Halfdoesyn Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 So this commuting thing... I'm starting to like it. Problem is, doing it on the MTB is slow going and eats up my Barzo's on the tar and the roadie is puncture prone and maybe not so robust on my regular route, but a tad faster. Yes, it sounds more like I'm motivating an N+1 move, nê? To me, it will be so rewarding to build a commuter from parts. So, obviously I have to start sourcing a frame. I would like to end up with a bike with drop bars and wide tubeless slicks/semi slicks. Bonus points for disc brakes. I could start with an XC frame and get a gravel/CX fork. That will have disc mounts and no tyre clearance issues. Or a road frame, but then not necessarily disc mounts and might not get the tyres in, but the geo may be better. Want to go reliable, cheapish and not fugly. I do have SOME self respect. What do you guys think?
Grease_Monkey Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 Awesome, nothing more fun than a build project like this! If I was you I'd be looking for an mtb XC frame with a rgid fork. Having the tyre clearance and disc brakes is a must for me. Something like a Giant XTC comes to mind, with a surly steel fork? That way you can hop curbs and hit potholes with no worries. You'd also be able to fit 29x2.1 tyres no problem...
Hairy Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 What is your commute route like? With your location noted as Durbanville, I can only imagine a few "small" climbs along the way?
samson99 Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 @Hairy, are you trying to suggest a single speed to HD? Tsk tsk The hills from Durbanville are real!!
Halfdoesyn Posted January 25, 2018 Author Posted January 25, 2018 Awesome, nothing more fun than a build project like this! If I was you I'd be looking for an mtb XC frame with a rgid fork. Having the tyre clearance and disc brakes is a must for me. Something like a Giant XTC comes to mind, with a surly steel fork? That way you can hop curbs and hit potholes with no worries. You'd also be able to fit 29x2.1 tyres no problem... This is the general direction I think. What are mech discs like? I can only imagine that with a road gruppo on the drop bars, getting hydro STI's in the second hand market is going to be tough.
Halfdoesyn Posted January 25, 2018 Author Posted January 25, 2018 What is your commute route like? With your location noted as Durbanville, I can only imagine a few "small" climbs along the way? About 25km each way, and yes, a few "small" climbs I think a compact 50/34 with a comfortable 11-32 will do.
Kalahari Vegmot Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 This is the general direction I think. What are mech discs like? I can only imagine that with a road gruppo on the drop bars, getting hydro STI's in the second hand market is going to be tough.Rim brakes before mechanical discs. Buy this and you're sorted: https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/281870-hope-v-twin-hydraulic-converter-for-cxroad/
Halfdoesyn Posted January 25, 2018 Author Posted January 25, 2018 Rim brakes before mechanical discs. Buy this and you're sorted: https://www.bikehub.co.za/classifieds/281870-hope-v-twin-hydraulic-converter-for-cxroad/ Cool! You learn something every day.
samson99 Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 Halfdoesyn, when do you commute from Durbanville?I ride to Century City everyday from Durbanville.
Hairy Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 @Hairy, are you trying to suggest a single speed to HD? Tsk tsk The hills from Durbanville are real!!There used to be a commuter in our group from Durbanville who would ride from DV daily on his CX converted to SS, and he also finished his ride everyday with a "very very very small and flat hill" to his house. But then again this same individual did the W2W and other fun rides on his SS hardtail...so maybe not the best example
Letum911 Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 For argument sake: Would it be possible to mount normal disc brake levers vertical on the "bend" part of drop bars?
ChrisF Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 my commute is too bumpy for a rigid bike .... way too many thorns .... Thus hardtail with tubeless. Some tubeless road tires available now ... ENJOY your project And YES to N+1 !!!!
Hairy Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 just to add ... when this project kicks off, please consider it compulsory to post pics here!
Halfdoesyn Posted January 25, 2018 Author Posted January 25, 2018 For argument sake: Would it be possible to mount normal disc brake levers vertical on the "bend" part of drop bars? I suppose you could, but what do you do with the shifters? Maybe up top?
Schnavel Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 I'm in the same position as you, so will be following this thread. I was looking at going the XC frame with carbon fork route, but I want to run 1x for simplicity purposes. Something to check is the size of the chainrings and chain lines. Most mtb frames cannot accommodate larger rings due to the shape of the chain stays. I was looking at fitting a compact crank (110mm BCD) with a 42T chainring, but my current XC carbon hardtail frame isn't able to incorporate the larger ring.
Kalahari Vegmot Posted January 25, 2018 Posted January 25, 2018 I suppose you could, but what do you do with the shifters? Maybe up top?Shimano road and ntb shifters aren't compatible iirc. Sram is nice and interchangeable
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