Bike Build - Hybrid of Cyclecross and MTB ... Advise please

[andyfase]

Hi,

After having my Cyclecross bike stolen that i mostly used for commuting I'm looking to build up a replacement.

I never really user nor used the drop bars, hence I'm interested in building one that has flat bars and ideally disk brakes.

I'm looking at the on-one dirty disco frame: http://shop.titusti.com/On-One-Dirty...p/frooddcc.htm

and combining it with:

Shimano Deore Disk brakes (MTB)
Shimano 105 CX 50 Double Chainset http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=70118
Shimano XT shifters (MTB) M780 http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=69488
Shmano XT front and rear derailleurs 10 speed M780 rear M785 front (front here: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=69484)

and a MTB cassette, flat bar etc etc

Just wondering if the above will work together, mainly the chainset being kind of Road'ish and the front derailleur being a MTB one

Does anyone cleverer than me have any advice you could give on if the setup will work?

I currently live in Canada and will aim to get most of the parts shipped from the States and the UK so I dont want to be putting it all together and then working out it doesnt work!

Thanks

Andy

p.s. reasons for the above

- want hydraulic disk brakes
- want a higher gear ratio than a normal road chain-set (hardly ever use the big ring) 46/36 seems a good compromise
- like flat bars
- like rapidfire shifters

[AndrwSwitch]

Cleverer? No. But I do know a little about bike geometry. Bikes meant for drop bars have relatively short top tubes. The handlebar itself adds quite a lot of reach. Bikes meant for flat bars use a longer top tube. The difference is pretty significant, maybe more than you can make up with a long stem.

If you have unusual proportions or prefer a super-upright position, fine. But for someone with relatively average proportions and a fairly "road" riding position, it would be hard to set up a road frame to fit well with a flat handlebar.

Cotic actually makes a frame for your task, more-or-less. Check out the Roadrat.

You need to be aware of spacing in selection your rear hub and frame. Disc hubs are most commonly 135mm, but available in 130 too. Road disc frames seem a little up in the air still - I thought things were settling on 135, but there are some new 130-spaced frames out too. The Roadrat is 132.5. Smart of them to stay out of this debate.

[andyfase]

Thanks for the advise definitely going to go for the roadrat frame I think - seems to tick all the boxes and more (Mud Guards here in Vancouver a real requirement)

Will get the carbon fork me thinks the normal one looks a bit ugly to me!

Any advice on the gearing setup or you think its all ok?

Cheers

Andy

[AndrwSwitch]

I think the gearing will function fine. Actually, probably work well in terms of available ratios too.

[wilier]

Just wondering if the above will work together, mainly the chainset being kind of Road'ish and the front derailleur being a MTB one

I'd be fairly careful about swapping MTB / Road FD and cranks. I think a road FD with MTB crank might work ok, but would be more concerned with road crank with MTB FD. The reason is the curvature of the FD and the size of the big chainring.

I've never experimented with it, but take a look at the MTB FD when you have the outer plate a millimeter away from the big chainring as it swings forward. Due to the curvature of the MTB FD, does the back of the front plate still have clearance over the 50T ring?

That's my only thought. It would probably work, but there is some risk that when the front of the outer plate is in the correct position in relation to the large ring, the back of the outer plate will not have enough clearance.

Good luck - I hope it works, and post if it does or does not. Actual results are always useful to others in search.