help: frame for a single-speed commuter?

[Climb01742]

starting a new business and one of the perks is, i get to pick where the office is. so i chose a spot where i can ride as my commute, not drive.

here's the set-up i'd like to build/find:

1. single speed for simplicity and use in rain/snow/muck.

2. fat tire clearance (at least 27-28).

3. something affordable since, well, the new business is eating money like a starving man.

4. would like the bike to be able to do double duty as a winter/crappy weather trainer

i'd be open to a geared solution if it met these traits but i had a SS years ago and i kinda dug the simplicity...but riding to work is the key thing. any and all ideas, thoughts and suggestions welcome!

[rugbysecondrow]

Rawland used to make a SS that was exactly what you described. Not sure if they still do.

Me, I really like the Surly Cross Check.

[markie]

The Surly cross check seems to be the go to do it all bike. There seems to be a lot more competition in that space now though. Like the all city nature boy or Raleigh Roper.

[aaronv]

Pake has the following
http://www.pakebikes.com/product/F8EF09/C%27Mute+Frame
(http://www.pakebikes.com/product/F8EF09/C%27Mute+Frame)

Retails for around $200.

[don'TreadOnMe]

All-City Nature Boy
http://allcitycycles.com/bikes/nature_boy_zona_ltd

[Mr Cabletwitch]

http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545789_3493162720075_816031787_n.jpg

I love my cross check, but honestly if I were to do it over again I would probably just get the pake since its really a lot less money and I wouldn't have had to paint over that awful robin's egg blue color.

[93legendti]

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/CatalogSearchResultView?catalogId=10551&storeId=10052&langId=-1&facet=mfName_ntk_cs%253ASE%2bRacing&metaData=&pageSize=&orderBy=&searchTerm=Single+speed

Online $279, but I just sold one for $209, iirc the in store price

[Fixed]

All city bikes Nature boy
IMHO
Cheers

[gomango]

Rawland used to make a SS that was exactly what you described. Not sure if they still do.

Me, I really like the Surly Cross Check.

Rawlands pop up used here in Minnesota from time to time.

I like this one a lot.

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/bik/3048830352.html

http://images.craigslist.org/5E95K55F53Gc3Mc3Ncc5v55d19cb315a81855.jpg

Looks like a beast. :)

[Smiley]

Congrats on the new business venture Climb care to share with your pals what your getting into so we can send some LUV and maybe business your way. Smiley

oh yeah and the bike is a Bedford ofcourse :banana:

[estilley]

There's a Kona Paddy Wagon parked on the rack next to my commuter nearly every day at the office. If I had more dollars I would build another commuter out of one.

[Marburg]

Had a Paddy Wagon for a while. Fine bike. I thought the ride was a bit .... unrefined, but hey, it's a killer price for a complete.

Let's pretend for a second that "winter trainer" means "would like it to have an iota of soul." Because, hey, if you wanted bottom dollar a hipster road bike fixie conversion would probably be the cheapest.

Salsa Cassaroll.
On-One Kaffenback or Pompetino.
Cotic Roadrat.
Something from Traitor Cycles.

[cataño]

The Bianchi San Jose and All-City Nature Boy would both be great choices. If you're looking for a complete, the Bianchi is about $200 less. Both can fit big tires, fenders, etc. and come decently spec'd off the peg.

[Fixed]

Had a Paddy Wagon for a while. Fine bike. I thought the ride was a bit .... unrefined, but hey, it's a killer price for a complete.

Let's pretend for a second that "winter trainer" means "would like it to have an iota of soul." Because, hey, if you wanted bottom dollar a hipster road bike fixie conversion would probably be the cheapest.

Salsa Cassaroll.
On-One Kaffenback or Pompetino.
Cotic Roadrat.
Something from Traitor Cycles.

And sometime the bestest too:) road manners
Cheers

[cataño]

Oh, and if you're really on a budget bikesdirect offers a SSCX build as well. I've seen a few around and they seem like perfectly cromulent bikes.

Another option (if you're looking for something a little less store-bought looking) would be to hunt down a nice vintage lugged touring frame and build it up as a SS. Something like a Miyata 600 or 1000 (the 1000s are not particularly cheap, though...), or a univega gran turismo, or a panasonic/bridgestone/trek/etc... there's a lot of them out there and most of them have horizontal dropouts for easy singulating.

I have an old lotus eclair set up with promenade bars, 2x6 friction barend shifting, and a brooks that I commute on a lot. I think I spent about $200 on everything altogether and it's probably my favorite bike. If you're project-oriented, converting something old/classy is always a great way to go.

[Climb01742]

Congrats on the new business venture Climb care to share with your pals what your getting into so we can send some LUV and maybe business your way. Smiley

smiley, i figure i have one more act left in my career, and this time around i wanted something i can put my heart and soul into. so this company is in the sports field. i've spent my life building the brands of other folks. it's time i ate my own dogfood and try to build a brand of my own.

in just a few months i'll give the forum an early preview of the idea and get everyone's feedback. while it's not specifically cycling-based, the forum folks are the audience.

i'm going all in on this. but i believe in it. we'll see if anyone else does!;)

[4Rings6Stars]

I'll give Bikesdirect another shoutout. I just picked up a Mercier Kilo S3X new from this forum (sans 3s wheelset and shifter). I put it together this weekend and while I haven't ridden it, I was VERY impressed with the quality of the frame and for the price point, the components aren't terrible.

I've got 25s in there now and think it will take at least 28s.

[illuminaught]

Buy an On-One Pompino or Pomphetamine (disc)... very cost effective for a well built bike!
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOP/on_one_pompino_frame

[kceb_cire]

I have a Motobecane Fantom Cross uno, SSCX bike that I'm looking to move? its a 54cm, of that fits you.
Anyway, front and rear rack mounts, fender eyelets, canti's, clearance for up to 42c tires. I upgraded the bars/stem/brake levers, has nearly new tires, blah blah blah. Pm if interested?

[Bob Loblaw]

That takes guts and courage and conviction. I hope it plays out in a way that's rewarding in all sorts of ways.

To your question, I have an Eigthinch Scrambler V3 (http://www.eighthinch.com/scrambler_frame.html) that I like. For $149 they ship you frame, fork, headset and seapost. I went with the raw finish and it look sweet. I ride mine with 23c tires and fenders, so you could easily fit a 28 in there without fenders.

BL

smiley, i figure i have one more act left in my career, and this time around i wanted something i can put my heart and soul into. so this company is in the sports field. i've spent my life building the brands of other folks. it's time i ate my own dogfood and try to build a brand of my own.

in just a few months i'll give the forum an early preview of the idea and get everyone's feedback. while it's not specifically cycling-based, the forum folks are the audience.

i'm going all in on this. but i believe in it. we'll see if anyone else does!;)

[Climb01742]

I have a Motobecane Fantom Cross uno, SSCX bike that I'm looking to move? its a 54cm, of that fits you.
Anyway, front and rear rack mounts, fender eyelets, canti's, clearance for up to 42c tires. I upgraded the bars/stem/brake levers, has nearly new tires, blah blah blah. Pm if interested?

thanks for the thought but a 54cm is just too small. i ride a 57-58cm tt. best of luck with your sale.

[bironi]

I would ask, why go ss, why not fixed?

[Climb01742]

I would ask, why go ss, why not fixed?

because i'm a wimp? in the past i've tried both fixed and ss and i just feel more comfortable ss.

[William]

James, if you're looking for a commuter for good weather fun and Winter/spring slop look at a SS belt drive ride. Low maintenance and handles all the slop you can throw at it.

This site lists most of the belt drive rides available out there...

http://beltbik.es/bikes

Post up what ever you find!:cool:






William

[William]

Handle the Winter slop? Oh yeah...

http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/userfiles/stays%20clean%20in%20mud.jpg





:)
William

[Fixed]

Handle the Winter slop? Oh yeah...

http://www.carbondrivesystems.com/userfiles/stays%20clean%20in%20mud.jpg





:)
William
Cool advise from someone that knows your riding conditions
Cheers