Dolan Bikes

bobbyp
bobbyp Posts: 275
edited March 2012 in Road buying advice
I'm looking at a new frame around the £1k level and come across Dolan. Does anybody have much knowledge? I used to have a prefissio which was a fine frame but no knowledge of their carbon offerings.

For an internet only operation they seem a bit light on marketing. No clue as to what the difference between Ares, Tuono and Hercules is.

Alterenatively, recommended me a nice frame for fast club runs, low-quality racing and general fun.

Comments

  • DHTT
    DHTT Posts: 345
    Hi when I did some research into the bikes from last time I was looking, this is what I found briefly:

    Tuono - Carbon Winter/Sportive bike, seems to be marketed as more of a relaxed bike in carbon but still has good properties.

    Hercules - The older race bike used by Andy Fenn to win 2008 Paris Roubaix so must have comfort also, probably a good ride and good for racing + training

    Ares - From reviews I read its an aggressive racing bike, seems to get good reviews and is used by the An Post team plus it looks ace, I have a serious wanting for the Ares but not the money! Maybe next year :-)

    Hope this helps.
  • bobbyp
    bobbyp Posts: 275
    Thanks for that. A summary thats missing from their website. Ares sounds very nice, read some good reviews.

    Currently I've got a Planet X sl but it seems a bit flexy as I'm fairly big bloke. Hopefully should be a bit stiffer but its difficult if you can't try things out.
  • Cleat Eastwood
    Cleat Eastwood Posts: 7,508
    haha terry dolan has a long track record (see what I did there).

    He also sponsors the liverpool mercury cycling club so its not a fy by night company. Infact he's based just up the road from me and the 2 nearest Lbs's stock a huge variety of dolan bikes, the most popular i was told being the hercules se, i held an ares frame and was told the difference between the two (weightwise)was the carbon weave or type or something , the guy said once was 3k and one was 12. The tuono I have no idea about.

    Why not give him a ring, he is by all accounts a very approachable geezer.
    The dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns
    momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    His custom bikes have a great reputation - Boardman used to ride them under other paint jobs. I had one of his Cougars - lovely frame.

    Not sure about the carbon ones - are they exclusive to him or do others sell the same frame under different stickers ?
    I'd still expect them to be decent though.

    But Tony Bell might not agree on the approachable point.