Dolan Frames

nbuuifx

Has anyone heard of Dolan Bikes? Are they any good?


I've been trying without much luck to find a half decent second hand frame for about £100. I noticed that these sell a new one for that much:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dolan-Preffis ... 336f3fbf0d

Although it doubles in price if you want a fork and seat post


Would the above frame be a good starting point? I would then plan to buidl up with used parts. I've seen carbon forks on here for as little as £40 - would they be a standard size/fitment?

I was hoping I could get the frame for £100, then the forks/seatpost sorted for £50, a set of wheels/tyres for £100. Then I'd just need handle bars,stem, brakes/shifters, chainset, rear and front mech. I'd be hoping for shimano 105, but would be happy enough with Tiagra. I was hoping to get all those final bits for less than £100 - does this all sound realistic?

So final spend would be approx £350

Any advice?

snoopsmydogg

For 350 and starting with no parts you would be better off looking for a complete bike.

Beatmaker

I don't think £350 is realistic, even for tatty second hand bits. You'd bE much better off buying a second hand complete bike as pointed out above.

cougie

+1 on the secondhand bike.

RowCycle

I bought a Dolan FXE frame, and did the same thing as you are thinking of doing, build the bike up. Soon realised that my estimate wasn't close.

Your estimate has spent £250 on frame/forks/seatpost/wheels/tyres. But in addition to the other things you said you'd need (handle bars,stem, brakes/shifters, chainset, rear and front mech) you have cables, bar tape, bottom bracket, saddle... Which I reckon would cost more than £100 unless you get a lot second hand.

So it will cost more than you thought, and it probably won't be as good a bike as you can buy, but...

I enjoyed my project building a bike though, taught me a lot, and I feel I can service bikes better now for it.

BTW My bike with the Dolan frame is my favourite for riding.

mjbennett

Dolan bikes are first class. Excellent frames, top materials and a olympic gold medal winningpedigree.

nbuuifx

Thanks for the info,

My plan was to buy mostly second hand parts to fit to it, and to aim for middle of the road stuff (105/Tiagra / Some Fulcrum 5 wheels or similar.)

To be honest I just fancy buying it bit by bit rather than stumping it all up at once. I'm just changing career at the moment after 10 years or so in a steady job - so what with going to uni, and lots of on the job training - I've not got a huge amount of spare cash (and the kids and wife never help that )

It wouldn't be the end of the world if it did go over budget a little, would just take longer to do! I don't mind 2nd hand components as they'd all be 2nd hand if I purchased a 2nd hand bike! I could then just replace them as they wear, obviously for some small items the price difference may not be worth buying 2nd hand and I'd just get new.

My current bike is a Boardman Comp MTB, which I've fitted slicks and spds to. It's quite a light bike (for a MTB) and I love it but I'm doing all my riding on road now with rides up to 100 miles, and feel I should really be on a road bike rather than a MTB.

rickwiggans

I recently built a flat bar road bike, and set myself a budget of £350. I set myself a budget, but no time frame, and just bought stuff, mostly new, off fleabay, as and when I saw it. I was lucky to spot decent frame and forks being sold off for £100, which helped a lot. I came in on budget, but it took a while. Mostly Tiagra.

As an aside, I have a Prefissio as a winter bike. Excellent ride.

g00se

An option is to by a second hand bike with the wheels and running gear you're after (don't worry about the size) - buy the frame you want and migrate the stuff over. Then you can sell the other frame off to recoup a bit of cash.