Ribble Winter / Audax Alternative

asprilla

I've already posted this in road, but think it's a bit bottom end of market for there so lets try here:

Commuting and bike parking changes mean that I need a new commuter / foul weather frame pretty quickly. Thought it was going to be pretty straight forward and cheap but Ribble are currently out of stock in a 54 on their Audax / Winter.

So, what are the alternatives, preferably below £200 for frame only?

Looking for it to take guards and possibly a rear rack when required and have a reasonably long head tube (long legs and short body mean I have the saddle pretty high). What options can the hive mind come up with for a pretty mundane problem?

Mr Plum

Tifosi Audax?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Tifosi-CK7-Classi ... 8e076b4ef3

Looking at the geometry, you'd probably be after the 49cm Medium.

asprilla

Looked at it, but it's £200 and then I'd need forks as well. Should have made it clearer that I wanted a full frameset, not just the frame.

spasypaddy

ridley aeron tr. slightly over your budget but by god does it ride well.
http://www.geoffsmithcycles.co.uk/framesets.html

asprilla

Oohhh, that looks nice, I like.

itboffin

Look around for a Dolan multicross you should be able to nab one for £200

spasypaddy

if they dont have it anymore there then you'll find it for £240 which i know is over your budget.

i managed to get my frame for £80 off the classified section

asprilla

itboffin wrote:

Look around for a Dolan multicross you should be able to nab one for £200

Nice, but I want to stick to dual pivot brakes as I'm stripping the groupset off my Cervelo frame before I sell it and want to avoid buying anything new, even if it's only cantis.

Also looked at the preffisio frameset, but the head tube is too small for me.

itboffin

Asprilla wrote:

itboffin wrote:

Look around for a Dolan multicross you should be able to nab one for £200

Nice, but I want to stick to dual pivot brakes as I'm stripping the groupset off my Cervelo frame before I sell it and want to avoid buying anything new, even if it's only cantis.

Also looked at the preffisio frameset, but the head tube is too small for me.

Mines drilled for brakes as well 8)

Headhuunter

What about the non audax Ribble frame? I think they call it the 7005 race or something. Doesn't have eyeholes for guards and racks but I've got those plastic guards on mine and they work fine...

asprilla

Headhuunter wrote:

What about the non audax Ribble frame? I think they call it the 7005 race or something. Doesn't have eyeholes for guards and racks but I've got those plastic guards on mine and they work fine...

I used to have a 7005 SL as my first road bike, liked it a lot. However, I really want something with proper guards and a rack mount rather than p-clips and crud road racers.

Cheers though.

clarkey cat

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRP ... back-frame

?

asprilla

clarkey cat wrote:

http://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/FRPXK/planet-x-kaffenback-frame

?

Looked at that as an option, but the geometry doesn't work well for me; head tube and seat tube are too small on the medium and the top tube is too long on the large.

Curse my dis-proportionment...

Gussio

Kaffenbacks are out of stock. Planet X do have some nice Guercotti frames at knock down prices, but with no braze-ons for guards or rack.

spasypaddy

seriously asprilla i was in exactly the same situation. Wanted the ribble, its out of stock until the end of september at the earliest so got the aeron. i just got lucky and picked up a frame off the classifieds 3 days before i was going to cave and buy a brand new original one.

there really is very little choice at that price point

phy2sll2

A little over budget, but still worth a look I would have thought:

http://activesport.co.uk/shop/article_K-RL-T2-.63-K/Kinesis-Racelight-T2-Alloy-2010-Winter-Training-Bike-Frame.html?pse=coa

spasypaddy

the T2 is a nice frame but it doesnt come with a fork so you are looking at spending another £60-80 on top depending on which fork you go for.

the deda blackrain which is what id recommend is £75 on ribble. That takes the frame and fork to £300.

and thats before you even buy headset, seat post collar, and mech hanger.