Cyclocross Frame Durability

[jclay]

To those of you who have made or used enough cyclocross frames to know: Do you notice a higher rate of folded front ends on frames made of conventional road tubes vs. OS road diameters of the same wall thickness? I'm about to start a frame for road, off-road and touring use. If it turned out to be common knowledge that conventional diameters are noticeably less durable when it comes to front end jolts than road OS tubes then that would be useful info.

[e-RICHIE]

i have made very few 'cross frames that were not for my team members. so, my experience going back to maybe 1997 or so is that there are no known issues with OS tubing being more (or less) vulnerable to folding up. i reckon there must have been over 100 frames used weekend in and weekend out in UCI C2 and UCI C1 events by several dozen team riders. in all the years, only two have buckled, and those two were put in ditches that would have ruined any ride. PS for the last four seasons at least, all the frames have been made with the light version of PegoRichie tubing that i don't even use in my road frames that i sell retail atmo.

the short of it is that you should use whatever you like and can get. the odds are against the inevitable happening.

[jclay]

What are the walls for the light version of PeggoRichie? OS only?

[e-RICHIE]

What are the walls for the light version of PeggoRichie? OS only?

??? atmo.
The guages, etc you mean?

[jclay]

??? atmo.
The guages, etc you mean?

exactly

[e-RICHIE]

exactly

They are the same guages for the main tubes, just shorter transition zones. Also these sets are offered in A and B only, and
there is only so much you can remove from each pipe. The seat stays are the same. The chain stays are a lighter gauge by
a part of a mm iirc and also shorter in length by 15mm atmo. I have the drawings here someplace - maybe I can scan them.

[jclay]

If they're the same gauges and OD as Spirit for Lugs then I'm good, no need to scan, but thanks just the same.

[e-RICHIE]

If they're the same gauges and OD as Spirit for Lugs then I'm good, no need to scan, but thanks just the same.

Yes - shorter butts and transitions, and tubes sized for the build leaving very little wiggle room atmo.