853 Paul Donohue Cyclocross Build

Really not a fan of the shifting, but SRAM do make a smart chainset.

just fitted the cross version of the apex cranks to my gf's, and actually a lot of fun to work with too

though the 10 speed rival wins for aesthetics to me, slight less fat in the middle, a bit more angular

Yeah, if only everyone made cranks that looked like those...

Turns out I do have a GXP BB lying around so looks like I'm going to go for that Apex chainset for £54. Any final objections?

So I need a top pull derailler, this one seems a good bet? Should work with Sram right?

https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FMSHOEMCX70/shimano-fd-cx70-cyclocross-10-speed-front-mech

Also would these tyres be a good bet?

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/tyres-cross-folding-schwalbe-racing-ralph-performance-folding-cross-tyre/schwtycf220

Looking at that first image of the frame there looks like there's a small wheel on the back of the seat tube. This is so you can run the cable down, around this cable and back up to the derailleur, so allowing you to use a bottom pull deralieur. They don't work so good, but they do work we'll enough in my experience. If you haven't got a fd yet the by all means get the top pull, but just in case

Like this

I have no clue about cx tyres however, try the cx thread

The top pull works with sram and its great. Avoid the bottom pull for the life of you and ditch the mudchather aka that wheel.
My experience with Ralph is also positive, but I think the Ralph's are a bit overkill for the summer months. Maybe consider getting a filethread tire so you can gravelgrind and explore during the summer, and then get the Ralph's when it gets wet.

Ok think I'll go for that dérailleur then. Thought that was what the wheel was for but wasn't convinced by it. I was hoping for a sort of all rounder tyre so I didn't have to buy two sets to save a bit of money but it's probably the best idea. What's a good filethread tyre? Would the kenda small block 8s be a good compromise?

Ralphs are pretty good. The kendas will roll quicker on hard ground and the road but will pick up (and keep) mud, then throw it in your eye when you pick up speed. Quite rude really ;-)

It depends what you want. I don't mind full knobblies as my road/tracks/lane miles are few and slow and the fun happens elsewhere.

I've used hella cheap Schwalbe CX Comps during the summer on mixed off/on road rides. They're heavy but reliable and roll pretty quickly once up to speed. I just about kept up with a reasonably fast group on road sections last weekend. They slide around at any sign of moisture off-road before the sideknobs gain traction but any semi-slick will do that.

Thinking about setting them up tubeless as they've got solid sidewalls and I should lose some of their weight penalty.

Hmm tough decisions to be made.

There is no tyre that will be perfect everywhere, or even the perfect compromise for every ride.

Just get the Ralphs, they're good value. If you end up racing on mixed roads worry about optimum tyre choice then.

Yeah think you're right.

The way I look at it on a cx bike I ride mainly two situations:

Road (with a some paths, tracks and green lanes) – touring tyre
Trails (with some paths, tracks and green lanes and a pootle on some tarmac) – cross/mtb tyre

The 'faster' cross tyres that claim to work on the road are fine (but perhaps not so fun) for the 2nd situation. They're fairly compromised for trails and even dry racing. They are pretty good for cx sportive type-events if you're going for an overall time. If the cross tyres seem hard work on the roads you can always HTFU and pedal harder.

...not that I've thought about it much...

Sounds reasonable. Thing is I'm moving to Leamington spa soon and I'm as yet unsure as to what the terrain is like, hence wanting a compromise.

I agree with @miro_o, although I've found something like Clement LAS clinchers setup as tubular to be a decent option if its actually 50/50 between trails and paved roads. Quite comfy to have a big fat balloon tire on the road and a lot of fun to throw around a trail. For anything less than 50% trail-riding I would def go for touring tires.

I tried to follow the wheel of someone using these on a road section of a CX sportive... they do seem really quick.

Quite a good way of doing a 'fast' setup for predominantly dry/road rides is sticking a faster rolling tyre on the back.

Eg. a grippy tyre on the front and Sammy Slick / Clement LAS or similar semi-slick on the rear.

Cheers for the all the input. I'm going to have to wait till my next pay day before I buy any tyres now anyway. Gives me some time to mull it over.

Picked up this haul for a pretty good price.
Shimano CX50 chainset, spare 105 34T ring, 105 BB, Ultegra 10 speed chain, Ultegra 10 speed cassette (12-28). If anyone would like to trade the Ultegra cassette for a 12-32T one i'd be grateful.

So as I thought might be the case the clamp on the front derailleur is way too big for the tubing, anybody know of any good shimming solutions?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-SM-AD17-Front-Derailleur-Clamp-Band-Shim-Adaptor-Reduce-34-9mm-to-28-6mm-/350584164224

or I've used rubber shims from light brackets before if you want to be cheap

Cheers for that. Thinking about it I have some old rubber mtb handlebar grips reckon I could cut a few rings off one of those and it'll work.