Cyclocross parts/frame question

[nirnex]

As some of you may know I'm an active cyclist. I do about 10.000 miles/year on my racing bikes.

I have some spareparts here(wheelset, chain, cassette, bracket, saddle) and
I'm tempted to build a cyclocross bike.

Since I have no or little experience with these bikes, I would like to hear from you.

I'll ride it during cold days in the winter, when a hard wind is blowing, on flat unpaved roads in the woods. No competitions or similar.

I have the choice between:
a Ridley or Empella frame. Any remarks about geometry, quality?

Does anybody know the part number of Shimano Cyclocross Cantilever brakes?
Are they good? I didn't like Froglegs brakes.

Is any secial crankset needed?

Any other parts I should (not) buy?

[Meplat]

saw some, DA?, on the 2004 "www.cycle.shimano.co.jp" w-pg. sorry, lost the link.

[nirnex]

There seems to be a new cantilever that has been developed for cyclocross.

[happypimp1620]

You also might check out the Tektro Oryx cantilevers. I've been pretty happy with them, they're super easy to set up, they look nice and they're nicely priced at about $15 a pair.

[yoda]

If this is going to be a winter/nasty weather bike, I'd go with the barcons and regular brake levers. Much nicer being able to shift...

Generally, 'cross cranks run 38/48 or 34/46 rings. You can run a regular road crankset with the 38/48 setup, or a 110mm bolt circle crank with the
34/46 rings. I'm using an XTR front derailleur with my rings (and I run up to a 50t in the spring/summer).

I hear from a friend that has one that his Ridley is a great racing frame, but not so nice riding for anything over about 90min. He's riding a 60cm frame, so take that for whatever its worth. I can't ride it to tell you 'cause I'm riding a 54... I own a Kona Jake the Snake and like it, so if both of the frames you have listed above fall through, I'd look at one of those too. I've owned a steel TET cross bike that I loved the way it rode.
It was too small, so I let it go.

AFAIK Shimano is out of the cantilever business. The old LX/XT/XTR series work well. As do Suntour's XC Pro brakes.

Cassettes usually run between 27 and 32/4t big cogs. If you're riding only on the flats, you may be able to get away with a 24/5t big cog.

Most 'cross bikes are serious Frankenbike projects. Run whatever you've got in your extra parts bin. I've got XTR hubs and front derailleur, a Cook
Bros E-crank with Shimano square-taper BB, Onza HO brakes, and 105 STI shifting an "XTegra" short cage rear derailleur.

There's a complete cyclocross discussion board over at
www.roadbikereview.com if you have even more questions.

[Shikka]

...

There's a neat page on this:

http://tandem-fahren.de/Mitglieder/Christoph_Timm/DropBrakes.htm

This gave me the idea to try short-legged vee brakes. I have the
Tektro ones mentioned on the site. Not as much clearance as cantis, but for hardpack riding with moderate sized cyclocross tires they are just fine. I find the cable routing to be cleaner with the vees, because you don't need cable hangers. Also the vee brakes are dirt cheap and the short ones work with normal road levers.

[hrd2hndle]

i woudlnt know about shimano, but if they still make 'em, you can find them on shimano's website(s). last time i was tooling around their site i found the euro site better for technical specs, and such, btw.

lots of folks, myself included, like avid shorties, available in a range from solid reasonable $ to expensive. of course if you dont mind fuddling with the older style post-style brake shoes, you could prob find some cantis for free or super cheap at the LBS, r.b.marketplace, etc.

nope. cross folk ive seen generally run a single ring up front, or a double road crank. or a double with a single ring and a guard.

a frame with no tire clearance. im not familiar with the ones you mentioned, but its worth checking if youre not sure. cross lever(s)
can be nice depending on how you ride.

[Meplat]

saw some, DA?, on the 2004 "www.cycle.shimano.co.jp" w-pg. sorry, lost the link.

found it:
<http://cycle.shimano.co.jp/frame_2004newpro.html>