Opinions on Van Nicholas Vardar frame?

topdude

Hi, thinking of upgrading my road frame (currently a Trek Pilot). I am looking for a frame that is not too racy, a bit of an upright riding position and comfortable.
Anyone have experience of this V N Vardar, £299.99 for frame and forks.
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/Van_Nicholas_Vardar.htm
Is it likely to be a forgiving ride or stiff and hard as nails ?
Is that a good deal for the rame/forks/headset ?
Any thoughts would be welcome.
Thanks.

meagain

Relatively short wheelbase. Ditto chain stays and front centre. Sounds" racy" to me and not angled for "comfort".

gkerr4

it's not too bad - the 54 model has a 145mm head tube and the 56 (which i'd take over my usual 54 due to the 55cm effective top tube) has a 170

in context - a focus cayo has a 135mm top tube for a similar frame size.

I had a pilot too - which was just too upright and while I was looking for something a bit more racy - I bought a specialized langster which fitted great (a 54 - I have a 54 pilot too) the top tube on that is 155mm - this is the same geometry as the allez and I liked it so much I wanted a fancy one for a road bike - I ended up with a roubaix which is slightly higher again (165mm) - which is comfy but more racy than the pilot (as the roubaix has an integrated headset so the overall height is lower)

anyway - you could try and get a second hand langster frame
otherwise - yes the vardar wouldn't be too bad although it will feel pretty racy after the pilot (but then again - anything will!)

topdude

Hi and thanks for the replies.
Looks like it is more of a race frame than built for comfort.
Now looking at the V N Euros titanium frame on the same website

markos1963

Had a test ride on one of these at Fatbirds, it was a great ride but it is quite racy and twitchy. I ended up buying an Orbea from them because it was more forgiving. Talking to the owner he told me that a lot of his customers use the Vadar frame as a base for their race mounts fitting tasty wheels and groupsets on it even though the frame is half the price compared to other brands.

andylav

For the same money, £299, I can sell you a Giant TCR hybrid frame (alloy main frame, carbon seat and chain stays), full carbon fork and headset.

Normal retail was £799 - used but in excellent condition (no dings, dents, scuffs or scratches), 50 cm centre to top seat tube, 55 cm top tube and 14.5 head tube.

Frame weighs 1262 grames and forks weigh 354 grammes.

Matt black with silver Giant outline decals on the down tube.

Might be considered more racy than sportive / touring geometry but I found it extremely comfortable on long rides of 4-6 hours. Alloy bottom bracket provides good stiffness for direct drive but the carbon rear end and full carbon fork, together with a carbon seat post made it very forgiving in my experience.

ascurrell

I just bought a 2nd hand airborne lancer [predecessor to euros],
the frame is very 'forgiving', which i need as i have a chronic back problem.
I also have a pazzaz carbon bar/stem setup with the stem flipped [which would give any bike a more upright position], also worth trying different legths if available
early days but it is much easier on my back [touch wood],
scurry

rubbercolin

Hi There

I use a vardar as my commuter/hack

Set up as a single speed with aero bars. I do around 15 miles a day and it is fine.

Using 25mm tyres and have a longish steerer with a flipped stem

works for me

D

blorg

Is the Pilot you have carbon? If you are happy with it, unlikely to get more comfortable on something else (Specialized Roubaix maybe?) - why are you considering changing?

I had a Trek 5000 components transferred onto a VN Amazon myself and it felt similar after, maybe a slight comfort increase but a performance downgrade. But that is ti, and a non-roadie frame.