Can't decided between two steel-frame road bikes...

andyczerwonka
andyczerwonka Posts: 3
edited February 2017 in Road buying advice
I have ordered a MEC Provincial Road 222. The highlights are as follows:
    - Columbus Cromor steel frame - Carbon fibre fork with aluminum steerer, 12mm thru axles - SRAM Rival, 2x11, 50/34 crank and 11-32t cassette - I'm a large rider, 280 lbs, so I have upgraded the wheels, RS-4 hubs, Velocity Dyad rims 32H, DT Swiss spokes
The dilemma I'm having is that there is an upgrade that'll cost me about $700 CAD on top of what you see above, and I don't know if it's worth it. The upgrade difference is as follows.
    - Columbus SP steel frame - Rear thru-axle - SRAM Rival, 1x11, 42T crank, 11-42T cassette (seems like a great gear range)

I think the rear thru-axel and the 1x11 would be great, but I have no idea what the difference is between Columbus Chromer and SP. Am I getting a stronger frame? If so, that'd be great given my size. If not, then what's the difference? It seems the frames are about the same weight. Maybe one is stiffer than the other? I don't know. The riding I'll be doing is mostly commuting (1hr each way) and weekend longer rides, probably between 3-5 hours.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Comments

  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,217
    Tube specs. and descriptions are on the Columbus website.
    http://www.columbustubi.com/pdf/Columbu ... gue-V2.pdf
  • Harry182
    Harry182 Posts: 1,169
    Here's another potentially useful link:

    http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/columb ... schart.htm

    The SP does seem like it's Columbus' large frame/ heavy-duty frame tubeset.
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    I think cromor is quite heavy as well. Used in touring frames if I recall correctly.
  • andyczerwonka
    andyczerwonka Posts: 3
    DJ58 wrote:
    Tube specs. and descriptions are on the Columbus website.
    http://www.columbustubi.com/pdf/Columbu ... gue-V2.pdf

    Thanks! That helps. What do you think about the other two features in terms of value?
  • dj58
    dj58 Posts: 2,217
    I assume that you have checked the rider weight limit for the two frame options? From the specifications, the SP tubeset is triple butted and is there top line steel road tubset, so I would imagine that it would be a nicer ride than the all purpose Cromor frame. That is where I think most of the additional $700 CAD is going, along with the 1X groupset.

    Not familiar with the bike you are considering, thru axle front and/or front/rear, is it a disc brake model? I've no experience of 1X transmissions, you are getting a 1 to 1 gear ration, though the ratios are likely to be more widely spaced than on the compact 2X transmission. I take it that as you have had to order the bike, the shop does not have the two models available, in your size, to test ride? What have the shop advised.

    Would you be happy with the 1X transmission in order to have the SP frameset?

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