Simoncini carbon frame

pedlad
pedlad Posts: 127
edited April 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi

saw this frame today in lbs - looked very high quality build and incredibly light, although admittedly I don't regularly handle just frames. I think it had columbus stickers on..is that likely for carbon?

Tried looking for info on web and failed.

Like to know if anyone else has seen/ridden one and what your thoughts are?

Comments

  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    http://www.simoncinitelaibiciclette.com/

    UK importer is Cycles Clements I think. Was it full carbon, or aluminium with a carbon tail? Columbus is a big tubing manufacturer. They have a carbon tube set that allows smaller builder, like Simoncini, to make custom carbon frames with tube to tube bonds.
  • pedlad
    pedlad Posts: 127
    full carbon - sounds like the one as guy was talking about differnt construction to most carbon frames - does anyone know how this type of construction fares and rides in comparison to say ribble sportive frame (cheaper)
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    There are three common types of carbon frame construction:
    - Moulded monocoque. This allows you to do lots of secret squirrel type stuff, and pump out lots of frames, but the moulds are very expensive, so this is too expensive for small companies unless they sticker up an OEM frame.
    - Tube to tube wrap. Think of it as fillet brazing for carbon. allows you a fair amount of flexibility. The most important feature is that it enables smaller companies to make their own frames, and to customise those for individuals.
    - Lugs. Colnago, Time et al, use carbon tubes bonded to carbon lugs. You get a bit less flexibility in design.

    I don't know that there are characteristic ride types for each method. I've only ever ridden one carbon fibre bike (a 1998 Trek 5000), and the roads were so rough that I really could not judge it!
  • Al_38
    Al_38 Posts: 277
    The ride of a frame will be dictated by the tubeset and joints, but the construction method shouldn't matter too much - with any of the main construction processes, joints can be stiffened by adding extra material, similarly tubes can be stiffened in similar manners. Other techniques can be employed to add stiffness in a certain direction by orientating more fibres in the direction etc.

    I have a tube to tube frame and it is incredibly stiff but it was designed to be, I would imagine that a colnago extreme power (lugged) would be just as stiff.

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