Bike/frame with m/guard eyes/clearance

MulletX
MulletX Posts: 27
edited October 2009 in Road buying advice
Hi All,

I've been out of the scene for a few years and am now getting back out. As the winter months draw nearer I need to get a new training bike sorted out. This where I'd appreciate some advice.... what frame or complete bike would you recommend? My preference is for the frame/bike to have mudguard clearance and mudguard eyes. I have a budget of £1000 to spend...

cheers
«1

Comments

  • rogerthecat
    rogerthecat Posts: 669
    Have a look 4 Cyclocross bikes, I have the Cube X-Race for just this reason, Just swap the tyres over to a road tyre and bobs your uncle.
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    Kinesis usually get good write ups - should be able to build up for £1,000
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • Big Ted
    Big Ted Posts: 330
    hi there

    big thumbs up for the kinesis racelight T. I got one in 2005 and still going strong today.

    Will be in your budget and i remember when i giot it thinking that i wish i hadnt just bought a race bike as well, given i liked the ride of my winter trainer so much!!!

    They also do a racelight Tk opr some such now which is bit more money but a bit lighter even! You could still be in your 1k budget for a nice build up even with one of them.

    Go for it - you will NOT be disappointed..

    Ted
    Big Ted Rides Hard...
  • MulletX
    MulletX Posts: 27
    Thanks Ted - yeah, the only problem with the Kinesis is availability. I'm getting the bike (and some fancy Lupine lights) through a local shop (Cardiff) through Cycle To Work Scheme and have been told Kinesis are pretty much out of 2009 stock :( They do have a Mocha Brown one available which is a 60cm frame,,,, kinda considering that.

    What's the geometry like? I have tried to find details on the Kinesis site, but their geometry links point to dead web pages....
  • Big Ted
    Big Ted Posts: 330
    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Kines ... t_T_Frame/

    Wiggle link above shows geometry - they only have the Ice blue 8) in 57cm though..if it dont work look around o wiggle - it is tehre and has the geometry on it - it rides fast for a bike taht takes m/guards

    Looks like kinesis have sexy new frames looking on there website - maybe its time to upgrade my winter trainer :D:D [/url]
    Big Ted Rides Hard...
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    You have a few choices.

    The Kinesis TK2 and T2 bikes are nearly with us. The older T and TK models were such a success and rightly so. The money was spot on for a grand.

    http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/artic ... 63/v/1/sp/

    http://kinesisbikes.co.uk/product.php?id=39

    http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... 8905?img=4


    Or the Condor Fratello is also a good buy and can be available for the thousand pound mark:

    http://www.roadcyclinguk.com/news/article/mps/uan/2804

    http://www.condorcycles.com/fratello.html


    You can go cheaper of course with some of the Ribble offerings.

    http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... udax-11764

    bearing in mind Ribble customer service have got conflicting opinions, mostly a mail order thing whereas the condor and kinesis have good lbs back up ie fitting and component offering, customer service of course.

    The Surosa audax is cheaper too:

    http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... x-08-31016

    And for steel, the Thorn Audax mk 3 is good value:

    http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/audaxmk3.html

    Kinesis also have a Scandium offering which will take you over the grand mark (from £1399 with kinesis build up kit) but still good value:

    http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... ondo-33976

    http://kinesisbikes.co.uk/product.php?id=44


    Hope this helps.
  • MulletX
    MulletX Posts: 27
    that's a great help and presents a number of options at varying price points - really appreciated.

    I'm leaning toward a Kinesis option at the moment... just not a fan of the metallica Mocha option I've been given by my local retailer.

    When are the new 2010 Kinesis frames going to be available?
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Forget the mocha mate look at these lovelies:

    http://kinesisbikes.co.uk/product.php?id=10

    http://kinesisbikes.co.uk/product.php?id=11
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    I've been given a delivery date of Sep 16th for my Kinesis FiveT cross frame. They get good review and at £225 for the frame, I had to do it. I'm like a kid waiting for xmas at the mo :D
  • Bergkamp
    Bergkamp Posts: 27
    Mullet X et al,

    A quick question, I am also interested in the Racelight T frame although I have to say I prefer the look of the '09 frames - although time is running out on these beauties!

    As a fairly novice cyclist with a limited knowledge of frames etc. I was wondering how you would compare the Racelight T to a bike such as the Chris Boardman Team Comp?

    It seems that you get a lot more for your money in terms of frame & gear sets with the Boardman but I was wondering if they are comparable or a re they two completely bikes?

    I am looking for a bike which I can commute to work on and so will be using mud guards and pannier etc. Tthe Racelight T seems to be ideally suited to this, bowever I was wondering if the Chris Boardman would also be suited?

    Any advice or useful comments would be much appreciated.

    Regards,

    James.
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    MulletX et al,

    You may be in luck trying www.fatbirds.co.uk
    They may still have some 2009 frames.
    They also have a rebadged Ambrosio frame that they can build up, at around £849 with Tiagra (carbon forks and seat stays).
    Tere's also a PBS winter frame at around £199...
    Have a look at their site, or call and speak with Richard... Very good service.

    Paul

    Cheers, giant mancp, after all your advice I just bought the VN Yukon! :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Well I didn't recommend the Yukon but as long as you're happy dude ....
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    giant mancp wrote:
    Well I didn't recommend the Yukon but as long as you're happy dude ....

    I relaise that, but you did give a lot of advice for me to consider....
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    fair enough mate, but please tell me why did you go for the VN and not a Planet X ti, Sabbath September or Enigma? Just down to cost?
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    giant mancp wrote:
    fair enough mate, but please tell me why did you go for the VN and not a Planet X ti, Sabbath September or Enigma? Just down to cost?

    No Planet X in stock (Sportive).
    Didn't like the Sabbath decals, or finish (!).
    Didn't see an Enigma...
    I liked the finish of the VN, got on it and it all felt right, so I went with that.
    Not a price issue, it's more expensive frame than a Sabbath September, and more expensive that the PX.
    Having looked at all the alluminium, allu/carbon and steel frames, I still felt unsure about which to choose... The VN seemed to tick more boxes :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • bill57
    bill57 Posts: 454
    Ambrosio Guido - very under-rated do it all frame, takes 57mm brakes to give great mudguard clearance. Rack eyes as well. Frame and forks 288 quid from Parkers.
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    bill57 wrote:
    Ambrosio Guido - very under-rated do it all frame, takes 57mm brakes to give great mudguard clearance. Rack eyes as well. Frame and forks 288 quid from Parkers.

    This is available at Fat Birds, but with carbon seat stays for £289 (Rebadged), but looks nice...
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    Why are frames with mudguard eyes so heavy?

    Why do carbon forks with mudguard eyes weigh at least 200g more than many other carbon forks?

    It's very normal nowadays to get a very reasonable frame for less than a kilo in weight and forks for 340g.

    Add a couple of screw holes at the back and front and the kilos pile on!

    I know most "winter" frames are cheap but some are not.

    Why doesn't someone make a sub-kilo frame with mudguard eyes and a sub 400g fork?

    I've asked Dedacciai but they're only interested (rightly so) in volume.

    Anyone interested in mailing Dedacciai to get more interest?

    Pete
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • Slow Downcp
    Slow Downcp Posts: 3,041
    infopete wrote:
    Why are frames with mudguard eyes so heavy?

    Why do carbon forks with mudguard eyes weigh at least 200g more than many other carbon forks?

    It's very normal nowadays to get a very reasonable frame for less than a kilo in weight and forks for 340g.

    Add a couple of screw holes at the back and front and the kilos pile on!

    I know most "winter" frames are cheap but some are not.

    Why doesn't someone make a sub-kilo frame with mudguard eyes and a sub 400g fork?

    I've asked Dedacciai but they're only interested (rightly so) in volume.

    Anyone interested in mailing Dedacciai to get more interest?

    Pete

    Maybe it's assumed that if you want mudguards, you're not going to be racing it, and you want it more hardwearing? After all you're going to be sticking on a pair of mudguards that weigh a pound or more. FWIW, my Enigma Etape F&F weighs in at around 1.9kg, so I have a weight penalty of around 600g (probably less as the sub kilo frames are usually small sizes) - hardly a big issue to me.
    Carlsberg don't make cycle clothing, but if they did it would probably still not be as good as Assos
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    Riding around, through the Winter, on a heavier frameset, with heavier 'Winter' wheels is a secret training ploy...
    When the Sun comes out, and you dust off your 'best' bike for the start of the racing season, you'll be flying! :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • infopete
    infopete Posts: 878
    Maybe suppliers do assume that we'll make do with frames and forks that weigh much more than necessary but maybe they should look at the weather and see where their next market opportunity is?

    Oh, I've also emailed SKS to see if they are ever going to make carbon/titanium mudguards but I've never had a reply.

    Pete
    Oh and please remember to click on my blog:

    http://americanbicyclegroup.wordpress.com

    The more clicks I get the higher it creeps up the google radar :)
  • bill57
    bill57 Posts: 454
    hopper1 wrote:
    bill57 wrote:
    Ambrosio Guido - very under-rated do it all frame, takes 57mm brakes to give great mudguard clearance. Rack eyes as well. Frame and forks 288 quid from Parkers.

    This is available at Fat Birds, but with carbon seat stays for £289 (Rebadged), but looks nice...
    Rebadged as what?
  • greg roche
    greg roche Posts: 124
    Was just looking through and saw someone didn't like our finish or graphics. Yaboo Hiss.

    Think that they mean they didnbt like the ones they saw. We do ALL frames in three finishes now - sandblast, brush and full chrome polish. Full Chrom adds £100 (compared to Lynskey circa £1000) and is done in the UK. In addition we now do all franes in lazer etched graphics with engraved head tube as well as over 100 colour graphics and we're totally changing the graphic system as of the cycle show next week, when you'll see we have die cut graphics in lovely new colours available.

    We did get people saying they wanted options. We responded. You can have a Sabbath in over 300 finishes now. Can't imagine there's not something someone would like....

    I'm off to bed.

    Greg
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Hey Greg seen one pic of your new September graphics in the lime green, very lovely imo. Can't see it on your site yet. Deffo check your stand out at the London show
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I went with a Kinesis racelight Tk just over a year ago. Cherry red metallic; I think it looks lovely. Does what it says on the tin; very light winter trainer. Racy-ish geometry but with clearance for proper guards and fatter tyres if required. In the summer whip off the guards and fit some 23 race tyres.

    Racelight T is a bit cheaper but heavier and more rigid
    Gran Fondo is a bit dearer cos it has carbon rear stays.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    You fail to tell us the Gran Fondo is also scandium not aluminium with carbon stays, that's why it's 600 quid +
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    greg roche wrote:
    Was just looking through and saw someone didn't like our finish or graphics. Yaboo Hiss.

    Think that they mean they didnbt like the ones they saw. We do ALL frames in three finishes now - sandblast, brush and full chrome polish. Full Chrom adds £100 (compared to Lynskey circa £1000) and is done in the UK. In addition we now do all franes in lazer etched graphics with engraved head tube as well as over 100 colour graphics and we're totally changing the graphic system as of the cycle show next week, when you'll see we have die cut graphics in lovely new colours available.

    We did get people saying they wanted options. We responded. You can have a Sabbath in over 300 finishes now. Can't imagine there's not something someone would like....

    I'm off to bed.
    Well, Greg, I didn't know you where about to change everything, and I wanted my bike sorted yesterday, so too late... :wink:

    Greg
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    bill57 wrote:
    hopper1 wrote:
    bill57 wrote:
    Ambrosio Guido - very under-rated do it all frame, takes 57mm brakes to give great mudguard clearance. Rack eyes as well. Frame and forks 288 quid from Parkers.

    This is available at Fat Birds, but with carbon seat stays for £289 (Rebadged), but looks nice...
    Rebadged as what?

    Bentley Audax.
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • giner1961
    giner1961 Posts: 135
    If anybody wants a cheap frame for winter go on too e bay and put regal in search in the cycling section and see the cheap winter frames that come up, cheap as chips with mudguard clearence
  • bill57
    bill57 Posts: 454
    hopper1 wrote:
    bill57 wrote:
    hopper1 wrote:
    bill57 wrote:
    Ambrosio Guido - very under-rated do it all frame, takes 57mm brakes to give great mudguard clearance. Rack eyes as well. Frame and forks 288 quid from Parkers.

    This is available at Fat Birds, but with carbon seat stays for £289 (Rebadged), but looks nice...
    Rebadged as what?

    Bentley Audax.
    Amazing. Did you know you can get a Focus from a Vauxhall dealer, rebadged as an Astra?

Categories