Hello from new member and here is my bikes

Danny87

Hi guys new to the site, thought I'd make my first post on here with a couple of pics of my only 2 rides.

The first is a FM015 I built up myself just before Xmas and the second a Spec Allez which was my first bike that I bought in 2010.

I live in Lancashire, Northwest of England, hopefully learn allot from you guys and will try and help if I can where possible.

woody1545

viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12734291

rick_chasey

woody1545 wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40044&t=12734291

Sorted.

Danny87

Whups sorry about that, I thought I'd linked the photos correctly, my bad! Off to a great start!

thegibdog

Live near Waddington Fell?

woody1545

Thats better!

I assume the FM015 is a type of imported chinese carbon frame? Looks great, nice and understated.

Danny87

I live in Preston -well spotted btw, both photos taken top of waddington fell, it's one of my favourite training rides (from either side of the hill)

Danny87

woody1545 wrote:

Thats better!

I assume the FM015 is a type of imported chinese carbon frame? Looks great, nice and understated.

Yeah it's from China. Managed to get it at what I considered a good price £260 delivered for frame, fork, headset, seatpost clamp, barrel adjusters and a couple of spare rear mech hangers.

Everything else Sram Rival groupset, handlebars, stem, seatpost, saddle etc purchased from mainly Ribble and Merlin,

The wheels are just Mavic OpenPro's with Hope Pro 3 Hubs that I had built by a reputable wheel builder. Bit over kill really 32/32 as I'm only 11 stone but I wanted something reliable to train with and I like to climb so seemed like a sensible choice.

woody1545

That does sound like a good deal!

I know there are already never ending threads in the 'Road Buying' section about the pros and cons of buying chinese, but what was your experience like?

I'm an Allez owner myself and have tentatively looked into importing a frame. Are you happy with it? Is it noticeably lighter/stiffer/more comfortable than the Allez?

Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

Danny87

Hey sure no problem ask away

Well let me tell you a secret, the geometry on this frame - believe it or not - is nearly identical to my Allez.

As for weight, I don't know what my Allez weighs, sounds stupid but I've never weighed it to compare.. But my FM015 frameset comes in at 1470g including fork, headset, rear hanger and barrel adjusters.

My overall experience good, delivery was fast, communication was good, build was easy and quick with no nasty surprises.

As for the ride compared to the Allez, smoother on the rough stuff, stiffer in the bottom bracket area and that said I never thought the Allez as flexy before riding this but it is like night and day the comparison honestly! I've been really impressed with the quality overall considering the price!

All this said would I do it again yes, would I recomend to a friend, yes.

I enjoyed building my own bike, and wanted something a little different and did'nt have a great deal of money.
But.. If you don't fancy building a bike yourself and have a £1000 or so perhaps consider a Ribble or Planet X -if buying new otherwise some great second hand bargains if willing to take the risk..

Matt the Tester

nice roads round that area unfortunately i have to go from southport! so the trough isnt a regular thing for me! mainly because it's not specific to my training.

southportCC ride in the trough for the bill bradley ride! lovely bikes too and welcome to the Forums

Danny87

They are indeed some great roads. I sometimes do a loop from Preston to Soutport via Croston/Banks/Tarleton, some nice quiet flat roads.

So where do you get out to from Southport? Out round Rivington Pike/Winter Hill kind of way for the hills?

petemadoc

Danny87 wrote:

Hey sure no problem ask away

Well let me tell you a secret, the geometry on this frame - believe it or not - is nearly identical to my Allez.

As for weight, I don't know what my Allez weighs, sounds stupid but I've never weighed it to compare.. But my FM015 frameset comes in at 1470g including fork, headset, rear hanger and barrel adjusters.

My overall experience good, delivery was fast, communication was good, build was easy and quick with no nasty surprises.

As for the ride compared to the Allez, smoother on the rough stuff, stiffer in the bottom bracket area and that said I never thought the Allez as flexy before riding this but it is like night and day the comparison honestly! I've been really impressed with the quality overall considering the price!

All this said would I do it again yes, would I recomend to a friend, yes.

I enjoyed building my own bike, and wanted something a little different and did'nt have a great deal of money.
But.. If you don't fancy building a bike yourself and have a £1000 or so perhaps consider a Ribble or Planet X -if buying new otherwise some great second hand bargains if willing to take the risk..

+1 Similar to my experience. Buying second hand or from China each carry their own risks but I'm very happy with my China import. Costs about the same as a complete bike from Ribble or Planet X.

pmannion9

is the FM015 frameset based on any branded frameset do you know?
Any geometry charts?

Ta.

Matt the Tester

Danny87 wrote:

They are indeed some great roads. I sometimes do a loop from Preston to Soutport via Croston/Banks/Tarleton, some nice quiet flat roads.

So where do you get out to from Southport? Out round Rivington Pike/Winter Hill kind of way for the hills?

yea generally that way need to mix it up though, we're unfortunately but luckily near lots of local hills! only an hours ride away and the climbing can begin

don't ride in tarleton much, only Time trial through there lol. hutton roundabout is the furthest i go unless it's a special occasion lol

Danny87

pmannion9 wrote:

is the FM015 frameset based on any branded frameset do you know?
Any geometry charts?

Ta.

*CS - Chain Stay
*WB - Wheelbase

Size Seatpost Tube Top Tube Seatpost Angle Head Tube Angle Head Tube length CS WB
49 490MM 504.5 75 72 115 406 956.3
51 510MM 516.8 74.5 72 125 406 964.1
53 530MM 529.5 74 72 135 406 967.6
55 550MM 547.8 73.5 72.5 150 406 981.3
58 580MM 567.8 73.5 73 170 406 996.6


TBH I don't think it is based on any existing frame, although I could be wrong I think it's an OEM frame.

Danny87

Matt the Tester wrote:

Danny87 wrote:

They are indeed some great roads. I sometimes do a loop from Preston to Soutport via Croston/Banks/Tarleton, some nice quiet flat roads.

So where do you get out to from Southport? Out round Rivington Pike/Winter Hill kind of way for the hills?

yea generally that way need to mix it up though, we're unfortunately but luckily near lots of local hills! only an hours ride away and the climbing can begin

don't ride in tarleton much, only Time trial through there lol. hutton roundabout is the furthest i go unless it's a special occasion lol

Yeah I can see why you would TT round there nice flat fast roads

Hopefully meet more people like yourself who are local to me on here. At the mo literally noone to get out with. I'm 24 and most my mates are into Rugby or Football or Weight training or just too busy with other commitments to be interested in starting a new sport.

I joined a club but not managed to get out with them so much but this year I want to start racing and do some time trials so really going to have to make more of an effort and try and get out with the club or other like minded people.

Matt the Tester

there is a few from Preston wheelers and Preston CC who come down and race with us on a thursday night! 10 mile TT, it's a good meet up too folk are nice and more then happy to help!

we are in the layby along the dual carriage way, once you hit the hutton roundabout it's the 3rd roundabout down and we're on the right before a little roundabout just at the top of a little kick! it starts on 12th april, first rider off is 6:30 for the first one i think just be there for 6pm if you decide to come down £3 also :P

hope to see you down there!

Danny87

Matt the Tester wrote:

there is a few from Preston wheelers and Preston CC who come down and race with us on a thursday night! 10 mile TT, it's a good meet up too folk are nice and more then happy to help!

we are in the layby along the dual carriage way, once you hit the hutton roundabout it's the 3rd roundabout down and we're on the right before a little roundabout just at the top of a little kick! it starts on 12th april, first rider off is 6:30 for the first one i think just be there for 6pm if you decide to come down £3 also :P

hope to see you down there!

Sounds good, shall deffinitely have to give it a go. Don't suppose you could tell me the route, just so I can give it a dry run beforehand.

Matt the Tester

yup, start in the layby just on the left hand side of the road, you'll see it just before a big sign on the Bypass, come upto the first roundabout, go over that, staying on the dual carriageway, go over the 2nd roundabout over a little incline towards the third roundabout (hutton) come around the roundabout back the way you came straight back to the start point, go past the start turn left at the roundabout then your next left and then a left again. and your at the finish just 300M away

the 2nd left turn is a killer it's the final drag!!

Danny87

So start a the Hutton round about is that the one near the Anchor pub, also which side of the road are you on facing preston or southport direction?

Matt the Tester

facing preston direction you race towards preston and then come back towards southport essentially


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=5 ... a=N&tab=wl there ya go.

also..... Start at lay-by on A59, approximately 600 yards North of Carr House Island at a point opposite the joint of the 22nd and 23rd kerbstones south of lamp post LP63. Proceed on A59 in direction of Preston and continue north via Hoole Island (M) and Gill Lane Island (M) to turn at Hutton Island (M)(3.85miles). Retrace along A59 via Gill Lane Island and Hoole Island past the start to Carr House Island (M). Left along B5247 for approximately 700 yards then left again into North Road (B5248) (M). Continue for approximately 1 mile and turn left into Doles Lane (M) and continue for 300 yards to finish 5 yards after the start of the hedge after entrance to field opposite 4th tall tree from end of small plantation on right (10miles)

Danny87

Got you, so if I've got this right lol, you meet at the lay by labeled on the map? Last 2 things I promise lol.

So you start on Liverpool old road, do you head north up the lay by and then join Liverpool road, or do you head south on Liverpool Old road and do a 180 on yourself (I'm guessing it's not the latter being familliar with this road)

Second the turn around point at Gill lane this is the slip road am I right? And you go under a briddge/tunnel thing to get to the other side of the dual carriageway to then do the return leg?

Matt the Tester

yes i think so lol, your confusing me now! :P

straight up the bypass untill you hit the the 3rd roundabout come back past the start and then turn left 3 times :P

yes we do meet there! im glad we have one thing sorted lol.