General Discussion Triathlon Talk » One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness... Rss Feed  
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2008-10-23 10:49 AM

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Champion
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Subject: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness...
I am thinking of trying this:
Here's my situation. My MTB is on its last legs (needs many parts), I have fallen out-of-love with my tri-bike, and my Cyclocross bike is my roadie (Kona Jake the Snake).

I am thinking of just using my CX'er for everything.  I race a few (3-5) tris and a couple of MTB races a year as well as a bunch of club rides, and maybe an organized century or two.
  • I know I can put clip-on aerobars and maybe a different stem on it for tri's (I do mostly hilly sprints anyway). I can even run my disk (cover) on it
  • I know I can take it on mild singletrack and fire road stuff as-is
  • I know it works just fine as a road bike (I am not adverse to swapping chainrings, and with the new style Shimano cranks, changing gearing is way easy.
The questions are:
  • Can I run a short travel 29'er fork on it?
  • Will my existing FD/brifter (Ultegra SL) shift a triple? It has a big trim adjust on it.
  • Right now I'm running a 11-28 10-spd cassette. Is there a 10-speed deraileur that will shift a bigger cog than 28?
  • Is this a stupid idea?


2008-10-23 12:02 PM
in reply to: #1761349

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2008-10-23 1:04 PM
in reply to: #1761563

Champion
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Two seat rocket plane
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness
wgraves7582 - 2008-10-23 12:02 PM

Ride:

Sell them all and buy the Salsa Fargo.  Won't handle the suspension shock (I asked a guy in Iowa who does a bunch of testing for them and he gave me the specifics if you are interested I can forward it to you)

Here is the link:  Not out until Feb 09 supposedly

http://www.salsacycles.com/fargoComp09.html

She is my next bike.  I figure I can do cross, commute, mt bike on her, club rides (just buy some slicks and have a seperate wheel set.

How do you like the Kona - I was contemplating this bike as well.

That's awesome, but it looks a bit too tank-ish to seriously do tris on it, particularly hilly ones. In reality, I'm looking to get rid of stuff, not add more, no matter how cool-i-o it is.
I really like the JTS. I got the frame from Bikeman.com on a killer deal, bought the grouppo from Colorado cyclist. I had wheels/bars/stem already. I have not actually raced CX on it yet, but I think I'll try it after my IM.

here it is getting ready to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway end-to-end

 

2008-10-23 1:23 PM
in reply to: #1761349

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2008-10-23 9:08 PM
in reply to: #1761349

Champion
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Eat Cheese or Die
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness
I don't know that any stock cross bikes/frames will handle a 29er fork. It may not be an issue with ability to handle the stresses, more to do with the axle to crown length. Even the shortest suspension forks are going to have a much longer AC length then a rigid cross fork. Of course you could go custom and have a CX frame built around a suspension fork and get the maker to do a custom rigid fork as well.

What kind of single track are you doing and why do you want a suspension fork? My cross bike handles single track as well as the 29er I built with a white bros fork. I've ridden my CX bike on all but the most technical trails that I've ridden on a mountain bike. That being said, I don't ride a rigid mountain bike anymore because my wrists, shoulders and back complained too much. Those whiney bastards.

I raced my cross bike this tri season. Used clip on aero bars for the second half. Even left the little globs of mud on it too.

Edited by graceful_dave 2008-10-23 9:09 PM
2008-10-23 10:55 PM
in reply to: #1761349

Champion
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Tacoma, Washington
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness

But... But... But...

What about N+1?  Smile



2008-10-24 8:11 AM
in reply to: #1763271

Champion
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Two seat rocket plane
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness

It's probably just a phase I'm going through.

It's an interesting experiment. I wonder how many compromises I'll have to make along the way. I suspect that most of the issues will be on the MTB side if i go with my CX bike as a base platform. However, most of the MTB races I do are on not-particularily-technical courses, so I should be fine.

2008-10-24 10:06 AM
in reply to: #1763526

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2008-10-24 1:33 PM
in reply to: #1763823

Champion
4835
2000200050010010010025
Eat Cheese or Die
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness
wgraves7582 - 2008-10-24 10:06 AM

ride_like_u_stole_it - 2008-10-24 9:11 AM

It's probably just a phase I'm going through.

It's an interesting experiment. I wonder how many compromises I'll have to make along the way. I suspect that most of the issues will be on the MTB side if i go with my CX bike as a base platform. However, most of the MTB races I do are on not-particularily-technical courses, so I should be fine.

Mine are technical that is why I was thinking about just saving my Felt 29er for those, but would love to hear about the tris/road races/cross races/commutes on the cross bike.

Do the cross bikes come capable to handle fenders and racks? That is my final selling decision.

Glad you started this thread up Ride - I have been pondering this as well. That is why I was looking at the Fargo!



Depends on which bike. I have a surly cross check. Right now I have 38c tires and fenders on it with room to spare. It has rack mounts.

Some companies allow for the options, some don't.
2008-10-24 3:13 PM
in reply to: #1763823

Champion
6786
50001000500100100252525
Two seat rocket plane
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness
wgraves7582 - 2008-10-24 10:06 AM
ride_like_u_stole_it - 2008-10-24 9:11 AM

It's probably just a phase I'm going through.

It's an interesting experiment. I wonder how many compromises I'll have to make along the way. I suspect that most of the issues will be on the MTB side if i go with my CX bike as a base platform. However, most of the MTB races I do are on not-particularily-technical courses, so I should be fine.

Mine are technical that is why I was thinking about just saving my Felt 29er for those, but would love to hear about the tris/road races/cross races/commutes on the cross bike.

Do the cross bikes come capable to handle fenders and racks?  That is my final selling decision.

Glad you started this thread up Ride - I have been pondering this as well.  That is why I was looking at the Fargo!

My JTS has braze-ons for rear racks, and it will handle fenders. I am not sure how big of a tire/fender combo you could run. Kona has a fairley active owners forum on konaworld.com and they could probably answer that question. I was planning on putting some Speed Max 35's on it this weekend and taking it out for a little light single track, but the rain and clay based trails contraindicate that plan.

BTW, as built, my JTS is under 20 lbs, a few light bits and it could easily come in at under 18 (size 58).

2008-10-24 6:09 PM
in reply to: #1761349

Champion
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Checkin' out the podium girls
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness
And the cross check is a veritable anchor by comparison. Mine weighs 28lbs un-laden. It's a total tank. Not good for racing, but perfect for commuting, etc. I have mine set up for loaded touring w/ a triple and an 11-34 w/ XT derailleur. 700x32 panaracers and Planet Bike fenders.


2008-10-24 8:21 PM
in reply to: #1765159

Champion
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2000200050010010010025
Eat Cheese or Die
Subject: RE: One bike to rule them all, one bike to find them, one bike to bring them in, and in the darkness
pitt83 - 2008-10-24 6:09 PM

And the cross check is a veritable anchor by comparison. Mine weighs 28lbs un-laden. It's a total tank. Not good for racing, but perfect for commuting, etc. I have mine set up for loaded touring w/ a triple and an 11-34 w/ XT derailleur. 700x32 panaracers and Planet Bike fenders.


Yes, the cross check is a tank. I think mine weighs in around 27 pounds without fenders.
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