Winter frame

fortyone
fortyone Posts: 166
edited June 2008 in Workshop
I know it's a bit early, but I need to start looking now - can anyone recommend a winter road frame between £150 and £200? Want to avoid Ribble's as their top tube lengths are barmy. Thanks

Comments

  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=15115

    £170, you'll have to get a fork aswell though.

    I've got a Ribble though and I'm pretty happy with it.
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  • morrisje
    morrisje Posts: 507
    I agree with Reddragon, the Kinesis Racelight T and TK are great winter bikes. I have the TK which is a bit more expensive although they seem to be coming down in price. Nice bike to ride. I was worried about the aluminium harshness that people mention but it seems very comfortable. It also got a very good write up in Cycling Plus a few months ago where they described it as a 'do everything bike'.
  • John.T
    John.T Posts: 3,698
    Nothing wrong with Ribble TT lengths. It is the way they measure seat tubes that causes the trouble. My 52cm frame is actually 56cm C to Top. It has a 55.8cm TT which is only 2mm longer than my Trek. They are good value and ride quite well. Just buy by TT length and you will have no problem. This is after all the must important measurement on a frame.
    My Fleet.
  • thexvw
    thexvw Posts: 135
    So what size ribble frame is equivilent to say a 54cm compact frame ?
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    For steel, Thorn Audax Mk 3 is cheap enough at 299 quid frame and fork.

    Or the Planet X team superlight is nice at 200 quid per frame or complete bike inc 105 at 700 quid. Can't be bad:
    http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... OFFER.html
  • fortyone
    fortyone Posts: 166
    Many thanks

    John T. I think with a small seat tube and long top tube, Ribble's head tube is then too small, meaning an excessive number of spacers are required for the stem. I am afraid that their geometry is miles out.
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    Lest we forget...
    http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/produ ... ucts_id=45
  • zaynan
    zaynan Posts: 180
    ...or ebay for a bargain steel frame that you won't mind trashing in the rain, mud and salt???
    www.practicalcycles.com
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  • Martingale
    Martingale Posts: 71
    Why would anyone need a frame only for the winter?
    You should want to use your good frame as much as you can, so you amortize the cost faster. Also, a good way to replace it with a new one sooner.
    Martingale
    "Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades " - Eddy Merckx
  • Pirahna
    Pirahna Posts: 1,315
    Martingale wrote:
    Why would anyone need a frame only for the winter?

    Because my good ones are covered in nice bits that I don't want to cover in salty road grime. Also, I often don't have time to clean a bike after a commute so I like something I can leave dirty.
  • Martingale
    Martingale Posts: 71
    fair enough...
    Martingale
    "Don't buy upgrades, ride up grades " - Eddy Merckx
  • zaynan
    zaynan Posts: 180
    Flippin eck I thought we were going to have a "why buy expensive bikes and not use them every day" debate for a minute!
    www.practicalcycles.com
    The home of cargo bikes
  • redddraggon
    redddraggon Posts: 10,862
    Martingale wrote:
    Why would anyone need a frame only for the winter?
    You should want to use your good frame as much as you can, so you amortize the cost faster. Also, a good way to replace it with a new one sooner.

    I've got to say that having a bike that can have mudguards for the winter must be pretty handy - my carbon bike won't take proper 'guards but my Ribble bike will.

    Hmm, I've got a "winter/audax" bike, but only because I'm at uni, it means I can have a bike for Uni and at home. My good bike will get used in the winter when I'm at home and my "winter" bike will get used in the spring/early summer while I'm at uni.
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  • robbarker
    robbarker Posts: 1,367
    Pearson's are punting out Spesh Langster frames at 99 quid at the moment if a fixie would do..

    Mine arrived today!

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