Trying a Steel Road Frame

CTML

I Have recently been looking into getting a steel road frame with a horizontal top tube but only have a budget of around £300. This pretty much puts all the bob jackson, mercian etc. out of question so i was wondering if there are any companies out there that do an off a peg steel frame? - something like an on one pompino but with vertical drop outs.

Also would i be able to transfer 'modern' bike parts onto the frame? because alot of the steel frame bikes I've seen seem to have a different style headsets which use quill stems as well as down tube shifters instead of sti. I just want to see what parts i would need to purchase additionally for the build.

Something ending up looking like this would be ideal

GyatsoLa

The Planet X Kaffenback is just £165 - it is a Pompino, just with different paint job and horizontal drop outs. It is compatible with modern components.

http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/aca ... ck_38.html

Ash_

Steel Bob Jackson frames, off-the-peg start at 360 quid. Not too far off budget.

For that price too, you can order in half inch increments, so you'd get pretty close to a custom fit (unless you're a very odd size) and you can spec. colour, and some basic finishing, without paying extra...

You'd need a one-inch headset, but that's the only difference. A regular-sized stem can be shimmed to fit a one-inch steerer. Everything else could be 'normal' modern bike components.

Danger is you get carried away, start spending extra on other paint finishes, then decide you want better than 631 tubing, want to go custom in the end, etc., etc.

Not as close to the idea of a Pompino with gears as a Kaffenback, but probably closer to the idea in the picture you've posted than the Kaffenback would end up looking.

billy whippet

kona do one.. kona honky tonk

CTML

Thanks for the quick reply guys, I've actually considered the kaffenback but its based on a mountain bike frame with relaxed angles whereas i would like something more full on road use not to mention i don't like the colour.

Also considered the honky tonk, but not a fan of the downtube shifters, i'd like to keep the STI for practicality.

As for the bob jackson frames, i'd love to have one but the one i have my eye on, an olympus road in ivory white would set me back £400 and don't really want to spend that much as i can get a planet X carbon frame (not that i'm prepared to...) for that money!

Does anyone know good and reliable second-brand frame brand/models?

woodford2barbican

+1 for not going for Kaffenback.

It is a good bike, just not what you are looking for.

AidanR

Thorn Audax? £349.

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/category-Tho ... es-432.htm

eh

You must be able to get a converter to allow downtube shifters to replaced with cable stops surely? Maybe try asking at your LBS.

Trad steel road frames did typically have 1" threaded headsets, but its easy enough to replace them with an a-head threadless instead. However, the range of forks available maybe a bit limited now since 1" hasn't been the standard for a good few years. Also I'd recommend skipping a full carbon fork in 1" as they are very flexy especially if you run the stem quite high. Go for an aluminum steerer instead, not as light, but cheaper and stiffer.

morrisje

I have spent all my lunch hour investigating steel frames for about £300 and this is the best I could find

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=Guerrec

Looks rather nice!

Or there is this
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=CIT048-Dawes

SunWuKong

Have you had a look on ebay?

CTML

morrisje wrote:

I have spent all my lunch hour investigating steel frames for about £300 and this is the best I could find

http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=Guerrec

Looks rather nice!

Or there is this
http://www.fatbirds.co.uk/detail.asp/sku=CIT048-Dawes

Haha thanks mate same here, i've been putting back alot of work lately..steel frames are so hard to come by.

I never knew i could get downtube shifter converters. what a great invention! thanks eh.

Okay, good news is that i may have found something good

Surly Pacer, They sell for £350 at wiggle!? but £250 in the US


Soma smoothie, Selling in the US for $399 USD, with fork $539


And...Bianchi does a steel road frame identical to the pista....but only sold in america....

I think i may have to stalk ebay abit, got some old frames i've got in mind. If not i'll probably save some money for a bob jackson or a surly pacer. Thanks guys

ugo.santalucia

300 should get you a good 90s frame on e-bay, I bought one NOS last year for exactly 300 pounds.
Built it with 2008 Campagnolo Centaur... still looking to get a 90s seatpost, but I'm very happy.
I've done about 3000 miles with it, including some alpine climbs and corresponding descends... haven't found a flaw yet.

Only thing, make sure you have an internal cam skewer for the rear wheel...