New Steel Frame - any ideas?

richtw
richtw Posts: 118
edited June 2011 in Road buying advice
I am looking at getting a new steel frame to build up into a training bike. Ideally Italian (just because), not too heavy, capable of taking mud guards, not costing a fortune so nothing custom......

Any ideas at the moment the only thing I can find is the Condor frames which are Deda made.......

Thanks

Comments

  • Eyorerox
    Eyorerox Posts: 43
    Cinelli ?
    But I would buy custom
  • appletrees
    appletrees Posts: 327
    Could you cope with Crud Road Racers as mudguards? If so, have a look at the Guerciotti G55 and Pirana that Planet X have - both columbus steel, carbon rear end. G55 is about 1600 grams. Excellent quality, and only about £300 at the mo. I've got a G55 and love it...
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    I'm in the same boat. I want to build my ultimate steel frame winter bike, hang some nice alloy Campag on it and get some hand built Ambrosio wheels.

    At the moment I'm looking at the Genisis Equilibrium, Condor Fratello or a Bob Jackson. They've each got their plus points and at the moment the Equilibrium is winning - I just wish I could get it in black but that was last year's colour.
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    New Condor Fratello rider here - it's a really nice frame!

    Takes 28mm tyres and proper mudguards (35mm SKS).

    Really great ride, does everything a steel bike should in terms of comfort but is plenty stiff enough etc.

    Not the lightest, not the heaviest.

    Dealing with Condor is a pleasure (just try and go during the week when it's a little quieter!).

    I bought it as frame and forks only, but was still fitted on the jig - we selected a stem and height. Frame was prepared nicely (all bolts greased, steerer tube cut down etc.).

    I will say my particular frame had a small manufacturing defect (the shim that is inserted into the seat-tube was about 0.1 - 0.15mm too large (so I could never get a seatpost to stay in position). They were excellent about it, were surprised by the problem, but swapped the frameset no quibbles (they did the transfer of kit from old to new frame as well). These things happen, but it's how the company deals with mistakes that seperates the good from the bad and Condor were brilliant.

    Highly recommended.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    Condor are good, but they are not competitive price wise, so they need to do something to attract customers.

    I bought a number of items from them when I first started cycling and they were very good. It's a very nice place to visit and browse!
  • marcusjb
    marcusjb Posts: 2,412
    The Mad Rapper wrote:
    Condor are good, but they are not competitive price wise, so they need to do something to attract customers.

    I bought a number of items from them when I first started cycling and they were very good. It's a very nice place to visit and browse!

    Judging by some of the wait times for bike builds, I don't think they need to worry too much about attracting customers! They can't build frames fast enough it seems - I was lucky and got the last Fratello in the finsh and size I needed - sadly, this was the one with the fault, so I then had to wait a month for the new frameset to come in (all the batches were sold before they even arrived). It wasn't a big deal as they shimmed the seatpost for me so I could ride the wrong frame for that period.

    Sure, the frames are not the cheapest out there - but the attention you get with the fitting etc. is beyond what you'd typically get when buying a frame.

    It is a very nice place to visit and browse - I'm now wondering when I can get a Tempo to match the Fratello and build up a nice fixed.
    Stuff about riding a bike a long way
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,666
    How are Mercian these days?
  • bugsrabbit
    bugsrabbit Posts: 182
    Paul hewitt
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    NapoleonD wrote:
    How are Mercian these days?
    Still there apparently .....
  • ballspondroad
    ballspondroad Posts: 181
    Mercian built me a frameset last year - took about 6 months, but it is a fancy one with curly-wurly lugs and a plainer one might be quicker. Very helpful with the fitting and spec and the build and finish are very good - solid, reliable craftsmanship.
  • chip42
    chip42 Posts: 145
    I faced a similar dilemma a few weeks ago. I was not looking for a winter bike specifically, just wanted a bike that was a bit different from all the carbon bikes out there. Now I know this will cause trouble but have you seen the Rapha Continental bikes?, steel frames, workmanlike equipment....nothing flash.
    I've ordered a Bob Jackson 853 and intend to build it up along the lines of the Rapha bikes. I will report more fully once the frame arrives.

    Andy
  • thegreatdivide
    thegreatdivide Posts: 5,807
    chip42 wrote:
    Now I know this will cause trouble but have you seen the Rapha Continental bikes?

    Hehe. You can build a much better steel frame bike than the Rapha Continental for a fraction of the price ($5000 = mental). You're doing the right thing with the Bob Jackson.
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    $5k for a steel bike should be custom geo at the least.
  • TMR
    TMR Posts: 3,986
    APIII wrote:
    $5k for a steel bike should be custom geo at the least.

    Why?

    For 99% of the population standard geo is fine.
  • APIII
    APIII Posts: 2,010
    The Mad Rapper wrote:
    APIII wrote:
    $5k for a steel bike should be custom geo at the least.

    Why?

    For 99% of the population standard geo is fine.

    Because as someone has already said, you can get an off the shelf much cheaper elsewhere.
    Going custom costs more because you're getting what you want (and that isn't always about fit) and you can do that for $5k elsewhere.
  • on-yer-bike
    on-yer-bike Posts: 2,974
    Pegoretti direct. 3.5 months. standard 56. One colour with painted carbon forks. Price depends on exchange rate. As stiff as a stiff thing but probably not as comfy as a Mercian.
    Pegoretti
    Colnago
    Cervelo
    Campagnolo
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRG ... d-frameset
    Reduced to 249.00
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • claudie
    claudie Posts: 18
    I recently built an equilibrium - very pleased with it and the cherry red colour looks great in the flesh. Takes 25mm tyres and p35 guards no problem although I'm currently using crudracers

    ?action=view&current=IMG_4459.jpg
  • rdt
    rdt Posts: 869
    appletrees wrote:
    Could you cope with Crud Road Racers as mudguards? If so, have a look at the Guerciotti G55 and Pirana that Planet X have - both columbus steel, carbon rear end. G55 is about 1600 grams. Excellent quality, and only about £300 at the mo. I've got a G55 and love it...

    That looks like a very interesting frame for the money.

Categories