Posher Alternatives To Genesis Equilibrium

Tenacious Doug

I currently have a 2010 Equilibrium which I love, but been looking for something a little fancier for a while, so when the 853 version was announced at Icebike I was very excited, went to the local dealer, whacked down a deposit and looked forward to the mid April launch date.
It's now July and the bikes are still being quoted as a "few weeks away". In the meantime I've spent over £1k on the rest of the kit to hang off the frame, and fully serviced and tarted up my old bike and put it up for sale on Ebay (so it's not really rideable now without the faff of ending a sale etc). Safe to say I'm getting a little impatient.

So is there any true alternative to the Equilibrium out there? I'm particularly struggling to match up the geometry which is a little bit out the norm for a road bike, particularly the slack head angle, but being a mountain biker I love that slacker feel!

I'm seriously interested in getting an alternative to the Genesis if I can get it faster for the Summer, but I've yet to see anything that matches up in geometry terms. Any suggestions? Gotta be steel, up to £1k budget for frame and forks. I'd stretch to something custom but the waiting list for most custom builders puts me off.

arlowood

Mercian have introduced a new complete bike this year called the Wiglaf???***. I know a weird name but it appears that Wiglaf was the name of an early king of Mercia:-

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/complete ... 105/wiglaf

They claim to have stock in 3 sizes so they may be willing to sell you a frame if you like the look of it.

Tenacious Doug

Looks interesting, though not available in my size and maybe a little basic for what I was after. Only 631 tubing, was after something a little fancier.

drlodge

A Rourke 853 would be right up your street, but I reckon the waiting list is about 6 months. Might have it in time for Christmas!

passout

A cross bike like the new offering from Orange, Planet X Dirty Disco or the Kinesis Tripster? Both disc specific. Specailsed Tricross? Planet X R58 or Ribble Sportive if you want something more 'roadie'? The closest thing may be: http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m4b104s25 ... l_Frameset and theres also http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m14b0s195 ... plete_Bike or http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/m4b274s25 ... k_Frameset

Tenacious Doug

drlodge wrote:

A Rourke 853 would be right up your street, but I reckon the waiting list is about 6 months. Might have it in time for Christmas!

Very much up my street. Have emailed them in blind hope but not expecting much. Had fancied a Shand too but they were going to be months. Frustrating thing is if I had contacted either of these guys when the Equilibrium was first announced with it's April launch date, I'd have them by now!

Steve236

What about a Condor frame? Fratello for 599, Acciaio for 749 I think.

Tenacious Doug

Steve236 wrote:

What about a Condor frame? Fratello for 599, Acciaio for 749 I think.

Seriously considering, and my LBS of choice is a stockist, geometry doesn't quite match my preference though.

Angel1

i have the 2013 equilibrium frame too and very happy. have you had a look at Jamis eclipse? meet your criteria ? http://bit.ly/11YoVpL . I think Evans supplied this brand but not sure who could supply now.

mikenetic

Rourke's build time is about 6 months currently, so that is out for you if you want it this summer. You could talk to Bob Jackson? They seem to turn bikes round relatively fast, and you could always stick a carbon fork in it if you wanted.

There's a distinct lack of off the peg steel framesets at that price. The only other one I can think of is Kinoko (formerly Tokyo Fixed) who do a nicely understated road frame called the Road Rocket. http://www.kinokocycles.com/road-bikes/ ... ustom.html

ck101

If you were so happy with the Genesis why change?

If you really want something "posh" then the way to go is Mercian or Rourke. Personally I'd love a Mercian, maybe someday.

In my opinion going up to 853 won't be much of a difference, keep your cash, buy a 2013 Genesis equilibrium 725 in that nice orange and stick some light handbuilt wheels on it. Have you considered the the Genesis Ti ?

waterford123

Have a look a a Gunnar or if you can stretch to a Waterford you wouldn't be disappointed.

http://waterfordbikes.com/w/

mikenetic

One other option is a relatively new builder called Talbot Frameworks, based in South London. They've revived an old brand, and are currently offering 853 frames for £853.

There's a really classic-looking green road frame on their site. Might be worth a call.

http://www.talbotframeworks.com/

holiver

Ti Spa Audax frame?

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s143p2371

They do a (much) cheaper 725 steel frame too, which looks excellent value for money.

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s143p2828

Tenacious Doug

mikenetic wrote:

One other option is a relatively new builder called Talbot Frameworks, based in South London. They've revived an old brand, and are currently offering 853 frames for £853.

There's a really classic-looking green road frame on their site. Might be worth a call.

http://www.talbotframeworks.com/

Wow, very interesting. I'm in touch already. Do you, or indeed anyone, know anything more about these frames, ridden them or point me in the direction of anyone who has. The opening offer is great though be keen to get some first hand experience of them first.

drlodge

Tenacious Doug wrote:

mikenetic wrote:

One other option is a relatively new builder called Talbot Frameworks, based in South London. They've revived an old brand, and are currently offering 853 frames for £853.

There's a really classic-looking green road frame on their site. Might be worth a call.

http://www.talbotframeworks.com/

Wow, very interesting. I'm in touch already. Do you, or indeed anyone, know anything more about these frames, ridden them or point me in the direction of anyone who has. The opening offer is great though be keen to get some first hand experience of them first.

£853 is a good price, Rourke's basic 853 frame is £999. But of course the quality of the finished product is somewhat based on experience and fitness for purpose.

mikenetic

Tenacious Doug wrote:

mikenetic wrote:

One other option is a relatively new builder called Talbot Frameworks, based in South London. They've revived an old brand, and are currently offering 853 frames for £853.

There's a really classic-looking green road frame on their site. Might be worth a call.

http://www.talbotframeworks.com/

Wow, very interesting. I'm in touch already. Do you, or indeed anyone, know anything more about these frames, ridden them or point me in the direction of anyone who has. The opening offer is great though be keen to get some first hand experience of them first.

There are a few riders from the lfgss forum who have them, there's a thread covering the build of one on there.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread106759.html

The builder posts on the forum from time to time. His user ID is coldharbour, here's a thread where he explains why he set the business up. He's been building part-time for a while.

http://www.lfgss.com/thread105252.html

passout

holiver wrote:

Ti Spa Audax frame?

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s143p2371

They do a (much) cheaper 725 steel frame too, which looks excellent value for money.

http://www.spacycles.co.uk/products.php ... 0s143p2828

I've heard that these are great.

styxd

I'd imagine the ride of the 853 version will be indistinguishable to the standard 725 version. I guess they are making it so they can hike the price right up, and sell it to people who actually care about the 853 sticker.

Just get the normal version, its a great frame for the money.

Tenacious Doug

mikenetic wrote:

You could talk to Bob Jackson? They seem to turn bikes round relatively fast,

Can anyone give recent experience of them? I know they have a good rep but almost all the forum feedback on the frames is folk with 10/20 year old frames. The Olympus looks interesting, be good to get some up to date feedback.