Where have all the bike frames gone

bmxboy10
bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
in Road buying advice
Of course I realise things are impacted by the pandemic and the trend of moving to disc brakes but it wasn’t that long ago you could go and buy a reasonably good rim brake frame for under a grand even from the likes of derosa etc.

I’ll I can find now are frames from PX and alike. I am following the Zitus thread but want a more relaxed geo in steel or carbon.

Anyway any links would be appreciated!!!

I’ve said before on BR I’ve got a SS Evo Dura Ace and want to move the group set over and hope to get a frame with external BB.

Comments

  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    a mixture of

    all old stock sold through pandemic

    new stock supplied snapped up at pre-order stage

    no surplus new stock

    manufacturers cutting down on production of rim/mechnical frames anyway



    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • MidlandsGrimpeur2
    MidlandsGrimpeur2 Posts: 2,123
    What MF said.

    The big boys are no longer focussing on rim brakes, and complete bikes rather than frames are the priority.

    The smaller companies like PX, Dolan etc. are your best bet, but even then options are scarce.

    I have seen a couple of places with pre order trek emonda alu frames for just over £1k, but that was all I could find a couple of months back.

  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    I bought a Moda 931 Frame about 4 years ago for £500. How I wish I kept that one!
  • akh
    akh Posts: 206
    In theory Ribble still offer rim brake framesets in both steel and carbon but no idea on availability. I also consider the geometry pretty long and low for an "endurance" frame, at least in the small size I'd need.

    https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/components/frames-forks/frames/road-bike-frames/
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    Did I not offer to swap my very relaxed Dolan Dual for your SS Evo already?

    I'll take my coat
    left the forum March 2023
  • PMark
    PMark Posts: 160
    Will probably get some stick for this 😀

    But it sounds like you are basically asking for an rim brake endurance bike. But since one of the main points of an endurance bike over a full race bike is a more comfortable ride. It makes sense they aren’t made much anymore (as discs allow for larger tyres).

    Your best bet is to probably get a high end rim bike from a few years ago and strip the parts. Or maybe try one of the Chinese brands like Trifox or Yoeleo if you want new.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,339
    PMark said:

    Will probably get some stick for this 😀

    But it sounds like you are basically asking for an rim brake endurance bike. But since one of the main points of an endurance bike over a full race bike is a more comfortable ride. It makes sense they aren’t made much anymore (as discs allow for larger tyres).

    Your best bet is to probably get a high end rim bike from a few years ago and strip the parts. Or maybe try one of the Chinese brands like Trifox or Yoeleo if you want new.

    And so the marketing hype goes.

    "Endurance" is basically a moniker for wanting a bike to look racy but being a dentist or accountant and unable to run a road bike with out loads of spacers. Rather than market them as bikes for people who aren't flexible, are old, slow and/or fat, they gave them a sexyier more manly title that evokes images of tough men cycling huge distances in all weathers.

    The added comfort is needed because bikes are too stiff in the first place.
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    edited July 2022
    what about one of those Planet X ti jobs few people have got on here that are well mega groovy?
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    ^^The headtubes are quite short and racy, not endurancey. Maybe a Hurricane but that's on discs...
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    I think I just want a new bike. Always struggled with the SS compared to my old Tarmac.

    Fancy a new Synapse but I’m not paying £3k for a bike that a few years ago could be had for half that.

    Found a Ritchey RL frameset new but that’s £1300 and again a while back could be had for £650 from Halfords.

    I getting old aren’t I?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    How about this one?

    left the forum March 2023
  • MidlandsGrimpeur2
    MidlandsGrimpeur2 Posts: 2,123
    Fancy a new Synapse but I’m not paying £3k for a bike that a few years ago could be had for half that.


    I had the same mindset with houses. Missed out on 3 properties in 2021 as I refused to go to asking price on houses that had risen by 35% in 2 years. 12 months on and similar properties have risen another 30% and I am screwed. Should have bit the bullet and bought last year.

    I think you may be at the same point with a new bike, buy now if you really want one as they ain't getting any cheaper anytime soon!
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    Mdc

    its what you're gonna have to pay for an average frameset.

    have you looked at R&A cycles clearance?
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    me-109 said:

    ^^The headtubes are quite short and racy, not endurancey. Maybe a Hurricane but that's on discs...

    gotch. buy how short? are we talking Cipollini hort or justnormal racey bike hort?

    if he wants a long headtube go aero bike.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • shirley_basso
    shirley_basso Posts: 6,195
    Just go used
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    used eith mega groupset snd wheels, sell the oldstuff to a clubbie.

    sorted.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    Interesting when you do a bit of research the US market seem to have a wider choice of rim frames even if the prices are daft.
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    ugo.santalucia said:

    How about this one?

    ugo.santalucia said:

    How about this one?

    That’s probably covered 30k knowing you 🤣
  • arlowood
    arlowood Posts: 2,561
    edited July 2022
    Quite a few rim brake carbon framesets on offer at Paul Milnes Cycles.

    https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/road-frames-160-c.asp

    One example is this Ridley Helium in Small for £549 but plenty more where that came from in larger sizes

    https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/ridley-helium-sla-rim-brake-alloy-road-bike-frameset-carbon-fork-small-7142-p.asp
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    Those Merckxs and Ridleys - seriously, seriously, seriously lovely.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    bmxboy10 said:


    That’s probably covered 30k knowing you 🤣

    Something like that, yes...
    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    arlowood said:

    Quite a few rim brake carbon framesets on offer at Paul Milnes Cycles.

    https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/road-frames-160-c.asp

    One example is this Ridley Helium in Small for £549 but plenty more where that came from in larger sizes

    https://www.paulmilnescycles.com/ridley-helium-sla-rim-brake-alloy-road-bike-frameset-carbon-fork-small-7142-p.asp

    It's the Helium SLA, so the alloy version... I have my eyes on it, but I can't see it as much of an improvement on what I have got already
    left the forum March 2023
  • MidlandsGrimpeur2
    MidlandsGrimpeur2 Posts: 2,123
    It's the Helium SLA, so the alloy version... I have my eyes on it, but I can't see it as much of an improvement on what I have got already


    I had an alloy ridley x-cross frame a while back. Wasn't that impressed with it, felt pretty dead and unresponsive. Would have been fine if it was a standard commuter bike but for a supposedly mid ish range bike it was underwhelming.

    The Helium might be different as it is a road frame but personally I wouldn't buy an alloy ridley again.
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958

    This is how I’ve got the SS set up. Do you think moving to an endurance geo frame will make much difference to the fit?
  • bmxboy10
    bmxboy10 Posts: 1,958
    I’ve got Specialised Hover bars on there too😬
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,321
    It looks very comfy… I don’t think you can get much better to be honest…
    left the forum March 2023
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,339
    .
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,830
    For a frameset these days I reckon I'd look at getting something direct from China (Winspace/Yoeleo/Seka etc etc)
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    Bump.

    My crappy kouta cracked again a few months back. I brought a Dolan Tuono disc frameset - Have to say Im totally blown away with it - Dolan will still sell you a frameset - but there built up options are good value too

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