Most important: Frame or Groupset?

popette

Hi all,
A friend has asked for some help in buying a new bike around the £1k mark. What is most important when making your choice - frame or groupset?
I'm inclined to go for frame but my husband is focusing on groupset. I've seen some nice carbon frames with shimano 105 for around that price - my husband is looking at alu frames with ultegra? is there such a massive difference between 105 and ultegra?
What you say? Any advice (including recommendations on bikes would be welcome)

Cheers
Karen

guilliano

Frame is more important! Not necessarily the material, but the quality. A groupset can be upgraded bit by bit relatively cheaply, a frame can't.

redddraggon

Carbon is not necessarily better than alloy. For around the 1K mark I'd be looking at something like a CAAD9.

Mapman

frame without doubt

guilliano

Think about it this way....... would you put a Dura Ace groupset onto a frame from a £250 halfords jobbie and say it must be a great bike cos it's got Dura Ace?

Frank the tank

The frame is the heart and soul of the bike.

popette

Thanks for your quick replies
How would you determine a good quality frame? Would a Focus Cayo qualify?
I always fancied cannondale synapse or specialized roubaix - because they are supposed to be more comfortable rides? can you just trust the big brands or is there something else that one should be looking for when looking for a good frame?

Thanks in advance
x

giant_man

Frame of course.

markos1963

popette wrote:

Thanks for your quick replies
How would you determine a good quality frame? Would a Focus Cayo qualify?
I always fancied cannondale synapse or specialized roubaix - because they are supposed to be more comfortable rides? can you just trust the big brands or is there something else that one should be looking for when looking for a good frame?

Thanks in advance
x

It all depends on use and purpose, the Cayo is a good value frame, a couple of people at my club have them and seem pretty happy with it but they are quite young and flexible so might suit the more racier stance than say the Roubaix. I love my Orbea Onix and find it comfortable but again some find them quite stiff and quick steering, finish on the Orbea is great and its looks always gets commented on. Maybe a bit out of the price bracket but certainly worth a look is the Cervelo S1 it might be ali' but the ride and handling are raved about by those that have them.

Anonymous

For 1k I'd be straight to my local Cannondale dealer and poichasing a CAAD9 105.

chriskempton

I'd be straight onto Planet X website to see what deals they have on an SL carbon

chriskempton

Planet X SL carbon with Ultegra and decent wheels for £1200. Over budget, admittedly.

popette

yeh, I like the look of that planet x. I think it would be worth pushing the boat out just a little bit further.

Cheers all

cswebbo

Frame, then wheels and tyres.
The rest is dependant on your wallet and weight.

Big Dave

I'd definitely check out some of the smaller British and European frame brands if I were you as brands like Cannondale always carry a premium because of the name. To be honest though, if you're looking around the £1k mark for the final build cost you would probably be better off looking to buy a complete bike. Unless you are totally ruthless in going after decent quality components at knock down prices it could be quite pricey. A single speed MTB I built over the winter was knocking on £1k by the time I'd finished it even after scouring the internet for the best possible discounts. Damn thing doesn't even have any suspension!

My Surly Cross Check is now nearing completion and that will end up fairly pricey by the time I'm done as well.

Not Another Hill

Talking to one of our club riders and he has an Italian framed Casati (of considerable cost) then later bought a Ribble Scuro framed carbon bike as a winter hack. When he compared frames he found they were identical yet the cost of the whole Ribble with Ultegra spec was cheaper than the frame and forks of the Casati :shock: There's paying for the name. He says there is no difference in the ride quality between the bikes and thinks the Ribble's great.

matt.rochfort

CAAD 9 - awesome!!

guilliano

Trek 1.7 also worth a mention...... same frame and fork as the 1.9 that so impressed the reviewers in the C+ bike of the year test

BasilBrushTheFirst

I've had a ribble nero corsa for about a year now & its fantastic. Very light & performs very well. for about 1k it comes with Ultegra.

I think the best place to spend your money is to get the best wheels possible - Neutrons for example. I've just upgraded the wheels it came with to Fulcrum Racing 1's (some money burning a hole in my pocket) and the difference in the quality of the ride is very noticable - much less road vibration through the handlebars which is great for sportives - and an extra 1 or 2 kph average speed.

crabstix

popette wrote:

Thanks for your quick replies
How would you determine a good quality frame? Would a Focus Cayo qualify?
I always fancied cannondale synapse or specialized roubaix - because they are supposed to be more comfortable rides? can you just trust the big brands or is there something else that one should be looking for when looking for a good frame?

Thanks in advance
x

I bought a Focus Cuelbro last year(Alu frame and SRAM Rival GS) and have just popped for a Cayo (Carbon) with Chorus 11.

I think they are both great value.

The Cuelbro is, despite being the same size as the Cayo, somewhat longer/reachier. Being alu it is very sensitive to the road and somewhat twitchy so isn't a fully relaxed ride. The Cayo in contrast is somewhat more relaxed and smoother over the road... steers like its on rails. The Chorus 11s is great, but so is the SRAM! I would guess that neither would be first choice for a sportive but I have done 80's on the Cuelbro through rain, snow, sleet and gales and it seems comfy enough for me... and I am 52 years old and not that flexible.. Not a snake, more a bear! I have only had the Cayo over 100 miles so far but it fair skipped uphill (and I am no climber, believe me) and I put this down to the package being more efficient overall.... stiffer frame, BB, crank etc. I certainly went up gradients on smaller cogs than usual... but that could have been the 'new' effect.

In answer to your question, FRAME. But the entire package is the thing.

passout

Yes, the frame but get the components you want at the point of purchase rather than paying more to upgrade later. You have to strike a balance.

Tom Butcher

I'd go frame - though I think there has to be some degree of matching the quality of components - no point in buying a 3k frame and then sticking Sora and a set of £100 wheels on it.