Functional bikes. Not Porn not Anti

Kaffenback, a powdercoat and a carbon fork pls.

I love my cross check, it's a great bike but the Kaddenback is a very good deal. They've got some full bikes in the clearance section which are great value. Tough call.

If you can afford it: Crosscheck.

If not: Kaffenback, otherwise known as the Kaddenback by some members.

good one (O)ED.

Is there actually any reason for the Crosscheck over the Kaffenback * ?

Surely the Surly just costs more because they're imported from the US?

• apart from better paint work and branding
  

Actually they're imported from Taiwan rather, AFAIK that is.

Honestly, I'm just biased cause I loved my Surly, it always feel good to ride no matter what configuration you set it as, and the max clearance of 45c supass the Planet X's 35c, the only thing I'm not keen on the Surly is the slightly high BB (which is a given for a do-it-all CX bike).

One massive advantage of the Kaffenback is the disc mount thought, that'd sold it for me (as well as the swappable drop out naturally, killing two bird with one stone).

Kaffenback seems to pip the Surly to every post. Tyre clearance isn't an issue for me, I have a 29er for the fat fettish.

Obviously Surly>Planet X, but as you said, they're both Taiwanese frames...

Surly will surely be more noddly under loads also, the rear end of the Kaff seems pretty beefy.

Surly will surely be more noddly under loads also, the rear end of the Kaff seems pretty beefy.

Can't says I've noticed that TBH, it did flex a tad but only if you're giving it the welly (especially up Ditchling carrying luggage for two), otherwise go for a Long Haul Trucker that felt more at home under loads.

Crosscheck is more at home as a light tourer, doesn't stop people from using it as a full-on tourer;

Frankly in the end, both will make good tourer, you just have to choose which sound more idea for what you want it for.

I have a Surly Ogre (arriving soon) for trails, tours, and around-town pootling.

I'm looking for a street-slaying commuter beast with the ability for light tours and trails, maybe a bit of cyclocross fun. I think the Kaffenback suits; swayed by the discs, swappable dropouts, 135 rear and lower-price.

Sound like the Kaffenback is perfect for that, paired with a carbon disc fork (as miro said), and I reckon you got it sorted.

Alpina do some nice, cheap CX forks but they're canti only and no mudguard eyelets.

Kenesis probably do some but they're quite expensive and the graphics are gash.

How about these?

Croc's are prefect for this thread.

spd Crocs?

Salsa do a fork called, 'Cruz?' Which is a pared down cromoto. Looks great, I'd put that on the Kaff. Now if only Planet X would do a sale.

Yep the Cruz is neat. I think Genesis do something similar (but probably heavier and cheaper).

Genesis do one for I think £60, come with mudguard and rack mount as well as lowrider, clearance for 32c tyres with mudguard (I managed 33.3c on mine).

found it;

http://www.tweekscycles.com/Product.do?method=view&n=3533&p=260849&c=215&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=Base&utm_campaign=MTB%20Rigid%20Forks

edit - picture show only mudguard eyelit, 2012 fork come with all the necessity mount.

I have a Surly Ogre (arriving soon) for trails, tours, and around-town pootling.

I'm looking for a street-slaying commuter beast with the ability for light tours and trails, maybe a bit of cyclocross fun. I think the Kaffenback suits; swayed by the discs, swappable dropouts, 135 rear and lower-price.

I've got an Ogre on backorder too... but I'm almost tempted to cancel it and get a crosscheck instead at the moment. I'd love a 29er (and I've already built a fat front wheel for it) but I just dont think I'll use it for a long, long time (big offroad tour in a year or 7)

Hold the presses.

Surly Long Haul Trucker Fork on the pipeline, £15 cheaper than the Salsa;

http://www.ison-distribution.com/english/product.php?part=FKSUDT6K

I'd have thought just picking up an uncle john fork would be the easiest if you got a kaff.

Or you could get a cheap set of mtb ones in the right size: http://www.carboncycles.cc

I've got an Ogre on backorder too... but I'm almost tempted to cancel it and get a crosscheck instead at the moment. I'd love a 29er (and I've already built a fat front wheel for it) but I just dont think I'll use it for a long, long time (big offroad tour in a year or 7)

In theory I will own the Ogre forever. This is what I'm telling myself. I will swap the tyres out for 2.3/2.5s on the weekend if I'm going out to some trails, I'll put some 32c on if I want to do a tour, but mostly it will live with some FatFrank 2.0s for flat pedal commuting and picking up groceries (can't believe I just said 'groceries'). I couldn't do all that on a cross check: The ogre seems amazingly versatile to me.

I just need an Ogre Lite as well, which I think the Kaffenback is.

I wouldn't get the Ogre if I didn't enjoy riding trails.

I love my crosscheck;

Everyone needs one!

The Cross Check is a lovely cycle and that's a beaut. For my next build it was that or a pomp. Budget won out though in the end but I may combine and use the pomp frame and a Cross Check fork.

I love my audax bike, literally my perfect bike;

My functional bike is getting silly.

Having 2 kids on the back doesnt leave much room for panniers. So looking to strap them on sideways (see pic). I've moved the child seat back 3cm since this pic was taken.

Fitted a barbag, and managed to fit my little saddle bag under the rack, using 2 long bolts partly screwed into some braze-ons, as substitute saddle rails. I'll probably replace it with a bigger bag at some point to make better use of the space under there.

Might need to bolt a narrow bar somewhere for better attachment. I really want to be able to quickly remove the bags, without faffing with straps.

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