Approach to quality

[Cope]

I used to sell Hifi. People would have a budget to spread over source (CD, Turntable), Amplifier and Speakers. One of the common questions was how to allocate budget across the three. Evenly? Or skewed in one direction.

I always held the view that the source was the most important - rubbish in // rubbish out, so I would typically spend even up to half or more on the source.

How does this analogy work with bicycles?

Eg - Frame, Components, Wheels.

I ask because I'm currently comparing a bike with good entry-level campag equipment, but with a cheap aluminium frame, against a bike with a decent Reynolds frame, but with the bottom of the range shimano stuff (2200?). I don't know about the wheels.

For example maybe a person could splash out the best frame they could afford, and then but the very basic wheels and components on, then upgrade them over time.

What do you think?

 

[Landslide]

I reckon a decent (not necessarily the best) frame is very important, but a nice set of wheels + tyres will make the biggest difference to the feel of a bike.

 

[kyuss]

I'd disagree. The heart of any bike is its frame. Good wheels are important and can improve things like comfort, acceleration etc but they can't turn a frog into a prince. Likewise, everyone likes slick shifting groupsets but they won't make you go any faster or improve handling, they're just a means of making the bike move.

Personally I'd always take the better frame over the better groupset and upgrade over time. That said some so called cheap aluminium frames are actually pretty good.

 

[Chris James]

The recieved wisdom seems to be to sink your money into the frame. However, I suspect this is because the people giving this advice are inveterate component replacer /upgraders and thus take it for granted that all the cheap components will be chnaged for more expensive ones in the near future thereby resulting in a better bike!

Also, I suppose changing a frame is more faff than changing wheels.

FWIW I think the geometry of the frame makes quite a big difference to the feel of a bike. Mind you, so does your saddle!

 

[yello]

My bias would definitely be on the frame. Personally, I don't expect to replace a frame (unless it breaks) whereas as all other bits have a life span.

I have an old mtb that I still, for some weird and wonderful reason, consider to be the same bike even though just about everything on it has been changed. So, in my head, bike is synonymous with frame!

 

[Smokin Joe]

You need to get the balance right between frame, wheels and tyres. A Pinarello prince will ride like a complete dog if you use the wheels from a £99 bike and unbranded tyres made in a country you have never heard of.

Similarly carbon wheels and tubulars will make little difference to to a heavyweight pile of pig iron you rescued from a skip.

However, in my opinion a mid-range frame with top quality wheels and tyres will ride better than a top quality frame with mid-range wheels and tyres.

 

[HLaB]

I think IME I would go with the order Frame, Wheels (inc tyres) and then Components. I suppose you can more easily upgrade wheels/ tyres if you don't like them.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I'm with Smokin Joe, Frame wheels and tyres are the most important Items and good lightweight and stiff wheels and tyres will transform any reasonable quality frame.

 

[Steve Austin]

frame, wheels, tyres, components in that order. But then again wheels make the biggest overall difference ime.

 

[Joe]

Frame first and foremost (and I'll include geometry and fit in that). Nice wheels are lovely, but low level (Aksium, Khamsin etc) are good quality and leave you with good potential for improvement when you innevitably upgrade. A rubbish or ill fitting frame is a non starter.

 

[Tharg2007]

frame

 

[swee'pea99]

You can't make a good bike with a bad frame. A good frame can't give what it has without good wheels. Tyres matter too. Nothing else matters much really by comparison.

 

[bonj2]

frame's more important to get right first, because it's the thing you're least likely to upgrade later 'as you feel like it'. also because it contains the most matter of any component, so there is more variation in weight than any other component, and because its size is important as it affects geometry thus comfort/ergonomics/ride in a way that you can't alter.

but wheels/(and tyres) are more important to get right because for any given frame they make a far bigger difference to the ride than any other component.

 

[PpPete]

Buying a good frame and upgrading the components is a tried & tested route.... BUT it is expensive long term.

The big bike mfrs get their components from Shimano & Campag at a huge discount compared with retail prices.... so it may just be worth buying a bike with all the components you want and a less than ideal frame. Then buy a really good frame later when you can afford it and swap all the componentry over.

I have done this .... ( a long time ago) ... It is a lot of work, but you learn a lot about bike maintenance along the way.

 

[Matt B]

Frame; wheels; tyres!