3 Grand. Bike of a lifetime

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Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
You romantic old fool! ;)
Absolutely.
Back in the day of the local frame builder you could go snd have a fag and a cuppa out the back with the frame building hobbits. What's great is that bespoke frame building is growing in the UK (and EU) again. A trip to the Bespoke show provides quite a dazzling display of imagination and ingenuity, possibly more than the mainstay shows.
If that makes me a romantic fool ... I am!
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
It might do, but then the latest race-rocket will probably have a lifespan well beyond that of the average cyclists needs anyway.
True in the physical sense, but it's no longer top of the class either. For some, that matters ....
 

Rob3rt

Man or Moose!
Location
Manchester
True in the physical sense, but it's no longer top of the class either. For some, that matters ....

Same could be said about a custom frame though, and with a custom frame, it probably never was top of the class, not even close, in performance terms!

Really it is horses for courses!
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
Same could be said about a custom frame though, and with a custom frame, it probably never was top of the class, not even close, in performance terms!

Really it is horses for courses!
Agreed, but it'll always be unique and for most mortals the performance will be much more than enough .... And that depends how you measure performance ..... It's not just weight.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Agreed, but it'll always be unique and for most mortals the performance will be much more than enough .... And that depends how you measure performance ..... It's not just weight.
Or speed...none of my bikes are designed for racing. If the OP wants a racing bike for his 3k, then I am sure the latest Specialized with fancy wheels will be plenty quick enough - indeed they sponsor enough pros to ride them :smile:
 

Rob3rt

Man or Moose!
Location
Manchester
The OP has been quite clear about what is important to them and has also been quite explicit about what they don't want. Despite this, how many of the suggestions made lean toward what the OP has stated they do not want :tongue:
 

vickster

Legendary Member
A bike for sportives, and going up hills (any bike should be able to do that if the rider has the legs and lungs, even if it is at snail's pace). Not steel or retro (never suggested myself)
 

mustang1

Legendary Member
Location
London, UK
That s works is a fantastic bike. In a couple of years it'll seem old though. If you buy an oldish style bike then I'll look timeless. But I'm not sure if your title meant you want a bike for a lifetime, or you have an opportunity of a lifetime to buy a high end bike. Anyhoo, good luck with your choice!
 

winjim

Smash the cistern
some of the design features are quite shocking though - nylock nuts on bonded bolts for bottle cages WTF!
Well yes, surely it can't be beyond the wit of man to sink a nut into a carbon tube. I still really like the look of them though.
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
The OP has been quite clear about what is important to them and has also been quite explicit about what they don't want. Despite this, how many of the suggestions made lean toward what the OP has stated they do not want :tongue:
Such is the nature of questions and answers. The OP might not know some if the other options available. Certainly the bike I ended up blowing my bonus on was not what I was looking for at first which was much like the OP, a very focused carbon race bike.
Whilst they are fast, responsive and exciting in the short term can also become fatiguing, twitchy and uncomfortably stiff in the longer term.
In my own thought process I realised what I really wanted was to go fast over longer distances in comfort under any weather conditions. The Rourke will be a race bike to do just that.

I find the wide variety of advice and experience here is much of the value of this forum. Sometimes people don't always know what they want OR what they can have.
 

SteCenturion

I am your Father
Thanks for asking - still waiting, it was always a December completion anyhow. Just waiting for the call to take all the other bits up!
Getting mildly nervous/excited!
I'll bet you are FF...

I'm kinda excited for you, just love new bike time (even if it's not mine).

How long from ordering/being fitted to completion then (if you don't mind me asking).

Remember to post those pics when it arrives..

Would make a great Christmas to get it on time for you.
 
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SteCenturion

I am your Father
Absolutely.
Back in the day of the local frame builder you could go snd have a fag and a cuppa out the back with the frame building hobbits. What's great is that bespoke frame building is growing in the UK (and EU) again. A trip to the Bespoke show provides quite a dazzling display of imagination and ingenuity, possibly more than the mainstay shows.
If that makes me a romantic fool ... I am!
Double likey...

I was so impressed by the stories & alluring photo's of hand crafted bicycles in recent mags that I now must, must, must get a pass to go to the Bespoke show next year.

The thought/dream of a handbuilt, custom made for me frame where I can spec the geometry, seatpost tube diameter, steel grade, frame colours & even decals is really appealing to me.

I could afford it if I sold the two I have & saved for a year, but then as soon as the local Billy Burglers get a sniff, it would be gone.

Them's the benefits of living 'on the estate' I suppose.
 

Cuchilo

Prize winning member X2
Location
London
I prefer the bigger names when I'm spending thousands of £ for the reasons already given and after sales service . I think if I where to spend out again it would be a big brand or a bespoke bike .
 

Fab Foodie

hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
Location
Kirton, Devon.
I'll bet you are FF...

I'm kinda excited for you, just love new bike time (even if it's not mine).

How long from ordering/being fitted to completion then (if you don't mind me asking).

Remember to post those pics when it arrives..

Would make a great Christmas to get it on time for you.

Just over 6 months from Measure-up to completion I hope. My Own fault to a certain extent, I waited until after the Bespoke show and they had a bit of a rush on! I think they make about 3 bikes per week from memory.
Bespoke is damn worth a visit .... but leave the credit card at home!

Like you, I like seeing other bikes built-up (the Recent 853 Mercian was beautiful) and also see the way people mod their existing bikes, there's so much variety.

Pics? There will be loads!
 
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