Speccing a Dream Bike - Long Term Project

[MacB]

Wasn't sure where to post this but, as I'm starting with frame, thought here would be good. As many know I now have my commute specific bike and my backup/pub bike is almost ready. My attention has now turned to the weekend and social run bike. Currently using the Giant hybrid but fancy something to aim for. Also taken on board comments from others, Dell and Aperitif especially, re a weekend bike being for fun only, and being as easy as possible. So the heavy commuter can provide my workouts and I can breeze along on something sinfully lightweight in my leisure time. Thinking a treat to myself for when I achieve weight loss and speed goals.

First choice - frame material - find myself strangely drawn to titanium but may be better served by top end steel, wouldn't rule out carbon but would want this to be robust and last. Geometry would be more to the audax/light tourer/sportive end rather than the full on race end. If I ever tour properly it'll either be by credit card or I'll get a full on tourer then.

So far have browsed Bob Jackson, Wilson, Mercian, Colnago, Roberts, Burls, Ribble, Hewitt, Dave Yates and Van Nicholas. Have also looked at titanium frames and bits from XI'AN Changda, Lightspeed and Cervelo carbon offerings.

Nothing will be decided without full fittings and tests but I wanted to narrow things down a bit first. I've deliberately not put a price bracket on, this is, after all, a treat

 

[mickle]

Reynolds 953. Argos racing Cycles (Riverside Ind Est, Bristol). Campagnolo Super Record. Easton carbon forks, bar, post & stem.

 

[MacB]

Reynolds 953. Argos racing Cycles (Riverside Ind Est, Bristol). Campagnolo Super Record. Easton carbon forks, bar, post & stem.

hmmm, just been reading up on Reynolds 953 will trot off to have a look at them.

Mickle, what's your take on the relative merites of steel/carbon/titanium - with a view to my needs, ie racing will never be in the mix?

 

[MacB]

So Mickle, 953 frame from Argos, if I don't want forks and headset should be about £1200. Camp Super Record groupset about £1500. Easton forks/bars/seatpost/stem about £1000 and a headset about £80. Decent wheelset will probably take overall price to around the £5k mark.

Well, we'll start with the frame and move on from there, I take it you rate Argos highly as framebuilders. Still need to get more feedback on titanium, think carbon is out as could be too fragile. Have e-mailed Argos re 953 price as only shows 853 on site.

 

[kyuss]

I'd love a 953 frameset too. Would really love an Independent Fabrication SSR or a Pegoretti Responsorium but since a lottery win is unlikely I'd make do with a Brian Rourke for half the price. I love those wraparound seat stays.

 

[betty swollocks]

if it's a dream bike you're after, get it custom made.
I love high-end steel. Villiers Velo make some beauts!

 

[montage]

Record groupset? ...... this really is a "dream".
A custom built bike would be awesome - then there really would be no other bike in the world like it.

Oh - do they do carbon butterfly bars?

 

[PpPete]

Record groupset? ...... this really is a "dream".
A custom built bike would be awesome - then there really would be no other bike in the world like it.

Oh - do they do carbon butterfly bars?

ROFPML !

 

[craigwend]

With Ti you could go down the bespoke choice using Van Nich

http://www.vannicholas.com/wbmCustomizeBike.aspx


You could spec a 2009 astraeus with campag super rec and easton / ritchey/mavic carbon wheels for about £5500,

you will never see another with the same spec,

use one of the bike builder guides for the right size for you - this is how I specced my van nich, perfect fit when I picked it up, just can't remember the website?

though whilst tidying up recently i found my measurements based on; inseam, torso, arm & shoulder, perfect fit though

 

[mickle]

According to the Production Manager at Reynolds there is a significant move back to steel as a frame material at the high end of the market. It seems people still aren't entirely sure about the durability of carbon and aluminum.

 

[MacB]

Mock the butterflies all you like Montage and PP, you'll be scared to find that I've been looking at custom titanium bar options Strange, I'm actually leaning away from butterflies towards bullhorn/aero style bars. Having used the butterflies long enough now I've been able to ascertain the hand positions I like and they can be replicated via bullhorns. But aero/bullhorn/butterfly will all give the same setup fitting characteristics. So choice not required until frame is selected and ready.

Back to the frame decision - carbon is tanking at bottom of pile along with alu, I want a frame with a lifetime guarantee, and that would be repairable if need be.

Steel - some very definite opinions out there - steel is best, but 631 is better than 853 or 953 as those two give a harsher ride???(frame builders only working in 631 seem to say this) Others say 953 is the DB's and don't look at anything less. Then others say steel is inferior to high level titanium, alu and carbon.

Titanium - seems to get the same variety of opinion as steel, quite a few frames are mixed with carbon, would prefer to only mix forks-wise myself. Some claims of titanium feeling nice to start with but too dead and after the honeymoon period you'd wish you went carbon or steel instead.

Looked at Independent Fabrications and liked what I saw re the Club Racer model. This led me to look at Mosquito Bikes so have now perused IF, Moots, Pegoretti, Litespeed and Merlin.

I would definitely want to have full fitting and custom build, more options via steel for this. Anyone know anything about Burls that build in titanium?

 

[fossyant]

TBH, A Rourke 953 is at the top of my list for another super bike...... or a Wilier Cento Uno, or EPS.......

 

[PpPete]

MacB - wasn't mocking you - or even butterfly bars, it was just the sheer incongruity of carbon butterfly bars that made me giggle uncontrollably....

If I was going to build up a truly individual "dream" machine I'd want to build the frame myself too. Trying to persuade SWMBO that a Dave Yates frame building course would be a good annual holiday is proving a challenge....

 

[MacB]

wasn't offended at all PP, hide like a Rhino here, not sure I'd want to build myself, if I'm spending all this dosh I want a proper professional doing the work.

Steel is in the lead, not hearing much support for titanium, or the others, on here. Of the steel builders Argos is currently ahead, but also see a lot of support for Yates and Roberts.

 

[montage]

MacB - wasn't mocking you - or even butterfly bars,quote]


I however, am mocking the butterfly bars, even though I have nothing against them, don't think they look that odd, and actually quite like them - just giving some irrational mockery.

Can you be tempted by drop bars? More or less has the same positions as bull horn bars with the added extra of free speed drops