Drop-bar disc commuters

[DismalScientist]

If price is an issue, bikesdirect has a fair number of cross bikes with disc brakes:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/cross_bikes.htm

[vvill]

@hozn 71352 wrote:

But I support the concept of disc drop-bar commuter wholeheartedly. This would be my one bike if I could only keep one (shudder!).

Same, but *shudder* indeed!

@ronwalf 71334 wrote:

I have space constraints, so this’ll be my only bike. I seem to be out in the muck regardless of how much my bike hates it, so I’m not too worried about how much I’ll ride it.[/quote]

In this case I would up my spending limits Fargo Ti!

Lynskey have also been making drop bar disc models for some time, not sure if their clearances are wide enough for you though. They recently started selling a cheaper line of frames too.

[ronwalf]

@DismalScientist 71386 wrote:

If price is an issue, bikesdirect has a fair number of cross bikes with disc breaks:
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/cross_bikes.htm

Ha, yes, I expected. I even had a retort, but apparently in the last month or so, most of their bikes have moved their disc mounts from the seat stay to the chain stay, making fenders and racks more doable.

[hozn]

@ronwalf 71394 wrote:

Ha, yes, I expected. I even had a retort, but apparently in the last month or so, most of their bikes have moved their disc mounts from the seat stay to the chain stay, making fenders and racks more doable.

Yeah, I would heartily endorse a ti cx bike from bikesdirect! I mean http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/fantom_cross_pro_ti_xi.htm $1700 for ti w/ Sram Rival. That is really hard to beat. Motobecane ti frames are made by ORA (http://www.oraeng.com.tw/); this is reputable titanium. I see the calipers are on seatstays on that model, but this isn’t a deal breaker for me, since I have fenders setup with my seatstay-mounted calipers. (Also thinner calipers like the TRP Spyre would probably help there.)

(I went back and looked at my spreadsheet from my original [non-disc] CX build and the total was $2800. I’m sure I could have saved a little money — e.g. I spent more because I wanted current model year shifters, with under-tape routing — but you’re estimate sounds about right.)

[Jason B]

Too bad Airborne ran out of the Delta. For $750 this looked like the best deal out there
http://www.amazon.com/Airborne-DELTA-Cyclocross-bike-Argento/dp/B0052UAJ0Y/ref=cm_cr_pr_pb_t

[jopamora]

2014 GT Corsa Disc

[invisiblehand]

@ronwalf 71308 wrote:

Every time the weather’s nasty, I start getting the urge to go bike shopping. If I really knew what I needed, I’d have bought it by now, but this is the set of requirements that I’m working with:

• Disc brakes (BB-7s, equivalent, or such a good deal that upgrading is economical)
• Drop-bar, or drop-bar-ish. I run mustache bars and like them.
• Enough tire clearance for studs and fenders (45mm?)
• Geometry somewhere between touring and relaxed cross (inclusive).
• Rack and fender compatible

A Karate Monkey’s geometry with drop bars has worked for a few folks.

http://jeffsbike.blogspot.com/2011/11/surly-karate-monkey-second-impressions.html

[Dirt]

I’ve been using a surly troll with 700c wheels for a while with pretty good luck.

[Dirt]

From talking to James, Van Dessel has fixed the issues with the WTF and rereleased it. Coolness!

[culimerc]

I am King of the Steel framed Dic brake drop bar commuters.

I LOVED my Vaya right up until it got stolen. The current commuter (Salsa La Cruz) I have is too big, otherwise I would have just stayed with it.

So I just picked up a Van Dessel WTF, on Tuesday. So I havent had a chance to ride it yet, but I’m pretty much starting to twitch with anticipation. There are some odd things about it that will make mounting fenders and a rack more difficult. Mostly the lack of a bridge on the seatstay and the placement of the brazeon on the seat tube instead of the chainstay bridge. The lack of bridge on the seatstay and the fenders are my biggest issue at this point, but I’ll figure something out.

All 3 bikes will take “fattish” tires, the WTF upto a 2.1″. All three do great duty as a all rounder. Gravel grinder/light tour/’cross/commuter. I even raced a couple of ‘cross races and a couple of Monster Cross races on the Vaya. So there it is. Hope I made your decision harder

Take a look at the Volagi’s too they look like they could be fun too.

[culimerc]

OBTW- I HATE the way aluminum bikes ride. So I am biased that way. Had one large diameter tubed aluminum road bike, probably didnt fit me too well, and I hated it. No more aluminum for me. I have heard tho, that aluminum may not be the best material for larger/taller riders. And I could be full of it too. Pretty much even money on that one.

[Raymo853]

@culimerc 71810 wrote:

OBTW- I HATE the way aluminum bikes ride. So I am biased that way. Had one large diameter tubed aluminum road bike, probably didnt fit me too well, and I hated it. No more aluminum for me. I have heard tho, that aluminum may not be the best material for larger/taller riders. And I could be full of it too. Pretty much even money on that one.

I used to express the anti-AL view often, however, I have learned it is not true anymore. AL bikes can ride great, if made well. And regardless wheel and tire choice still matter the most.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[guga31bb]

I pulled the “safety concerns” card to convince my wife I need a new bike to make it through the winter, so ordered a Kona JTS last night (the shop I went to didn’t have my size in stock so they have to have one shipped). I’m really looking forward to trying it out…

[Greenbelt]

@guga31bb 71821 wrote:

I pulled the “safety concerns” card to convince my wife I need a new bike to make it through the winter, so ordered a Kona JTS last night (the shop I went to didn’t have my size in stock so they have to have one shipped). I’m really looking forward to trying it out…

Ha! “Safety bicycle” indeed! For racing safely…

[mstone]

@Raymo853 71812 wrote:

I used to express the anti-AL view often, however, I have learned it is not true anymore. AL bikes can ride great, if made well. And regardless wheel and tire choice still matter the most.

Yup, tires matter more than material. And design matters more than material. It’s truethat you can make a resilient, thin tubed bike out of steel, and it’s a lot harder to make that kind of bike out of aluminum. I’m not convinced that’s a great design for a commuter. For something designed to be more durable, materials are a wash.

[Author]

Posts