Anyone ride a Brian Rourke?

bennyboyh
bennyboyh Posts: 51
edited June 2007 in Workshop
Anyone got experience or opinions of Brian Rourke frames?

Comments

  • MartDavis
    MartDavis Posts: 61
    Yes, mixed feelings about it though. On the one hand it's luverly - It looks great and feels great to ride. On the other hand it has a stupid system for routing the cables under the B/B, and the rear wheel alignment is very slightly out. However, if I pull it to one side when tightening it, then it's OK. I'm not sure that slight amount of misalignment causes any more drag anyway. It was built by Brian's son Jason, and maybe he's acquired a lot more experience by now, as mine was built about 2 1/2 years ago.
    The other up-side to it is that I got great advice from Brian, who knows all there is to know about cycle racing.
    On balance, I would make the same choice again because it's such a nice bike.
    Hope that helps.
  • McBain_v1
    McBain_v1 Posts: 5,237
    They make a lovely Renyolds 953 [:D]

    <font size="1">
    What do I ride? Now that's an <b><font color="black">Enigma</b></font id="black"> </font id="size1">
    What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!
  • MattyDcp
    MattyDcp Posts: 49
    I bought a road/race bike from Brian Rourke earlier this year - Dedaccia 16.5 steel frame, full carbon forks, ultegra g/set and open pro rims on ultegra hubs.

    Brian spent about three hours with me selecting the right geometry etc - I hesitate to use the word "measuring up" because at no time did he use a tape measure! Just sat me on various bikes, swapped out stems, adjusted saddle height etc. He also spent an hour with me when i picked it up, checking it fitted as intended etc.

    I ended up with quite a different position to what I was used to, but now I have ridden it for a few months it feels great.

    We agreed to disagree about the benefits of steep angled frames for TT/Tri ("new fangled nonsense"), which didnt matter because I was after a pure road bike, and he pooh-poohed my idea of a compact chainset ("I dont need one and Im 60-odd, ya big jesie"). In hindsight I should have got one anyway....

    The bike itself is beautiful, a real work of art - and I got to shake hands with the guy who built the frame (Brians son Jason) and the mechanic who put it all together (Matt I think?). Which you dont get with an off the peg bike.... I was going to call the bike Hercules, until I realised it was far to gorgeous to be called that - so now its called Rachael - after Ione Skye in the film The Rachael Papers!

    I only have experience riding full alu bikes before, compared to those the bike feels very smooth, but not as sprightly if you see what I mean - which I gather is the general concensus about alu versus steel. Having said that, I think the bike would ride a lot different with lighter/more race orientated wheels.

    Be prepared to wait about 10 weeks for your frame. Brian kept to his predicted timescale, and returned my calls promptly when I phoned to check how things were going.

    The frame forks and headset were œ750 (I think he only charged me for the next grade down on tubing), which I thought was a good price for custom steel. The total bike came to circa œ1900 - even with a few discounts here and there, the total price was far from a "bargain" - however, I felt that the quality of service more than made up for this.

    So, FWIW, I would give both the bike and the "Brian Rourke Experience" at least 9 out of 10. Remember I am a sample where n=1, so your experience may vary....!

    "This song is dedicated to someone who thinks he hasn't seen anything good today..."
    "This song is dedicated to someone who thinks he hasn\'t seen anything good today..."
  • Old Tuggo
    Old Tuggo Posts: 482
    I have a 20 year old Brian Rourke Reynolds 531 DB Steel frame which I use as a winter bike. Very comfortable ride and never had any problems with it.
  • Jim C
    Jim C Posts: 333
    I got measured up june 2007, bike was ready by mid august

    its 631 with a carbon fork, audax geometry and done lots of 200Ks on it, 2x 300, 2x 400 and 1x 600 so far - and its extremely comfortable - Brian set me up with a slightly lower saddle than i was using and a slightly longer reach - i am very pleased with the position - it just looks right when i see a photo of me on it.

    I echo MattyD's comments on the measuring up - just great - Brian's a top bloke

    Highly recommended - will do it again for a custom fixed when i go the œœ - which is very good vakue compared with Mercian, etc

    jc
    jc
  • PHcp
    PHcp Posts: 2,748
    <blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Jim C</i>

    I got measured up june <b>2007</b>, bike was ready by mid august
    <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">

    So there is more than one timelord[;)]

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