Best Climbing Frame

Hurricane151

I do a lot of sportive riding with no real racing but i do like to hunt out a good climb. i'm not the lightest (88kg) and i currently have a Spec Tarmac comp 2010 with kysrium SLs.

I am quite keen to change the frame for something new and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations that would suit my style of rides.

should i be looking for super stiff?

what's best

budget around £2- £2.5K

Cheers

jonbristol

Are you just after a frame to build up or a complete bike for £2.5k?

My thought would suggest an orbea orca of some description, lovely climbing frames or an uktegra di2 for £3.something thousand.

Hurricane151

Thanks, I have a decent wheelset and a Sram red groupset so was really looking to maximise the frame and transfer my current components.

rudivoller22

what size is the tarmac frame and would you be looking to sell it/?

cougie

Get a cheaper frame and either a coach or a week in the alps. Those would give you more improvement than the frame.

lemoncurd

cougie wrote:

Get a cheaper frame and either a coach or a week in the alps. Those would give you more improvement than the frame.

+1

What is it with all of the lighter, stiffer bike frames, wheels, cranks, handlebars, stems etc?

A bike that works, good legs and lungs. That's all you need.

I've got loads of light bikes and I'm still shite

Monty Dog

Yup, a coach, a training programme, possibly a diet and quality riding will do more for your climbing than unloading your wallet. Climbing is about your legs, lungs and heart.

nferrar

Any frame in the £2-2.5k will climb better than you can, but sure you want stiffness as well as low weight. If you have plenty of cash to spend then go for it but given the different between a £1k frame and a £2k frame is probably about 200g at most then I'd take a look in the mirror and see a cheaper way to lose weight

Ofc I personally didn't follow any of the above sensible advice and blew a few grand on a bike and am a similar weight to you - I did it though as I knew I'd enjoy riding it more than my previous bike, not to save a few grams.

Hurricane151

Thanks for the replies. I guess I'm not looking at s frame to help me climb better through weight. I think I just after advice on the best style of frame to do the job. I'm after a new frame anyway so I thought I would see if anyone has and experiences with different manufacturers etc. So I fully understand the lungs, heart and legs thing and I am getting there on those, it's just down to selecting a new frame. I have no issues only spending say 1k if its the right one.

Thanks again for the replies.

mattv

You could get an s works tarmac sl3 frame for around £1750, thats one of the stiffest frames around.

ugo.santalucia

Well, if you aim to climb, you aim to go down fast and safe as well, so you have to put both uphill and downhill in the equation.
For climbing, a sloping carbon frame is probably your best bet and the market is inondated by sloping carbon frames, just pick the one you like best. (I don't normally ride carbon, but enjoyed a lot a TIME frame I rode last year in the pyrenees, can't recall the model).

For descending, I find steel frames, with their added compliance, are safer over bumpy roads and tight bends, I rate them much more than numb carbon... of course you have to pay the price of the extra pound or so, which will slow you on the way up

A sloping titanium frame probably takes the best of both worlds, but I am talking out of my depth as I have never riddden one.

mrushton

As above, it's about practice on the climbs, climbing at your pace with gears that are suitable for you. A good set of wheels that don't flex is also an advantage. You might be best suited to climbing on 34 x 26, someone else on 39 x 27 so some coaching and practice would go a long way. Trying to push too big a gear on the Iseran road is not going to be a happy affair. Look at Contador. He spins smaller gears v.quickly - think he had a 34 x? on Alpe d'Huez recently

FransJacques

Wheels are what you're after, ditch the frame strategy. Plump for some HED Ardennes or 7900 CL24s and a pair of Ultremo ZXs and you'll transform your hill climbing. I've had the Ksyrium ESs back in 07 and they are boat anchors compared to these more modern designs. If you're keen, MAdfibre now make climchers!

Then, sorry, but you'll need to book a week in the Canaries in Feb/March on a training camp and do massive climbing every second day - 2500-3500 meters a day. Bring your protein powder so you can recover - at 88kgs you'll need about 40-50grams a day right after riding to recover.

That will help you more than any frame on the planet.

Then, after you've done all of the above, the Canyon CF has the most immediate drivetrain hookup of any frame I've ridden - better than my R3SL and my TCR Advanced SL and the various Ti and Al or Fe frames I've owned over the last 25+ yearsof riding.

Gazzaputt

Canyon CF Pro and you'd have change for some light stiff wheels.

bompington

I built a really nice climbing frame for my kids, forget the CF/aluminium debate, wood is the way to go (with a plastic slide though)

thegreatdivide

bompington wrote:

I built a really nice climbing frame for my kids, forget the CF/aluminium debate, wood is the way to go (with a plastic slide though)

someone had to say it

Chip \'oyler

What about a made to measure Viner Perfecta 2.11? It will then fit you like a glove, and as Viner's are some of the best handling bikes out there it will help you go downhill quicker!