I'm really struggling to get luggage to clear hoses and such on my mountain bike and I'm not willing to throw money at it to effectively put plasters over the issue so here goes. And at the end of the day it's a 130mm full suspension bike that's great at what it was made for and I'm happy with that


Looking for a cheap bike to build up for bike packing I'm 5'11, I've been looking at steel framed hard tails and even 90s bikes but living in Cumbria and most people not willing to post I'm struggling to make some progress, my overall budget isn't massive probably £300 to £350 I'm handy with spanners and competent with bike mechanical work so willing to buy a heap of parts and build up.

Was considering making a monster cross from a 90s steel framed bike

Would consider something like the one inbred etc with a suspension fork or rigid but ideally disc brakes to make it a asier for a bar bag to be fitted without fouling cantilever cables.


I do have my road bike for sale currently too which is a Vitus ultegra spec disc brake road bike if anyone would consider a trade/deal


Really want to get out there without being in fear of mangling my carbon frame lol

On one dee dah frame? £230 new and looks like it should make a good bike...

Pushes my budget tho as wouldn't have a lot left for components forks and wheels

Nice option tho

Don't get hung up on Steel franes being essential. £350 would nearly get you onto a Pinnacle Kapur and I'm sure there is probably a decent Voodoo hardtail from Halfords in your budget that would be more than good enough.

Any good?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3021085041

Do you have 30mm of spacers under your stem? If cable clearance is the issue there’s heaps of ways to simply and cheaply sort it. I’ve used one of these from SJS cycles on three or four bikes. Might work for you?

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/prod ... /11040.jpg

Retiredtester wrote:Any good?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre ... 3021085041

I've been looking at that but it's getting components that pushes the price again for me

I had cable clearance issues, amongst others. A few things might fix it, try some Alt bars, OnOne Ogs worked well for me. Or try something like the Blackburn handlebar roll clamp thing, it pushes the harness away from the bar.
I think a new bike to fix the issue might be a bit over the top.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mob ... 19535?mx=a

Irrespective of the bike you end up choosing, the CRC Brand X trekking bar gave me enough sweep to keep the levers away from a front roll. Cable disc brakes allowed me to fit them over the front of the roll; 180mm discs ensure I can stop. Works fine for me

Thank you for all the replies and information, another reason for wanting a cheaper 2nd bike is my main bike is full carbon full suspension and protecting the frame etc from rub and such would be tricky and it would always worry me at the back of my mind.


Issue resolved now tho as I have now sourced a hardtail bike locally at a great price so once a few bits land in the post I'll have my backpacking bicycle

Thanks again everyone for your time to reply and advice