New Steel Framed Road Bike

Runoutofgears

My C2W scheme comes around in the next few months and I will have the opportunity to replace my present commuter an all Aluminium hybrid. I have a carbon road bike which I very occasionally use for my commute but I’ve got this “bee in my bonnet” about getting a steel road bike to commute on.
Problem is there don’t seem to be many about in my price range. Budget is £1,500.
From my search of the web I have tracked down the following:

Condor Acciaio, (I think this is steel)
Condor Classico
Bianchi Dolomiti
Kona Haole
Kona Kapu

So far I’ve I haven’t found anyone who has one to look at or try, does anyone have any experience of any of these or can offer any other suggestions for a new steel framed road bike?
Although I quite like the retro look I’m not particularly bothered if it doesn’t have a leather saddle, brazed lugs or a quill stem.

Lysander

Hi,
I just took delivery of a Condor Classico and am very pleased. I speced a custom yellow and black paint job and it looks lovely!
Perhaps if you going to commute on it the Classico might be too good. I'd hate to get mine covered in winter road grime. Have you thought about the Planet X Kaffenback?

hopper1

For a classic look, try the Viner Passo... stunning.

http://www.epic-cycles.co.uk/Viner.htm

aracer

Runoutofgears wrote:

Budget is £1,500.

On C2W? Very unusual if so.

dinosaur

My girlriend is currently going through the same process as you although her budget is lower than yours. For your price you could easily get a Bob Jackson. I'm not sure if they are on the C2W sceme (I think they aren't) but your LBS could order a frame in and then build it up to your spec. I was quoted £1200 - £1500 for that by Cavendish Cycles in London.

There are loads of other steel frame makers in Britain worth checking out: Mercian, Hewitt, Steve Goff, Wilsons. Argos are in Bristol but they are probably above budget.

Could you get a Colnago Master for that price?

daviesee

dinosaur wrote:

Could you get a Colnago Master for that price?

Just the frame and a few extras at that price unfortunately.
They have went up £350 since I got mine last year.
Global economy, currency rates yadda, yadda, yadda.......

Apparently Maestro are cheaper though.

2alexcoo

Condor Fratello - a lovely bike and can take mudguards etc

Runoutofgears

Thanks for the suggestions, I had looked at a few of the British builders but I found most of their offerings to be too expensive, Roberts, Mercian etc. clearly I need to look a bit harder. There are a couple of custom builders in Bristol which I guess I should call.

aracer, re the £1,500 limit, this is set by the firm I work for who operate their own cycle to work scheme. I pay cash, the firm refunds the money and they set up the salary sacrifice, no vouchers and the purchaser gets the improved buying power of cash.

Runoutofgears

I was in London last week and took a trip over to Condor in Gray's Inn road, they didn't seem to have what I was looking for and the staff were a bit thin on the ground.

From the images on their web site I still like the look of the Classico.

Runoutofgears

Daviesee and dinosaur, If I thought I could get away with it I'd have the Colnago Master frame and build it up my self. Definately my favourite looking frame out there at the moment, saw one in LBS in deep orange colour scheme. However I think the Firm feel that they are beeing quite flexible enough in their scheme and I dont want to push it and potentially spoil the scheme for others.

Hummm....there must be a way to get the Master?

giant_man

Either the Colnago Master X Light or a Tomassini Sintesi or Tecno. Beautiful!

http://www.bikebitsuk.com/tommasini-sin ... 7e3164fa01

http://www.bikebitsuk.com/tommasini-tec ... p-576.html

Monty Dog

Look up Racescene in Barnsley - you should be able to get a Scapin or a Gios Compact for well within your budget. IME there is something about classic Italian steel road frames - the handling is sublime - I have a 25 year Gios in Columbus Air tubing which is simply glorious to ride.

giant_man

or even a Casati Laser which are very nice.

GyatsoLa

Since you already have a good road bike, maybe to give yourself a bit of extra versatility have a look at the steel framed Ritchey Breakaway:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... -away-9092

According to the review it rides like any good steel framed bike should, but you can pack it away much more easily if you want to take it on your holidays. I think Dahon have a version (same frame, just different parts package).

I'm interested in one - my LBS says that they heard there will be a 2010 version out in a week or two.

Slow Downcp

Is the £1,500 budget for the frame or the whole bike? I originally thought whole bike, but some suggestions seem to point towards frame only?

TheStone

To highjack this thread a bit...

...can anyone recommend a good 'off the shelf' steel frame?

I'm looking to replace the commuter/tourer with a good light comfortable steel frame.
(I prefer compact designs and a slightly upright position)

ta

GyatsoLa

TheStone wrote:

To highjack this thread a bit...

...can anyone recommend a good 'off the shelf' steel frame?

I'm looking to replace the commuter/tourer with a good light comfortable steel frame.
(I prefer compact designs and a slightly upright position)

ta

Hard to go wrong with a Planet X Kaffenback at just £125 (I have the Pompino, the singlespeed version and its fantastic for the price). Planet X also have some very nice looking old style Italian frames at the moment.

Dustine

Salsa Casseroll complete bike is around about that price I think, and has eyelets for mudguards and rack. I love mine, think it is probably the best bike ive ever owned. Pretty light for steel, and pretty racy too. The paint job is lovely. Not as retro looking as something lugged, but it depends what you are after.

giant_man

TheStone wrote:

To highjack this thread a bit...

...can anyone recommend a good 'off the shelf' steel frame?

I'm looking to replace the commuter/tourer with a good light comfortable steel frame.
(I prefer compact designs and a slightly upright position)

ta

What about the Thorn audax mk3?

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

Runoutofgears

Hi Slow DownCP, The Max budget of £1,500 is for the whole bike, effectively it will be a private purchase, the Firm have been very flexible in this respect, the cycle to work scheme originally being set up by a cycling enthusiast.

The problem is at this price point I seem to have a lot of options, in the main stream market; good aluminium and modest carbon. I'd like something different hence the interest in steel, having never riden a modern steel framed bike I'm not sure if it's the rigt thing for commuting/light touring duties, but as a technology they seem to get good reviews.

Following the responses so far, (thanks everyone), I now have a few phone calls to make followed hopefully by a few test rides. Havent seen many steel bikes in stock in the LBSs.

See where we go from here.

heatonrider

Try paul hewitt - excellent built or off the shelf frames - first class fitting service

Slow Downcp

For £1,500 you will get a good Mercian or similar. You may even be able to get a Planet X Ti for your budget if you keep an eye out for their special builds.