Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

Spa Cycles have some cheap crankset for like £20, but they appear to run out of the 165mm one.

^ that's the Sugino copy. Try Spa cycles, I think they sell those for £20.

I have a 130bcd set (6600 ultegra, 172.5mm) I can post.

Actually found this, seemed apt and come with chainguard.

Velo Vitality is the only one I know that sell those tyres in the UK, I usually order them directly and hope for the best (majority of the time I managed to avoid custom charge).

perfect! I'll have to replace the chainring to narrow wide no?

Also acycles http://www.acycles.co.uk/recherche.html?motclef=grand+bois
French retailer so no custom charge.

Unless you're doing CX, nah.

You could do it without. Maybe need a chain catcher on the inside. But often it works without.
I am building something similar. 1x8 speed. But I opt for a used 104bcd square taper chainset instead. This made it possible to get narrow wide chainrings for less than 20gbp. I went for the on one, but ebay has other brands as well.

I will ride mine offroad as well as city. If you won't do that, you can live without narrow wide I bet.

Thanks both.
Her usage is commuting and occasional mini touring; she is currently using SS so 1x8/9/10 would be plenty for her.

Will this setup work?
Shifter: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-tiagra-r400-8-speed-down-tube-shifter/rp-prod13671
Cranks: http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m2b0s109p1698
Another option for cranks: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/fc-3550-sora-9-speed-compact-chainset-ec041355
RD: http://www.evanscycles.com/products/shimano/altus-m310-mega-range-7-8-speed-rear-derailleur-ec070096
Cassette: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/sram-pg850-8-speed-cassette/
Chain: http://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/sram-pc-870-chain/aid:249793

Any advantage to direct mount MTB rear derailleurs? The frame hasn't been built yet so can opt for PMW rocker option for those.

Can you get 104bcd in road Q factor? That and 165mm crank length is essential for her fit.

Next question disc wheels; not too boat anchor but not crazy expensive.

Salsa Warbird frame and forks down to £549, damn tempting

http://www.charliethebikemonger.com/salsa-warbird-alloy-roadgravel-disc-brake-frameset-inc-carbon-fork-3768-p.asp

So I'm looking at getting a commuter/do it all bike and i'm selling a few of my other bikes (my Donohue and HHSRB :,( ) so I can hopefully afford a new one. I've been looking at the Pinnacle Arkose 3 (£855) and the Planet X London Road with Rival (£799).
At the moment I'm swinging towards the Planet X. Any suggestions either regarding these two or any others around the same price point?
The bike will mainly be used for commuting, the occasional light tour, a bit of light off roading.

Not the arkose 2? Hydraulic brakes and 1 X 11 sounds fun

Shimano Claris 11-28 have a slightly better jump than the SRAM 11-28, see below*.

Get the Spa Cycles for one reason - the square taper mean you can try and get the shortest bottom bracket possible for the low Q-factor, I managed 107mm with the double crankset with a couple millimeters of clearance on the arm despite recommendation of 113mm, the fact it's 165mm mean there's a little more clearance with the chainstay and thus might be able to push it down to 103mm.

The Hollowtech one as great as they are, have one fixed q-factor.

*Claris; 11-13-15-17-19-21-24-28
SRAM; 11-12-14-16-18-21-24-28

I did similar with my cross bike (using Shimano 600 cranks). I ended up not using the very shortest un55 bb because... heal clearance.

Shorter BB because heel clearance? don't quite follow.

Perfect; thanks! Any idea about Alfine crank Q factor? or a standard road like 5800/6800?
Also good tip on claris cassette; 38x17 is a perfect London stop and start gear.

not sure if joke:

I know. What is going on with that rear 'guard?¡?

Smart way to transport some wood, a crate and bungies home though.

Tyre question:

Just choosing tyres for a 100 mile ride on the tourer tomorrow. Should I run my heavy but slick puncture proof touring tyres, or my light but knobbly 'cross tyres? What's more important, rolling resistance or weight? (I'll be going off road a fair bit once I'm there, so might carry the 'cross tyres with me anyway)

Wind resistance.

If you're going to carry the 'cross tyres anyway (and going off-road) - I'd just stick them on and save yourself the bother!

But (depending on how near the limit you want to ride the off-road sections) you could just use the touring tyres throughout. Something like the Vittoria Randonneur Trail is a pretty good compromise.

If I was riding 100 miles on roads, and wanted to off-road a bit somewhere once there, and riding a touring bike which you'll be carrying things on anyway I'm guessing - take the off-road tyres and use the slicks for the 100 road miles (cycling 100 miles back too?). A couple of tyres won't make a weight difference, and only takes a few minutes to swap them. Also depends how knobbly the cross tyres are. If you ride them loads on the road it might just wear them down needlessly. Make sure you've got the correct sized inner tubes if the tyres are different widths too. If you have time and money to spend on new tyres, a hybrid like miro suggested might be good too. Or just save £30-40 and take the spare set.

Sorry typo (now edited). Should read 'ended up not using the shortest. My heels still clip occasionally.

The stance is still less than a road standard though so I think it was still worth it, and the square taper bbs are super-durable in wet and grime.

Yeah I checked out the Arkose 2, didn't quite tick all the boxes for me, plus I fancied brifters. Put an order down a lime green London Road with Rival in the end. Can't wait seems pretty functional and imo looks pretty cool too.