CX Frame Recommendation

[Cope]

I'm about to embark on a CX build, and am starting to look for a frame around which to base it. I have an idea that my budget is £200-300 but it's flexible. I'm looking for recommendations of where to look for bargains, and thoughts on materials (steels vs aluminium... I'm guessing carbon is out of budget).

I saw a crazy price the other day on one of the big sites - an aluminium frame for £60, reduced from £350. I cant find it now though. The current benchmark is the Dolan aluminium frame which is £250.

Thoughts?

 

[Venod]

Was it this.

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRSBORCX/sab-oria-7020-vintage-alloy-cyclocross-touring-frame

Don't know anything about it other than its dirt cheap.

or this

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRSABMSTXC/sab-master-xc-high-performance-aluminum-race-frame

called xc although it says its a road frame.

 

[Cope]

Yep it was the first one. Thoughts, anyone? £60 is crazy-cheap, but £60 for something that's a dud is still a dud.

 

[Venod]

First thoughts, its only available in 52cm fine if its your size, its only a 1" steerer so fork choice may be limited & you'll need an adapter if you want to use a 1 1/8 stem. still can't believe the price.

 

[screenman]

Certainly retro looking, can you get all the parts you would need to build one up.

 

[Cope]

First thoughts, its only available in 52cm fine if its your size, its only a 1" steerer so fork choice may be limited & you'll need an adapter if you want to use a 1 1/8 stem. still can't believe the price.

52cm is probably within acceptable parameters. Finding suitable forks might be a bigger issue, and makes something else look more attractive.

 

[Cope]

So having priced up what I want to build, it's coming in over my budget, and what I was proposing to build is pretty much the same as the Genesis Day One Alfine 8, which LBS has at 20% off, so I'm very tempted by that.