Cycling UK Forum

I fancy a project to occupy my spare time & would like to build a touring bike from the frame up, specced exactly as I want.

What frames are available as a frameset only though?

I am aware of several names, but can you add to this list?

Planet X kaffenback
Salsa Vaya
Genesis Croix der Fer
Thorn Sherpa
Surly LHT

Before anyone says it, yes I am aware that this will be more expensive than something off the shelf!

If it makes any difference at this stage, it will have 26" wheels, drop bars & be derailleur equipped.

Sounds like a great project, I enjoyed doing mine.

With mine, it actually came out a bit cheaper, plus I had for the most part better spec parts. It depends if you're willing to shop round and wait for bargains to come up on ebay/forums etc. I imagine the frame would be the most expensive part.

If you're using STI's, my Tiagra triple's came from Ribble for the cheapest price I could find anywhere,bagged rather than boxed though.

One tip, you could make a spreadsheet of some kind to track the cost and expected cost, and list all the components and all the dimensions or if 9 or 10 speed etc, makes it easier to buy compatible parts

Good luck

first off, try a wanted ad on this very forum.

Surly Long Haul Trucker. Comes in 26" and 700c flavours. There is also a disc version. Not sure if it comes in both wheel sizes.


The Kaffenback? Mine is 700c. Is there a 26" version? For me the tyre clearance isn't big enough for touring on the Kaffenback. I'm heavy enough to want 700x32mm tyres though which wouldn't fit my Kaff.

Thorn Raven is designed for Rohloff, no gear hanger or appropriate cable stops. Thorns similar derailleur frame is the Sherpa.
You don't say what sort of touring you're planning to build it up for, the frames listed cover quite a range, maybe narrow down what you're looking for before getting into specific frames.

Sorry, I should have mentioned Surly in my initial list, I was aware of them already.

I also knew it was the Thorn Sherpa I was thinking of, I just wrote the first name that popped in my head.

I want something suitable for solo use for trips like LEJOG & trips up to a month in Europe & the UK. I would love to be able to say that it would be used for a RTW trip, but as much as I fantasise about doing a ride from London to Cape Town, it probably will never happen.
As space is an issue for me, I will only be able to keep one bike, so this project will have to also do me for pottering/training/just getting out for a bit rides.

@rich100 - What was your project?

i done exactly the same thing.
i bought the sherpa frame/fork.
got sjs cycles to build a bomb proof set of wheels and then got the shimano m770 groupset
brooks
tubus racks
marathon supreams tyres

yeah go for it and enjoy the build.

See Spa Cycles' own brand frames.

You could also consider a 2nd hand MTB frame. You can get a high-quality steel or titanium non-disc rigid frame very cheaply. I think I paid £30 for my M-Trax titanium frame, then built a bike onto it. Try retrobike.co.uk and ebay for frames and parts. I went for XT 8-speed components; very good quality but very cheap, because everyone wants 9-10 speed nowadays. As you can see I went for flat bars but you could just as easily fit drops.

HebdenBiker wrote:See Spa Cycles' own brand frames. ..........................

Nothing for 26" wheels (except 48cm tourer)

Godlykepower wrote:I fancy a project to occupy my spare time & would like to build a touring bike from the frame up, specced exactly as I want ...

Nice project. I would recommend that you build the wheels as well. It is not difficult, good fun, and very satisfying afterwards (but as you say, probably won't save money).

Godlykepower wrote:@rich100 - What was your project?

Mine was a Ridgeback Panorama, from an LBS leftover after a frame/components swap for a different size.

Alex dh19 rims - same as spec but wish i'd bought different ones now after reading threads on here - but the rear came from EBC's ebay shop complete with conti tyre and tube/rim tape. The front was a not much used second hand one from ebay.
Fenders are Gilles Berthoud SS
Brooks tape and saddle - now wishing i'd had black
Stronglight chainset
Velo Orange pedals - stem - bottle holders
Frame pump - ebay - looks new
Nitto noodle handlebars
Deore rear mech so not as good as spec
Most other bits fairly standard - google shopper is quite good for getting the lowest prices, then just look through to find the shops youre happy to deal with in my case mostly crc, spa, sjs, practical cycles and freshtripe

In all I think I saved a good couple of hundred off retail price, although i've not bought any racks yet. Would have been even cheaper if I'd gone for bar end shifters but I'm glad I went with sti's now.

Here's a pic my current pride and joy

HebdenBiker wrote:See Spa Cycles' own brand frames.

You could also consider a 2nd hand MTB frame. You can get a high-quality steel or titanium non-disc rigid frame very cheaply. I think I paid £30 for my M-Trax titanium frame, then built a bike onto it.

Beautiful! This also has the advantage of perhaps being slightly less of a theft risk than a new LHT or Sherpa or whatever, if it's to be a day-to-day bike also.

rich100 wrote:

Godlykepower wrote:@rich100 - What was your project?

Mine was a Ridgeback Panorama, from an LBS leftover after a frame/components swap for a different size.

... my current pride and joy

Nice job with the Panorama (we have two). You were lucky to get that frame I reckon.

patricktaylor wrote:

rich100 wrote:

Godlykepower wrote:@rich100 - What was your project?

Mine was a Ridgeback Panorama, from an LBS leftover after a frame/components swap for a different size.

... my current pride and joy

Nice job with the Panorama (we have two). You were lucky to get that frame I reckon.

Thanks, you don't see too many of the frames for sale. Think I've maybe seen one more on ebay. You must be a fan if you have two I'm hoping it's a frame for life really as quite an investment so far.