1 CommentsFirst New Ride of 2007!
Today I purchased my first new bike frame of 2007. I've been waiting for our new Chili Con Crosso to arrive and they are finally here! Way back when I was a riding fool, cross bikes were my favorite category of bikes. I rode cross bikes everywhere. My cross bike was my primary commuter and training ride. On top of that, what is better than hitting a little dirt with tall wheels and drop bars? Man I love cross bikes. The truth is, I traded my beloved cross bike for professional wedding photography. Yep, a bike for pictures. I don't regret the choice. I just regret giving away that bike. It's been almost 8 years now and I've never been able to replace that beloved steel cross bike.
Enter the Chile Con Crosso. This bike just could be the one. I tried a few others, but they were not quite right. They were either too much road or too much dirt. In my opinion, at least on paper, our new Chili is just perfect. It's real light. It's got clearance for good size tires, not monster cross size, but big enough. It's got just a slightly lower BB than some of those high BB cross bikes. It's got some wicked tubing manipulation that just makes sense. Lastly, it's drop dead gorgeous!!
Now the struggle. How should I build it? I'm stuck between the following two options.
Option 1) Old Reliable
Old Reliable is a combo of really good and simple componentry. 1x9 drive train. Single Shimano bar con shifter. Nice Cane Creek brake levers. Avid brakes. Salsa Crossing Guard, Bell Lap bar, Pro Scandium stem, Shaft seat post, old Zona Tres saddle, & Goma tape. Wheels are trusty Shimano hubs with Delgado X rims finished off with Salsa Flip Off QR's...green of course.
Option 2) New School Road
New School Road is based on a complete SRAM Rival group. You may remember I bought a Rival group for my Casseroll prototype frame. That bike was taken apart and was tested by someone else so I have this group just sitting here collecting dust. I just don't know if I want to put such unproven components on this bike. Maybe I should keep the Rival group and install it on a true road frame?
It's going to be a long night trying to figure this out. All I know for sure is that I'm putting together both piles of parts and tomorrow the process will begin. What will it be?
Check back for full build photo's and a first ride report.
Jason
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