DIY Page - Croix-Mini

---

Updated: Oct 2025

Behold, Croix-Mini a pocket sized bicycle.
Intended to be a 2x9 bicycle without any compromise of terrain. Gravel, urban with or without mount points. Fixie is also an option. Pseudo clone of Velo Orange's Neutrino, aside the pocket size it's not the same at all. No sliding dropouts. See. They're not the same.

Introduction

General Info & Age	Croix-Mini (started in 2023)
Frame, Fork	Steel fork, no brand. More on the frame later
Gearing, Front & Rear	Front: Shimano Altus FD-M313 on a Shimano Tourney FC-TY501-double 46-30t. Simple no-brand 46T cog on a 152 crankset arm, 104 BCD. Rear: Microshift Acolyte Super Short derailleur on a Microshift 11-36t cassette.
Wheels & Pedals	homemade 20 inch wheels (ETRTO: 47-406, Inch: 20 x 1.75) Ryde Andra rims Shimano hubs 6-bolts disc lock QR Mixed Tyres from Decathlon MKS Sylvan Pedals with black plactic unbranded half toe cages Avid disc brake caliper (rear) Shimano mechanical M375 disc brake caliper (front)
Headset & Saddle	Short 30mm stem, 450mm long seat post Selle Italia Stray saddle non indexed no brand shifters V-brake levers Porteur/Cruiser handlebars
Additional Infos	no paint job yet

Here went all some of the money i had for few time and its now a finished project.

Behind the name

The name is Croix-Mini, because i learned to build bicycles that were called Croix-Morand.

---

Building and initial thoughts

Tubbing, sizing and details

Since the build is a mini velo for a full size human (me), few tubes are just too long for it. Then the selection was quite easy i took the cheapest from Biketubing and see what's possible to do with it.

Seat stays and chain stays should be straight. Working with custom made part made me realize i'm still a beginner.

Design and fixed tubbing choice

Special tubes hangout with a sizing ruler

Disclamer, i did this alongside a bicycle framebuilding training for 5 months, and at the begining of the build i had access to tools and jigs.

Here's the list of tubes i bought. All tubes are from Biketubing and the dropouts (and braze ons) are from Framebuilder Supply.

Head Tube	Columbus; length 200 mm
Seat Tube	Tange; length 550 mm
Down Tube	Tange; 600 mm
Top Tube	Tange; 600 mm (not the same)
Chain Stays	Tange; 425 mm (ovalized - round)
Seat Stays	Tange; 600 mm (constant diameter)
Bottom Bracket	No brand, BSA 73x40 mm
Drop Outs	MOD1 modular dropouts (with QR mounts + Eyelets)

At this time i thought i would have enough time to make everything at the learning center workshop.
All tools i used: Cobra frame fixture, Farr chainstay fixture, Drill press with high grade hole saws.

Building

At first it was quite easy to build i had easy access to tools and everything. And when i say everything it's truly everything. I used the Cobra framefixuture and because i didnt finished the whole thing i had to finish it elsewhere. and there the problem came.

I did a design error which was to not design it with disc brake mounts on the dropout, i had to braze on a disc brake tab, and i didn't have any access to that tool so i have to find a tool and so on.

Then i realized a bit too late that i might have problems with the rear, with doing it out the the jig i didn't have any access to it anymore i had now a shrinked size between my dropouts, but i managed to try my best with my own arms strength. It was time to figure out the rear brake tab. I had help from friends

The finished frame has many many errors but i kinda like it. It might not be the most advanced bicycle i made but it's mine. Made with all my heart and frustration

Fitting

This last part is kind of still ongoing.

It also need to get the wheel checked because those were made out without any kind of control station. I laced those myself with what i had at that time. But i ride this bicycle.

Also this bicycle made me create a lot of stuff such as dummy axles and headbadge.