Tom A. wrote:

^^^This

^^^This

I have a 7-8 year CX bike I have built up over time with a decent nice kit (Thompson post. Chris King BB and Headset, Rival Carbon cranks, Avid Ultimate Cantis).

It seems like almost everyone is switching over to disk brakes, so it seems like it is time. Without getting a new frame I can only convert to disk brakes on the front (requires a new fork), but since most stopping power is from front brake anyway, this seems fine. My questions?

1. Any real issue with running a front disk and rear canti break setup?

2. It is going to be $300-$400 for a fork, $125 for front brake and rotor and then I need a new wheel ($200-$400), so I am in for almost a grand. I like the rest of the bike, it would cost twice as much to replace, but is the upgrade cost so much I should just buy a new bike?

3. The head tube is not tapered. The only disk brake fork without tapered steerer tube is a Ritchey, which is not available for thru axle. Would this be a reason to just go for the new bike, as I want to go fully forward compatible with any likely mass market configuration changes and I can't get a fork for this bike that can support a front thru axle (I have only looked at ENVE and Ritchey aftermarket CX forks.). It seems like thru axle is where all CX/gravel bikes are going.

4. The frame is a Soma double cross which only cost like $350 (actually same price as the Ritchey WCS fork on the bike now), another option would be another cheap frame and just do the full conversion (tapered steerer, rear disk brakes). Current frame takes a real headset (CK) and a threaded BB (also CK) and I personally think all of this PF stuff is garbage, likewise I think integrated headsets are mostly garbage, hence part of my reluctance to just a get a new bike. So bonus question, explain to me where I am wrong about integrated HS and this PF BBs.

Better to buy a new bike at that point and use the Soma as a rain bike or commuter.