Replacement winter/commuting frame

justyn_c_uk
justyn_c_uk Posts: 126
edited September 2008 in Workshop
I am thinking about replacing the frameset that I currently commute on. At the moment it is an Orbea Aspin (basic 7005 frame), but I have lost all faith in it to remain perpendicular to the surface of the Earth in any conditions other than dry.

What I am looking for is a compact alu frame that I can hammer around on all year/all conditions with confidence. I know that there are the Ribble frames, Planet X Superlight or even a secondhand Specialized E5. And I don't want to spend more than £150, any ideas gratefully received.
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Comments

  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    stretch to £170 you could have a Kinesis Racelight T from Chainreaction
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    Why does the frame worry you? If your bike is sketchy in the wet, you could try some new tyres. Another possibility is that something is out of alignment. Anyway, the Kinesis frame suggestion is a good one, although I'd favour a nice steel frame from a local framebuilder; fit long reach brakes and you'll have no trouble with mudguards and wider tyres.
  • justyn_c_uk
    justyn_c_uk Posts: 126
    The frame worries me because in the past year I have come off it three times, once in innocuous conditions at low speed. It has had new wider tyres twice, a new stem to reposition my COG and I've tried new handling techniques, but it hasn't instilled anymore confidence.

    As most of my time is spent around the Malvern Hills I need something that I feel confident in, especially in the dark in the winter on narrow winding lanes. I know it could just be a mental block, in retrospect the frame is possibly about as big as I can ride and perhaps it stems from that. As they say hindsight is the only 100% science......

    Kinesis is a good call, although Fatbirds are also doing Bottecchia framesets for £110 & £200
    Please look at my handmade cycling cufflinks

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