Blatant "what bike" (or "what frame") thread..

neeb
neeb Posts: 4,471
edited April 2018 in Road buying advice
My 2013 vintage Scott Foil Team Issue frame was totalled last weekend and I'll probably be getting a decent insurance payout (British Cycling have a lawyer onto the driver's insurance company already). So of course I'm spending my convalescence drooling over potential new bike frames.. ;-)

With all of the usual provisos about subjectivity etc. I'd appreciate any opinions on the replacement frames I'm considering as well as other alternatives, especially from anyone who has ridden more than one of them.. I'm a geometry nerd so fit is a consideration and I have that covered already. I'm looking for a performance orientated rim brake frame.

Very tempted by the new Tarmac SL6 S-Works. Also looking at the Bianchi Oltre XR4 and the Ridley Helium SLX. I'm looking for an all-rounder with a nod towards a good weight/stiffness ratio - if I can have some aero too without sacrificing that, all the better, but I'm not looking for a really beefy and heavy aero frame like the Venge or Ridley Noah. I really loved my Foil to be honest, although the aesthetics of the current model just don't do it for me. I also can't convince myself to like the Trek Emonda or Cannondales for some reason.

Comments

  • londoncommuter
    londoncommuter Posts: 1,550
    What sort of budget?

    If you're partial to the Ridley Helium SLX, what about Merlin's re-branded one for a relative bargain £2k:

    https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-nit ... 98952.html

    The whole di2 bike is about half the price of the SL6 frame.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,471
    What sort of budget?

    If you're partial to the Ridley Helium SLX, what about Merlin's re-branded one for a relative bargain £2k:

    https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-nit ... 98952.html

    The whole di2 bike is about half the price of the SL6 frame.
    Wow, didn't know about that. Is that the Helium SLX frame though or just the SL? Weird that Ridley are happy to do this!
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    neeb wrote:
    What sort of budget?

    If you're partial to the Ridley Helium SLX, what about Merlin's re-branded one for a relative bargain £2k:

    https://www.merlincycles.com/merlin-nit ... 98952.html

    The whole di2 bike is about half the price of the SL6 frame.
    Wow, didn't know about that. Is that the Helium SLX frame though or just the SL? Weird that Ridley are happy to do this!

    It's the SL frame not the SLX. If you read the Cycling Weekly review it states that when Ridley brought out the Helium SLX they rebadged the Helium SL as the Nitro SL
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,471
    Still an amazing deal though..