Cycling UK Forum

Very pretty bike smut pedaller, drool! Definitely going to read your build blog

Especially interested in the details regarding the dynamo hub. I am only just beginning to explore and learn about bicycle parts, but the idea of charging things on longer adventures ,such as a GPS and headlight, using power generated with your own muscles, seems very interesting. Don't know if I am going to have the money to install a dynamo hub on my bike for 2014, but definitely something I am going to invest in at some point.

Indeed, I know, I just have to figure out if that is enough for what I want to do

Very useful information colin, thanks!

Croix de Fer with a different cassette and extended steerer seems like a plan! Only thing left for me to decide is whether the Croix de F has enough tire clearance for what I want to do.

At the moment, the Croix de Fer bikes are all sold out here in Belgium, but if I place an order I should have the bike in February

Thank you all for the advice!

I am indeed over-thinking this. But as a test-ride on one of these bikes seems to be no option, the internet and your advice is my best source of information

After reading your comments, I guess it might be wise for me to buy a frame instead of these complete bikes. I myself have however no experience at all with building a bike from scratch, so I guess I will have to ask a local shop owner. Hope this doesn't cost me a fortune. Would love to do it myself, as it seems a great way to get to know my future bike, but don't know if this is a good idea if you have absolutely no experience?

As for the frame, I shamefully have to admit I would love to get a Croix de Fer because it's basically the prettiest bike I have ever seen Other people have however recently told me the geometry of the Croix de Fer is pretty racy (a stack/reach ratio of 1.477 on the size 60 frame I would need), while the geometry of the Spech Awol (or the LHT or Kona Sutra for example) is less racy and more touring/comfort oriented (stack/reach ratio of 1.623 on the XL frame, and 1.56 on the XL bike build). They told me stack divided by reach should give me some sort of "comfort index", and that you do not want to ride a a bike with a stack/reach ratio of 1.40 for weeks or months on a row. Can someone tell me if this information I have been given (by a shop owner) is correct? Because then basically what they're saying is that the Croix de Fer is not comfortable enough for long adventures?

Any advice regarding the parts I should get for loaded touring (e.g. which cassette) is also appreciated!

cheers

hmm ok so that's another one in favor of the AWOL, the wider and lower gearing

Was not aware of that, thanks

As much as I was leaning towards the Croix de Fer yesterday, it seems the tide might be shifting once again

Claireysmurf wrote:

BrianP wrote:I like Genesis designs a lot, but cannot see how the bars can be set level with the saddle if bought as standard from them.

Brian

I bought a Croix de Fer frame and have built it up with my own choice of parts. My steerer tube has been left uncut, I have an adjustable stem set fairly high, and the stem is at the top of the steerer tube and it is still not quite level with the saddle (I am 5ft 10 and it is a 56cm frame).

The OP also mentioned possibly swapping the frame at a later date. Are the bits really that suited to what is likely to be a hybrid or MTB frame? The standard gearing is 50/34 and 12-30 and I specified a 50/39/30 triple with a 12-30 cassette. Even so, a few people on here still queried whether the gearing would be a tad on the high side.

Interesting. Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but on which pre-built bike is the gearing the most suited for loaded touring (more on the lower side in comparison with the other bike), on the Croix de Fer or the Specialized Awol deluxe?

BrianP wrote:Don't know if you are following the Awol blog, but if you have a look here one of the development engineers writes about a cycle /climbing trip just like the one described http://wearegoingawol.tumblr.com/page/6

I like Genesis designs a lot, but cannot see how the bars can be set level with the saddle if bought as standard from them.

Brian

Hadn't seen that cycle/climbing trip report yet! That is indeed what I want to do. Is the Croix de Fer less suited for this? And if so, why?

Or with your last sentence, do you mean that for these kind of undertakings it is advised/beneficial to be able to set the bars level with the saddle?

Sam

I have another specific idea/question:

Let's say I would buy the pre-built Croix de Fer within a few weeks. If I then, a few years later, would buy a frame that can take bigger tyres (like a Specialized Awol frame), would it be possible to transfer the parts from the Croix de Fer to the Awol frame? So would it be possible to transfer the Tiagra sets, the seat, the dropbars and everything but the tyres to a new frame that can take bigger tyres?

Please also do notify me if that sounds completely stupid

But for the time being, that sounds like a solution in my head, namely buying and using the Croix de Fer for the next few years, and afterwards, when Central Asia becomes an option, buy a frame that can take bigger tyres and transfer the parts

Thanks for the answers guys!

I'm starting to become aware of the trade-off aspect I guess. Up until now, I have only ridden crappy student bikes which most of the time are on the brink of total decay. In other words, I have no second bike which is ideal for commuting and everyday use. So I guess I am (again) one of those people who is in the market for one of these widely discussed "all rounder" bikes. I have been browsing this forum with all the interesting and useful discussions for quite some time now, and I'm aware that the perfect bicycle for my combined bicycle touring/mountain climbing ambitions probably indeed is a expedition type bike such as the Surly Long Haul Trucker or a Thorn Club tour. But I'm hesitant to buy such a bike, because I will also use the bike for daily commuting and Sunday sport rides, so it also should be fun and not to sluggish/slow. Also, £ 1100-1150 is my limit to spend, so the Croix de Fer and AWOL both fall within my budget.

@reohn2: I would like to be able to carry a minimum of climbing kit, and a minimum of camping gear. That said, I am a bit of a gear freak, and a big fan of the "pack light, go fast" style, so I'm not planning on taking the equivalent of a 50/60L climbing pack with me

If I understand correctly, the 725 Reynolds steel the Croix de Fer is made of is pretty strong and stiff? Stiffer than that ChroMo thing the AWOL is made of? Or am I wrong?

@mrjemm: Unfortunately, cyclescheme is not something they do here in Belgium (I think). But I will have a look at the Surly Straggler, thanks

@531colin: I'm aware of the 700c issue in certain parts of our planet, but I still haven't found a good looking 26" alternative to something like the Croix or the Awol...And honestly my head is already exploding from all the options I have encountered on this forum.

The AWOL seems to be my answer (because of the bigger tyre clearance), but the geometry just looks pretty strange me and it just seems heavier/less fun on paved roads than the Croix. Maybe I should just draw a straw

I am in a somewhat different situation, but in doubt between the same two bikes here. As I am only a 25 year old knucklehead, I'm guessing most of you are way more experienced than I am, and might have some advice here. So here is my story:

I want to get a Croix de fer, but I'm not sure if 32 or 35c tyres are enough for what I want to do with the bike. I am also a mountain enthusiast (not the mountainbike type, but the walking and climbing in the mountains like a monkey type), and next summer I want to leave my house in Belgium on either a Croix de fer or AWOL, and head for the alps. So I would like to combine bicycle touring with climbing mountains. I love the idea of cycling until the road ends, leaving the bike at the end of the road, and continue up the mountain by foot. And thus after summiting the mountain, head back down, jump on the bike again and continue the journey across the mountain range.

So, for the next two/three years I would like to do the above mentioned in the European mountain ranges (Alps, pyrenees, maybe norway), and thus most of the time I would be able to stay on good paved roads. Would the 32 or 35c tyres on the Croix de Fer do the job?

Within the next 5 years however I would like to implement the same plan in central Asia, and cycle through kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and such, while (trying) to climb some easy looking mountains. So for those countries (Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and the likes) I'm guessing I want to get all the tyre I can get? Or would a 32/35c tyre suffice?

For your information, my weight is mostly between 88 and 93 kg, and I'm 1m92/1m93

So this is basically what I want to do with my life and I was wondering which bike you suggest, the Croix de Fer, or the Specialized AWOL?

I'm guessing I could buy a Croix de Fer which would take me where I want to go for the next two to three years, and afterwards if Central Asia is really going to happen, buy an AWOL or something like that with bigger tyres. But I'm interested in what you guys have to say, buy the AWOL and ride it for the rest of your life, or buy the Croix de Fer first and maybe afterwards buy something like the AWOL

Kind Regards,

Sam