Independant Fabrication

Anonymous
Anonymous Posts: 79,666
edited April 2009 in Road buying advice
I'm spending a lot of time umming and aahing about bikes at the moment and what to do with them. I'd really like a nice steel bike, I'd love something italian built up with campy but as evrything else of mine is Shimano / SRAM it would mean a complete new bike.
Another option is to change the frame on my Winter/Training bike.

Again, I fancy going down the steel or titanium route for the replacement frame.

I'm off to a place near me that does Independant Fabrication bikes in a minute, I'll report back!

Comments

  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    IF are v.expensive (and v.v.desirable). Enigma have a range of both steel and titanium frames. i'd start there
    M.Rushton
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Terry Dolan isnt a million miles away ?
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    edited April 2009
    Well, I'm back.

    The quality of the frame building is not in doubt, they are all custom fit, the colours look amazing. They are expensive though (although nowt compared to some even more boutique manufacturers!) Some of the paint finishes cost more than a bike!

    Dolan only seem to do generic carbon road frames these days and a couple of aluminium, I thought?

    There are many other places such as Brian Rourke and Mercian etc but I just love the look of the IF frames (and logo!)

    The only enigma that I like the look of is the ti Esprit, and with the thought of custom colours this is worth a look. Basically I want classic geometry....

    The search continues.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Hmmm, think I may have a solution!

    Condor do a 'Classico' steel bike i can get in a campy centaur carbon build in colours I want for 1800 quid, for everything!

    Anyone want to buy an Aluminium Ultegra bike?
    Or a Look with Full SRAM Red?
  • tenor
    tenor Posts: 278
    Condor do a 'Classico' steel bike i can get in a campy centaur carbon build in colours I want for 1800 quid, for everything!

    Good choice. You can still use your Shimano wheels by using a Jteck 'Shiftmate' device. You might like to consider changing the forks to chrome ones by Tommasini (Bike Bits UK)
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    tenor wrote:
    Condor do a 'Classico' steel bike i can get in a campy centaur carbon build in colours I want for 1800 quid, for everything!

    Good choice. You can still use your Shimano wheels by using a Jteck 'Shiftmate' device. You might like to consider changing the forks to chrome ones by Tommasini (Bike Bits UK)

    Sometimes, just sometimes, this forum comes up with some gem like this...

    Thanks for the suggestion, chrome forks were one of the reasons I really like the Colnago / Cinelli.

    I'll look in to this...

    It comes with fine wheels BTW.
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    Why don't you visit a British frame builder like Brian Rourke or Bob Jackson and they'll build you want you want. For instance a 631 frame at BJs is around £600-£700 - for around £800 you could get an 853 frame at Rourkes. You should get a good build for £1800.

    The two frameshops aren't too far from you
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

    http://vineristi.wordpress.com - the blog for Viner owners and lovers!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Purely and utterly because I don't like the brand decals, it's that shallow!

    I've looked at those Tomassini forks, they look poifick, that said, the frames are pretty special too!
  • spanielsson
    spanielsson Posts: 776
    Just had a look at the Classico. I think we do need to see one in the flesh.

    I'd want an Ahead fork myself, but the Chris King threaded conversion kits are cheap enough if you fancied going down that route....

    I'd go for a Rival build with handbuilt wheels, King hubs on Mavic open pro rims?!!! It would come in at the £1800 price tag.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Sounds grand, would probably go for the practicality of an ahead set. This tommasini looks pretty cool though -

    sintesi_bici.jpg
  • Chip \'oyler
    Chip \'oyler Posts: 2,323
    NapoleonD wrote:
    Purely and utterly because I don't like the brand decals, it's that shallow!

    I've looked at those Tomassini forks, they look poifick, that said, the frames are pretty special too!

    :roll:
    Expertly coached by http://www.vitessecyclecoaching.co.uk/

    http://vineristi.wordpress.com - the blog for Viner owners and lovers!
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    Hey, at least I admit my tartiness!
  • guilliano
    guilliano Posts: 5,495
    That Tomassini reminds me of the old Ribble one of the guys at work has...... uses it as his TT bike
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/guilliano/
  • billy whippet
    billy whippet Posts: 171
    agreed with napoleon d about decals - that's the reason I hate so many of the big manufacturer's offerings... (specialized, trek, giant...)
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    The Tommasini frames are pretty nice, the Techno and Sintesi are works of art almost, I personally wouldn't go with steel forks, rather carbon for ride quality but it's your money buddy.

    The IF are very nice if you have the budget. I was looking at the 953SSR earlier this year, Mosquito in London do them. Lovely lovely frames but at the spec I was interested in, you're talking about £2700 for a steel frame. As others have said, you can get decent steel frames much cheaper, from Brian Rourke and Bob Jackson.

    The Condors are nice frames, it just depends on your choice and budget. You shouldn't really go by graphics and colours; it all down to feel and the way the bike handles that is THE most important thing, colourways can come after that. After all, you want a bike that you're happy to ride in two years time and not just in the first ten minutes.

    Another alternative is the Fixie Inc. Betty Leeds at £1249 for f + f. Completely custom of course.

    http://www.cycles-for-heroes.com/bikes/race/betty-leeds

    Very nice and retro if you ask me. Ahh decisions decisions ......
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    Scapin Speciale ftw :)
    http://www.scapin.com/scheda.asp?idprod=4&tipo=road
  • Poulsy
    Poulsy Posts: 155
    How about a De Rosa Neo Primato? Love it in the grey/gold colour

    http://www.wrenchscience.com/De+Rosa/Ne ... rames.html
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    The problem with the De Rosa etc is that for the price of one of those frames I can get the Condor fully built up with Carbon centaur for the same price!!

    I like the look of the Betty Leeds, very nice.

    Giantmancp - you have no idea how much of a tart I am. Yes the bike has to ride well but it is all about the look on this bike, and not much else!
  • Poulsy
    Poulsy Posts: 155
    NapoleonD wrote:
    The problem with the De Rosa etc is that for the price of one of those frames I can get the Condor fully built up with Carbon centaur for the same price!!

    I like the look of the Betty Leeds, very nice.

    Giantmancp - you have no idea how much of a tart I am. Yes the bike has to ride well but it is all about the look on this bike, and not much else!

    Neo Primato can be had for £1k if you shop around (only £200 more than the Condor). That's not really all that significant in the scheme of things and I know which I would prefer (didnt you mention you were a tart :?: :wink: ).
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    If you can show me where I can get a new Neo Primato in my size in the colours I want for 1k, I will buy one now.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    :shock: Just seen the weight of the 2007 Neo Primato frame!

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