is steel real?

gbr236
gbr236 Posts: 393
edited April 2008 in Workshop
I am looking for steel frame and steel fork
Fast 'compact' geometry
Nice paint job
Clearance for 25mm tyres and guards
Ideally available 'off the peg' rather that waiting 20weeks

Thoughts please?

Thanks

Comments

  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    No, plastic is fantastic.
  • method
    method Posts: 784
    No, I've recently got a steel fixed and I can't see what all the fuss is about.
  • iga
    iga Posts: 155
    gbr236 wrote:
    I am looking for steel frame and steel fork
    Fast 'compact' geometry
    Nice paint job
    Clearance for 25mm tyres and guards
    Ideally available 'off the peg' rather that waiting 20weeks

    Thoughts please?

    Thanks

    The compact and off the peg bits will be the hardest, most steel frames are horizontal and few builders carry much stock. Anyway, Salsa Casseroll £375 on Wiggle or see what
    http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/ or http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/ have for starters.
    FCN 7
    Aravis Audax, Moulton TSR
  • yakk
    yakk Posts: 589
    Hi, I'm just getting a Planet X Kaffenback. Sloping top tube, frame only going for £150 on the Planet X website. Lots of clearance for guards/tyres and has rack mounts. It has a 1 and 1/8th headset, so no future compatiility probs with forks etc. The only colour is sand. I figured at least it's new, so not at risk of it rusting through like a much older frame, and you can proof it against that. Also worth considering is the Thorm Audax frame/fork package for £300 I think - recent ad in cycling +. I believe it has a sloping top tube as well.
    The Kaffenback got good reviews. It does use cantelever brakes though. I don't know if you can put long drop calliper brakes on it as I haven'g got mine yet. Maybe someone else knows?
    Good luck.
    Yak
  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    I have a Thorn Cyclosportif as my Audax bike - a lovely, springy and smooth ride. It might be just what you are looking for although they are not cheap, and you might be better looking at a made-to-measure from the likes of Dave Yates.
  • tenor
    tenor Posts: 278
    Condor Fratello at £500 is good but comes with carbon forks.
    On balance, the Salsa is probably best value for off-the-peg.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Something cheap and off-the-peg, would be the Thorn Audax mk.3. And compact.

    Not sure about the nice paint job though:.

    http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/audaxmk3.html
  • gbr236
    gbr236 Posts: 393
    thanks
    has anyone a copy of cycling plus 197 I think which included a test of the casseroll?
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    "The Kaffenback got good reviews. It does use cantelever brakes though. I don't know if you can put long drop calliper brakes on it as I haven'g got mine yet. Maybe someone else knows?"

    The Kaffs are under-rated and IMO top VFM. I built one up a ccouple of years ago: not certain but I don't think will take calipers. In any case why bother? Cantis or mini -Vs are better stoppers than d/p's.
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Hmmmm not the most attractive frame though!! lol
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    Salsa Casseroll is a looker but is a bit beefy (if you were after something fastish). My wife has one - it's a nice bike.

    I was going to suggest a Soma Smoothie but it seems Mosquito, who I think were the only UK dealer, are no longer stocking them. They have Gunnar instead. But £600 for F&F is steep.

    Does it have to be a compact?
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    "Hmmmm not the most attractive frame though!! lol"

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - I think that they are real nice lookers! At the very least they aren't the all-pervading, all-boring, matt black fad!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    I hate to bang on about this, but the Thorn Audax Mk3 is not the greatest value, although I am sure it is a good frame. The Aravis frame is similar and cheaper. Also, 300 pounds is about entry level, or close to, for a UK made frame. A lot of builders do not have 20 week waiting lists and could get you the frame in far less time. You'ld probably be looking at a welded or fillet brazed frame unless someone has Slant 6 lugs in stock though.

    Gunnars are nice, but what's the point in buying American frames when British frames are less? FWIW, Gunnars cost about 900$ here, before tax. They are legit racing frames.

    Otherwise, there are plenty of Italian frames which are welded and compact, if you can deal with searching a squillion sites with annoying flash and interminable techno ;)
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I agree with your comments but i was meeting his demand for a compact steel frame with mudguard and 25mm tyre clearance and off the peg sizing.

    Whether or not it is great value or not was not the issue. I do hope you understand this.
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    I was in the market for a steel frame last year and couldn't find any builders that didn't have some sort of waiting list. Even a Bob Jackson off-the-peg has about a 6-8 week wait.
    Of course there could be some guy building in his shed who could do you a frame for next Tuesday but if you don't know about him then you restort to buying supposedly overpriced Thorn/Surly/etc frames.
  • Lysander
    Lysander Posts: 349
    Robin Mather
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    Lysander wrote:
    Robin Mather

    Agreed beautiful frames but I very much doubt that meets either price or time criteria!
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • jpembroke
    jpembroke Posts: 2,569
    I regret selling my Kaffenback; It was a great bike. As for brakes, get some Tektro Oryx from Dotbike.com - only £18 a set. Top brakes. You'll need a seatclamp mounted canti hanger for the rear, by the way, and it'll need a little bit of filing down in order to get it fitted properly, which is a minor pain.
    I'm only concerned with looking concerned
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    I understand; the Thorn meets his price, compact and mudguard requirements perfectly, and I'm sure it would be a nice bike. The Thorn has a much better tubeset than the Surly Long Haul Trucker for instance. Kaffenbacks are really cheap. And Cyclocross is fun!

    This is Ceeways list of UK framebuilders..
    http://www.ceeway.com/custom_uk_bicycle ... ilders.htm
    JF Wilson may have off the peg. Their wait list is 6 weeks or so. Waitlists are often shorter in the winter.

    Faggin have a bike called the Uomo that meets your specs too.
  • PHcp
    PHcp Posts: 2,748
    acorn_user wrote:
    The Aravis frame is similar and cheaper.

    Where from?
  • meagain
    meagain Posts: 2,331
    PHcp wrote:
    acorn_user wrote:
    The Aravis frame is similar and cheaper.

    Where from?

    Byer Cycles - long established I think.

    http://www.byercycles.co.uk/bikeprice%2 ... 08/04.html
    d.j.
    "Cancel my subscription to the resurrection."
  • DavidBelcher
    DavidBelcher Posts: 2,684
    acorn_user wrote:
    I understand; the Thorn meets his price, compact and mudguard requirements perfectly, and I'm sure it would be a nice bike. The Thorn has a much better tubeset than the Surly Long Haul Trucker for instance. Kaffenbacks are really cheap. And Cyclocross is fun!

    This is Ceeways list of UK framebuilders..
    http://www.ceeway.com/custom_uk_bicycle ... ilders.htm
    JF Wilson may have off the peg. Their wait list is 6 weeks or so. Waitlists are often shorter in the winter.

    Faggin have a bike called the Uomo that meets your specs too.

    Wilsons keep a price list of off-the-peg and 2nd hand frames on their website, most with pictures. Best to visit www.wilsoncycles.co.uk to see what's currently on sale.

    David
    "It is not enough merely to win; others must lose." - Gore Vidal
  • PHcp
    PHcp Posts: 2,748
    meagain wrote:
    PHcp wrote:
    acorn_user wrote:
    The Aravis frame is similar and cheaper.

    Where from?

    Byer Cycles - long established I think.

    http://www.byercycles.co.uk/bikeprice%2 ... 08/04.html

    Thanks, but that works out around £50 dearer, I was hoping to find it cheaper.

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