disc brake, steel frame road bike

nik_c

Hi,

I would like to ask for your advice on the following: My situation is that my old bike is falling apart. It is a very nice Falcon in Merckx orange with campagnolo rims, tubualar tyres (beautifully light and spritely, but what a pain to replace and pay for in case of a flat!) and obviously a steel frame. I am cycling a lot and long distances and as the bike isi coming up to 40years in age, I can't keep up the repairs .

To cut a long story short, I am looking for a new one. I am thinking of a disc brake, steel frame one such like the Genesis Equilibrium Disc 10 [http://www.ukbikesdepot.com/m16b185s6p15242/GENESIS_Equilibrium_Disc_10_Road_Bike_2015].

The £900 this costs at the moment is also my top price point at the moment. Looking at the components I think they could be better though (I just spent the last 6 years upgrading my MTP with better quality components than are on the Genesis and it has been worth it in terms of quality of the ride, and longevity of the components).

Does anyone know of an alternative I might have missed so far, or would it make sense to self-build. Are there any disc brake ready, steel individual frames out there? What are your experiences ?

Thank you kindly!

Nik

bendertherobot

There is a way! Assuming your old bike is all steel then how about this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/171501360714?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&rlsatarget=&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

I'd recommend a couple of TRP Spyre brakes. £120 for those.

Then groupset. Say, Shimano 105 Chainset, front and rear mech. Should be able to do that for £150.

So that's £550 or so, so far. Pair of Kinesis wheels for £275 then some finishing kit. You could, if you do Deda finishing kit, even get some nice 32 spoke handbuilts.

Would be a classy bike.

bmxboy10

If you look on ebay I think you can get the old Equilibrium Disc frame and fork for about £270 which is a bargain for a 631 F&F. This will leave you money to build the bike yourself which, as I have learnt is the best way to get what you want and is really rewarding.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genesis-Equilibrium-Disc-Road-Reynolds-631-Frame-631-Fork-Mudguard-Eyes-/171501360714?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item27ee47164a

bmxboy10

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19657974#p19657974]bendertherobot[/url] wrote:

There is a way! Assuming your old bike is all steel then how about this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/171501360714?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&rlsatarget=&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

I'd recommend a couple of TRP Spyre brakes. £120 for those.

Then groupset. Say, Shimano 105 Chainset, front and rear mech. Should be able to do that for £150.

So that's £550 or so, so far. Pair of Kinesis wheels for £275 then some finishing kit. You could, if you do Deda finishing kit, even get some nice 32 spoke handbuilts.

Would be a classy bike.

We must be telepathic

nik_c

Oh! THat is an interesting idea! I will definitely consider that!
The frame is even £20 cheaper on the paulmilnes website: http://www.paulmilnescycles.com/genesis-equilibrium-disc-road-reynolds-631-frame--631-fork-mudguard-eyes-2843-p.asp

I will do the sums and have a look!

It looks though as there are not too many disc brake ready frames out there yet.

Thank you for your advice!
Nik

bendertherobot

You won't get anything better for the price. It's excellent.

bendertherobot

Even proper handbuilts would see you under budget.

http://www.moonglu.com/products/handbuilt-hope-pro-2-evo-on-h-plus-archetype-road-disc-wheels

Add a Deda 100 stem, bars and seatpost. Then whatever saddle.

Remember that, even if a few quid over £900, you'd still be changing bits on whatever you buy.

bmxboy10

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658019#p19658019]nik_c[/url] wrote:

Oh! THat is an interesting idea! I will definitely consider that!
The frame is even £20 cheaper on the paulmilnes website: http://www.paulmilnescycles.com/genesis-equilibrium-disc-road-reynolds-631-frame--631-fork-mudguard-eyes-2843-p.asp

I will do the sums and have a look!

It looks though as there are not too many disc brake ready frames out there yet.

Thank you for your advice!
Nik

get the frame with the headset fitted

andy9964

What about a slightly used frame (CX, so you'll get bigger tyres in if you want more comfort)
Includes F+R dérailleurs. seatpost and stem. Size XL though

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Charge-Plug-5-Steel-Bike-Frame-XL-w-Fork-SRAM-Rival-Rear-Shimano-CX70-Front-CX-/261970997365?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cfeb03075

Edit: Not connected to me

arlowood

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19658048#p19658048]bendertherobot[/url] wrote:

Even proper handbuilts would see you under budget.

http://www.moonglu.com/products/handbuilt-hope-pro-2-evo-on-h-plus-archetype-road-disc-wheels

Add a Deda 100 stem, bars and seatpost. Then whatever saddle.

Remember that, even if a few quid over £900, you'd still be changing bits on whatever you buy.

Few psychic folks on here - that is exactly what I did earlier this year when I built up my own Equilibrium Disc frameset bought from Paul Milnes(by phone to get the fitted headset bearings) - down to the Moonglu wheelset, a Deda stem, TRP Spyres and a 105 5800 groupset

Overall it cost me just a shade over £900 so I think you could be within budget if you shop around for the groupset components.

bendertherobot

And that's very very lovely. Top bikes.

nik_c

OK, So Arlowood, that indeed does look like a very very lovely bike!!

So if I go ahead with this, there may be a retro Falcon frame with some still very lovely Campagnolo Lambda strada wheels for sale sometime soon ...

Thank you!