire anymore, as it was only and idea to limit the initial costs.

My shoe size is 44/45

Nice to hear that Belt-drive is not perfect for touring. I was just wondering since Santos makes these Belt-Drive Rohloff travel bikes and it seems the guy that won the great divide rode a Belt-drive/Rohloff combo or something like that. Wouldn't mind not needing one in the future because they seem freaking expensive

Cross-Check and Straggler seem very nice to me (functionally speaking), but I had always neglected them because, to my inexperienced eye, they seem to have an even more aggresive/racy geometry than the Croix de Fer (I think it's because in most pictures the top tube is like descending towards the steerer rather than ascending or flat).

So basically, since the singlespeed to touring conversion was not such a good idea, it's back to tire clearance again I would however like the possibility of using Rohloff in the future.

Of the 2014 Vaya's, I only like the looks of the Vaya 2 frame (color), and I guess that one is to expensive as a complete build. Glad to hear that Cross-Check is also still a good option, because it is cheaper than a straggler and I like the hospital foam green enough to buy one I think. Cinelli might indeed be risky, and it's as of yet not so easy to get by a 61 online (the largest). If I buy from the distributor of the Benelux directly the complete Hobo will be € 1350. Will definitely try an Awol, because there are multiple stores in the neighborhood that have one in their shop where you can sit on But still don't like the looks of the Awol (sloping top tube and colour).

SO I guess for now the best choice is indeed Surly Cross-Check

Again, thanks for the interesting talks and discussions. To be continued

meic wrote:As a tall person but not so tall as yourself, I would never buy anything but the largest size they make.

Surly are one of the few companies who sell larger sizes, it would be a shame not to exploit that fact.

The other slightly less obvious point is the length of the steerer tube on the forks, they are always too short. The Surly 700C ones are 350mm but their large frame 26" ones are 400mm (the forks blades are 14mm shorter but it still gives a bit more height).

I am not saying you should have a 26" wheel bike but it is worth considering.

I have a 360mm steerer on my Van Nicholas and I wish it was longer.

Thorn do sell forks that have 400mm steerers for 700C wheels and may be the only company to do so.

Other companies could be much worse than those which I have mentioned, selling bikes with 300mm steerer tubes, meaning your hands could be below your knees.

So the length of the steerer tube on the forks will be larger on the larger Straggler frames?

I remember that this problem has surfaced before and that someone told me that it is possible to buy and install an extended steerer of some sort, to get the bars higher. This maybe?:

Have to admit I yet have to do my research on Belt drives. But today I have discovered a guy that lives less than 10 km from my place and next year he is going to cycle from Alaska to Mexico and he is doing this on a Santos Travelmaster with Belt drive and Rohloff hub. Combined with the fact that Erik guy from the Awol team also uses a belt drive on his Awol comp for touring, I was just curious what these things are and if they might be a good idea for possible future touring/cycling plans for anyone in general.

Besides the belt drive thing (which again I don't yet know what that actually is ), a Surly Straggler 60 or 62 in that glitter dreams purple/magenta colour seems like a very good deal and I might just order one within the next few weeks.

Thank you Brain, very useful information, Straggler and Cross-check just jumped to the top of my list (I think I don't necessarily want disc brakes, normal brakes will do fine for me, so the Cross-check is also back on the list).

Now that we're at it, I guess I would also like the bike to be compatible with Rohloff hubs (to keep all options open for the future), and even a belt drive system (or is that just a thing for hipsters and not truly functional for touring?).

Based on all this the time has come to face the fact that the Croix de Fer might limit my options in the future and is OUT

Specialized Awol seems to be compatible with Rohloff hub and belt drive system, so maybe I indeed have to place that ugly b#### back on the list. The comp also seems to be made from Reynolds 725. I do like the cross-check and straggler better though purely based on appearance.

hm ok, fair enough.

Another question regarding the so-called versatility of some of these bikes:

Would it be possible to built the Croix de fer as a singlespeed (or even fixed gear?) if I wanted to?

The idea I have now is to buy a frame (croix de fer or something else), built it up as a singlespeed (don't need gearing for the commute and will be easier to built myself and cheaper I guess?), and later on in May convert it to a tourer. But as I am a newbie, I am not sure if it is possible to set up all these bikes as a singlespeed (croix de fer, Vaya,...)? I read it has something to do with the dropouts in the frame? Can someone educate me a little or give some hints as to which of the mentioned frames in this topic would be able to go ss? Or is it more complex than I imagine? Is it for example also necessary to change hubs and some other parts I'm not yet aware of to go from singlespeed to full on touring gear?

edit: That way I can also buy and use the amazing and strong Spa wheels some of you can't shut up about

Building a Croix de Fer (or something similar) as a singlespeed myself seems not hard to me, even as a newbie, or am I wrong?

hm that is indeed something important to take into account. In the meantime I have done some proper measurements and I am 192.5 cm and my inner leg length seems to be 91 cm. Is it true when you multiply your inner leg length with 0.65 you get an idea of which frame size you'll need? Or are things like "reach" and ETT more important?

Also if a 60 cm frame is too small for me, why are the largest sizes by many brands around 60/61? For example the largest Kona Sutra is 61, largest Cinelli Hobo 61,... I am aware I am pretty large with 1m92, but some guys are even bigger

To stop the madness of bikes flying around in my head I was going to order a Croix de Fer size 60, but some of you think that frame is not large enough? At 1m92 or 1m93 (I am somewhere in between), the online converter tells me I am about 6'3"

BrianP wrote:Salsa Casseroll size large (58cm) is just £750 in the Triton sale

http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/road-bike ... 2011-p1058

My son built the frameset up and it's a fantastic fast comfortable bike.

Takes up to 38mm tyres. Such a good fast light tourer, Ed passes the guys out training in their carbon bikes regularly.

Brian

Very beautiful bike! 58 cm frame might be to small for me I guess (1m93, 94cm legs), especially for loaded touring? But I like it a lot and the tyre clearance is good. It seems discontinued? Can't find it on the Salsa website