View Full Version : newbie frame recommendations
Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market very
confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on the
ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is probably
out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a frame and I
weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
thanks for your time,
Tim
Go to your local bike shop and try all the bikes in your price range, and buy the one that fits you
best and handles/rides/performs better than the rest. It's diff. for everyone. Brands like Trek,
Giant, Lemond, are among the more popular brands. Carbon fiber frames cost a lot more than Ti. If
you like steel, Lemond has some in your price range that are good.
Be sure to get one that fits, or else you'll get back pains and won't be able to ride very far.
Jiyang
In article <301220030202528653%postscript@freeuk.com>,
tim cokayne <postscript@freeuk.com> wrote:
>
>Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
>currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
>the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market
>very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on
>the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is
>probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a
>frame and I weigh 160lbs.
"Budget" ti frames fall into the top of your price range. Airborne is one maker. I have an Airborne
Zeppelin that I like a lot. Their Valkyrie would fit in your price range.
There have been some good sales on the Look carbon frames recently. Excel Sports is one mail-order
outfit that has some on sale and has been pleasant to deal with for me.
Unless you already have a significant number of parts you can use, you would save money by buying a
complete bike. Airborne lets you pick and choose parts for your build (but so would a good shop).
If you don't know what sort of geometry you need, you'd be better served to go to a good local bike
shop instead of buying mail-order.
Eric
Thanks for help guys. I've been checking out some of the brands you suggested. I think Lemond and
Look might be on the list. I know steel is seen by many as old fashioned but it's been making a bit
of a comeback in MTBing lately, I don't know if it is for road. Do you know if anyone makes a fast
handling steel compact frame, or is that a tall order?!!
Tim
> Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
> currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
> the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market
> very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on
> the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is
> probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a
> frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
>
> thanks for your time,
>
> Tim
tim cokayne wrote:
> Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
> currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
> the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market
> very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on
> the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is
> probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a
> frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
>
> thanks for your time,
>
> Tim
Buy a good used bike and change on it what you don't like. After you've got a few thousand miles on
it you should have a clearer picture of what you really want/need.
I ride an aluminum bike and it's smooth as can be, all depends on who made it.
"tim cokayne" <postscript@freeuk.com> wrote in message
news:301220030202528653%postscript@freeuk.com...
>
> Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
> currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
> the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market
> very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on
> the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is
> probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a
> frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
>
> thanks for your time,
>
> Tim
Tim,
You should check and see if Excel Sports still has the K2 Mod 5.0 on closeout. It's a compact road
frame and includes carbon fork and frame-matched stem. It was $788 for all of it when I got mine
and I think I saw it go down to under $700. I know you said you're not keen on aluminum, but this
aluminum frame has a carbon seat and chain stays. I have a Trek 5500 and, since I got the k2, it's
my preferred ride -- even on the rough tar and gravel roads that are all over the area where I
live. It's a fantastic ride. Not to mention it's drop-dead gorgeous. I got interested in a K2 after
riding with a guy who rides for Jittery Joes in a century. He had one (it's the Jittery Joe's team
bike). I thought it was gorgeous and he just raved about how it rode. So when I saw the closeout, I
jumped on it.
FWIW,
Bob C.
There's a new steel tubing being used which is as light as aluminum, but it's pretty hard to get as
few are building with it as yet. It's also pretty spendy.
tim wrote:
> Thanks for help guys. I've been checking out some of the brands you suggested. I think Lemond and
> Look might be on the list. I know steel is seen by many as old fashioned but it's been making a
> bit of a comeback in MTBing lately, I don't know if it is for road. Do you know if anyone makes a
> fast handling steel compact frame, or is that a tall order?!!
>
> Tim
>
>
>
>>Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
>>currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
>>the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market
>>very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on
>>the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is
>>probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a
>>frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
>>
>>thanks for your time,
>>
>>Tim
"tim" <postscript@freeuk.com> wrote in message
news:301220030352003463%postscript@freeuk.com...
> Thanks for help guys. I've been checking out some of the brands you suggested. I think Lemond and
> Look might be on the list. I know steel is seen by many as old fashioned but it's been making a
> bit of a comeback in MTBing lately, I don't know if it is for road. Do you know if anyone makes a
> fast handling steel compact frame, or is that a tall order?!!
>
> Tim
>
>
> > Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
> > currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately
> > caught the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the
> > market very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not
> > keen on the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as
> > titanium is probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to
> > spend on a frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
> >
> > thanks for your time,
> >
> > Tim
I don't think you're going to find too many choices in a steel compact frame. Steel isn't making a
comeback in the road arena ... at least not yet. Nobody will deny it's a wonderful ride. But dealers
sell what manufacturers build what consumers want what the pros ride which is NOT steel right now.
I checked the Excel Sports website and they still have the K2 Mod 5.0 on closeout ... frame, fork
and stem for only $699.88 US. They only have smalls left. You can check the K2 website and see
the geometry.
Bob C.
Hmmm.. K2 eh? I live in the UK and I don't think K2 have an importer here. Maybe aluminium
main/carbon stays could be another option. I suppose I must be a bit of a purist as the idea of a
steel frame really does appeal. Shame there's not many custom builders in the UK any more. I've been
looking at some of the US builders sites and their frames look fantastic but import duty would push
me over budget. Maybe I should just max out my credit card, get a litespeed and be done with it;)
> >
> > Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
> > currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately
> > caught the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the
> > market very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not
> > keen on the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as
> > titanium is probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to
> > spend on a frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
> >
> > thanks for your time,
> >
> > Tim
>
> Tim,
>
> You should check and see if Excel Sports still has the K2 Mod 5.0 on closeout. It's a compact road
> frame and includes carbon fork and frame-matched stem. It was $788 for all of it when I got mine
> and I think I saw it go down to under $700. I know you said you're not keen on aluminum, but this
> aluminum frame has a carbon seat and chain stays. I have a Trek 5500 and, since I got the k2, it's
> my preferred ride -- even on the rough tar and gravel roads that are all over the area where I
> live. It's a fantastic ride. Not to mention it's drop-dead gorgeous. I got interested in a K2
> after riding with a guy who rides for Jittery Joes in a century. He had one (it's the Jittery
> Joe's team bike). I thought it was gorgeous and he just raved about how it rode. So when I saw the
> closeout, I jumped on it.
>
> FWIW,
>
> Bob C.
In article <301220030202528653%postscript@freeuk.com>, postscript@freeuk.com says...
>
>
>
>Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
>currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
>the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market
>very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on
>the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is
>probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a
>frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
wrong newsgroup for this type of post. try r.b.m or r.b.t.
---------------
Alex
Richard Adams wrote:
> There's a new steel tubing being used which is as light as aluminum, but it's pretty hard to get
> as few are building with it as yet. It's also pretty spendy.
But the warranty is excellent, especially in Europe.
Jamis Comet is a steel frame that comes in compact geometry now.
On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 04:57:47 +0000, tim <postscript@freeuk.com> wrote:
>
>Hmmm.. K2 eh? I live in the UK and I don't think K2 have an importer here. Maybe aluminium
>main/carbon stays could be another option. I suppose I must be a bit of a purist as the idea of a
>steel frame really does appeal. Shame there's not many custom builders in the UK any more.
If you're in the UK the Ribble site can be useful, especially the "bikebuilder" section which lets
you input various options online to see what your money will get you. It's at
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikebuilder.php
As far as actually buying from Ribble opinion in the UK is split with a number of people reporting
good bikes, but shoddy customer service.
Do a google for Ribble on uk.rec.cycling for more info.
Regards! Stephen
"psycholist" <technico@wctel.net> wrote in
news:bsqv28$ddva$1@news3.infoave.net:
> You should check and see if Excel Sports still has the K2 Mod 5.0 on closeout. It's a compact road
> frame and includes carbon fork and frame-matched stem. It was $788 for all of it when I got mine
> and I think I saw it go down to under $700. I know you said you're not keen on aluminum, but this
> aluminum frame has a carbon seat and chain stays. I have a Trek 5500 and, since I got the k2, it's
> my preferred ride -- even on the rough tar and gravel roads that are all over the area where I
> live. It's a fantastic ride. Not to mention it's drop-dead gorgeous. I got interested in a K2
> after riding with a guy who rides for Jittery Joes in a century. He had one (it's the Jittery
> Joe's team bike). I thought it was gorgeous and he just raved about how it rode. So when I saw the
> closeout, I jumped on it.
>
> FWIW,
>
> Bob C.
Bob,
Do you know what kind of warranty K2 has for that frame?
TIA,
- Boyd S.
Again, Jamis aren't available in the UK. Nice looking bike though. Just for the record, I've found a
UK frame builder who works in compact geometry. They have a range of stock steel framed bikes but
I'll go for a custom build as its in my price range. Plus they are only 30 mins on the train from
where I live. Fantastic!
have a look:- http://www.robertscycles.com/p_racing.html
thanks again everyone.
Tim
<20031230030309.13580.00001942@mb-m10.aol.com>, Soldier462 <soldier462@aol.com> wrote:
> Jamis Comet is a steel frame that comes in compact geometry now.
"Boyd Speerschneider" <bspeerscNOSPAM@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9461771A0D72bspeerscNOSPAM@65.32.1.6...
> Bob,
>
> Do you know what kind of warranty K2 has for that frame?
>
> TIA,
>
> - Boyd S.
5 years frame and fork. Limited to defects in material and workmanship, etc. Details at
www.k2bikes.com.
Bob C.
"tim" <postscript@freeuk.com> wrote in message
news:301220030457471474%postscript@freeuk.com...
>
> Hmmm.. K2 eh? I live in the UK and I don't think K2 have an importer here. Maybe aluminium
> main/carbon stays could be another option. I suppose I must be a bit of a purist as the idea of a
> steel frame really does appeal. Shame there's not many custom builders in the UK any more. I've
> been looking at some of the US builders sites and their frames look fantastic but import duty
> would push me over budget. Maybe I should just max out my credit card, get a litespeed and be done
> with it;)
>
I'd be surprised if Excel Sports didn't ship to the UK. In fact, I just checked it out at
www.excelsports.com and it looks like $35 would cover US Airmail shipping you a frame/fork combo.
FYI, Bob C.
1000 gives you a good amount of options. check out the frames available at www.gvhbikes.com Or if
you want a decent frame at a great price (and very reliable seller), check out www.chucksbikes.com
"tim cokayne" <postscript@freeuk.com> wrote in message
news:301220030202528653%postscript@freeuk.com...
>
> Hi everyone, I'm a mountain biker(for14 years) looking to purchase a good quality road bike. I
> currently use a steel framed singlespeed road bike for tarmac commuting and have definately caught
> the drop bar bug. I'm looking to build up a geared bike from scratch but I'm finding the market
> very confusing, especially frames. From my mountain biking experience I know that I'm not keen on
> the ride of aluminium framed hardtails, so steel or carbon would be preferable as titanium is
> probably out of my price range. Compact geometry would also be nice. I have $1000 to spend on a
> frame and I weigh 160lbs. Any suggestions?
>
> thanks for your time,
>
> Tim
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