Foul Weather Bike Frame Recommendation?

I've been thinking recently of building up a fast city bike tailored to those nasty, mucky, snow-filled days we're so familiar with from the winter, and now I'm looking for frame suggestions.

Here's what I'm looking for:

1. Preferably cro-mo steel (but aluminum seems reasonable too.) Definitely no carbon.
2. Something leaning a little more toward road than mountain geometry. Cyclocross?
3. Fits oversized 700c tires.
4. Fits fenders (and preferably has mounts for them.)
5. No brake mounts required (but definitely no canti posts.) I'm going disc/drum.
6. Any or no fork is fine. I'll probably pick one up specifically for disc.

I think I'd be willing to spend up to $700, but would prefer something around $350.

Any thoughts on what fits the bill? Anything I'm missing?

I've been looking at the Civia Hyland for starters. What else ya got?

Tags: bike, frame, transportation

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Permalink Reply by Matthew on March 29, 2010 at 5:59pm

I second this. Surly makes some pretty burly frames and gives you lots to build on/work with.

mattbikes1 said:

Take a peek at the Surly stable. You find find something good there.

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Permalink Reply by J on March 29, 2010 at 10:02pm

700x28c + fender or 32c limit. Several disc fork options.

This one is set up for greater clearance (it's a fixed cross frame with front disc).

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Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on March 29, 2010 at 10:05pm

I'd checked out Surly early on, but with the exception of the Steamroller and the Pacer, all their bikes have cantilever brake posts, which I seriously want to avoid, (and the S & P just don't have the clearance I'd like.)

Duppie, I agree, the Co-Motion is drool worthy. Also, an eccentric B/B hadn't occurred to me. I'd wondered how they handled chain/belt tension.

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Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on March 29, 2010 at 10:09pm

Nice. Tell me more...

J said:

700x28c + fender or 32c limit. Several disc fork options.

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Permalink Reply by J on March 29, 2010 at 10:21pm

mindfrieze said:

Nice. Tell me more...

This is the latest incarnation of the Model T frame sold at my shop. This year it's pretty utilitarian: 4130 cromo, vanilla road geometry (decidedly not track), one rear eyelet for rack/fender/both... this year we've dropped the 1" head tube mainly for the reason you've brought up, which is to allow for a better fork selection. This way, folks can easily go steel road, canti, carbon, disc-specific, or whatever. The price is also pretty good: $350 which includes a custom powder coat.

Folks have suggested a really wide range of frames in this thread, so it's hard to compare. It's nowhere near as nice as a Co-motion, but basically comparable in tubeset, weight, and construction to the Surly lineup. The Steamroller has better clearance, no braze ons, steeper angles, and a higher bb. Based on what was shown recently at the Taiwan show, I think we will be seeing more frames like this from the major brands -- which will lower prices and make them easier to find locally.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie 13.5185km on April 6, 2010 at 12:55pm

Civia updated their website. It looks like the Civia Bryant is now sold as a frameset (MSRP $625).

The only frame I've seen so far that fits all of your requirements

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Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on October 3, 2010 at 2:31pm

So I finished this bike finally. I ended up going with the Salsa Casseroll, and am fairly pleased with the turnout.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindfrieze/5045350780

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on October 4, 2010 at 12:40am

That is a nice color, mindfrieze.

Will you remove the rim stickers?

mindfrieze said:

So I finished this bike finally. I ended up going with the Salsa Casseroll, and am fairly pleased with the turnout.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindfrieze/5045350780

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Permalink Reply by mindfrieze on October 4, 2010 at 8:35am

I'd considered removing the rim stickers. The red logo definitely jumps out, but for now, I think I like the sporty look it gives the bike. We'll see if that still holds true in a few weeks.

Steven Vance said: