Similar to a Croix de Fer, available as a frameset

[KneesUp]

I'm enjoying riding my drop-bar-thing-made-from-a-hybrid but I'm aware that it's not the lightest thing, and my 'done with a brush' paint job isn't going to last forever.

I've not been cycling again long enough to justify a new bike, but of course new bikes are shiny, so I'm thinking about it. My plan is to replace bits on the current bike as they wear out and then at some point swap out the frame, so I've been idly browsing for the perfect candidate.

My wants list is:

steel, rugged, clearance for at least 35mm tyres with guards, not too heavy, disc brakes (so I can swap wheels easily), suitable for commuting, family rides on trails, bit of touring in a few years when the kid is older, longer road rides, although I've no interest in racing

Obviously the Croix de Fer comes as a frameset, as do a lot (all) of the Surly range. What else should I be considering around the same price, given the requirements above?

I'm c. 6ft btw, so not a giant, but I do need clearance with panniers, but I assume the Croix has this even though the new Tour de Fer has longer stays to give more room.

 

[I like Skol]

I have recently been lusting after one of these - http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CBPXKAFF2TIA/planet-x-kaffenback-2-shimano-tiagra-road-bike

I see they have just upped the price by £50 in the last few weeks but even so it looks like a cracking bike and is available as a frame and fork set for £250.
Seems to fit the bill on most fronts; steel, mounts for racks and guards but only claims to fit 32c tyres. Do you really need 35mm tyres on a bike like this? My hybrid has 35mm tyres and they are bloomin big, I reckon I could drop to 32c and never notice the difference, I only run 35c because they are what were fitted when new.

 

[KneesUp]

I run 38 at the moment and rather like them. 32 seems quite a lot smaller than that. Most old-school tourers are 35 aren't they?

 

[KneesUp]

To add - Kaffenback looks nice besides that though, although I note it also has no front pannier mounts - not a deal breaker though.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Surly would probably be my first, and last, point of call, if something from Genesis simply wouldn't do.

 

[jazzkat]

Another vote for a surly. But then I'm biased, I've just bought a cross check frame!

 

[KneesUp]

I was researching this last night (rather than watching the Baking thing on BBC1 - seems I was in a minority not watching it) and discovered the Shand Stoater.

It's very lovely indeed, but at £1395 for the frameset it's a bit steep for me. It ticks all the boxes apart from front pannier bosses, but I'm sure they could be added as it is hand-built. It will take up to 42mm tyres, or there is the FT version which takes wider tyres still.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Another vote for a surly. But then I'm biased, I've just bought a cross check frame!

Straggler myself

 

[jazzkat]

Straggler myself

It looks a great frame set if you want discs.

 

[KneesUp]

Thanks both. The Stragler frameset is £450 RRP (although you seem to able to get them for about £400) - what differences would you say it has over the Croix de Fer (£375 frameset) to justify the extra cost?

I notice that the Surly will take tyres up to 42mm, but it also weighs 400g or so more (inc forks).

 

[GrumpyGregry]

They both attempt to fill the "one bike only" niches and both do it pretty well.

for me the Surly won out in the end because

Straggler dropouts let you build it in a variety of guises transmission wise; I got bored waiting for Genesis to come up with hub gear dropouts for the CdeF, mine is being built ss/fixed with an alfine 8 option.
Larger range of frame sizes
Metallic magenta is the best colour ever
Forks should be lugged
Tyres should be fat for off road forays
I already had a Genesis (Equilibrium 853; what a shocking colour scheme)
I wanted a Surly
Did I mention the colour?

(I got mine for £360)

 

[SKoob]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I'm looking at the Surly Straggler frame to transfer my hybrid alfine 8 build into. I'm 5ft6 and struggling on what size frame to go for. What height are you gregry and what frame size did you decide on? Looking at Surlys geometry guide it appears to have a very short seat tube with a longish effective top tube compared to my Kinesis frame.