Whats the best road frame that you have ridden..?

[paul_in_toronto]

Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues

-Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
-Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
- Your hieght? Inseam?
- Frame tubing?
- Any special features of the frame?

 

[Tim McNamara]

In article <[email protected]>,
paul_in_toronto
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues
>
> -Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
> -Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
> - Your hieght? Inseam?
> - Frame tubing?
> - Any special features of the frame?

Ritchey fillet brazed road frame. Bar none the best handling bike i
have ever ridden. I would think that the TIG-welded ones ride just as
well since the geometry is the same.

 

[andresmuro]

I used to have a Basso Ascot that died in a coalition with a car (I
survived but lost a bunch of teeth and have several scars). It was the
best frame that I've ever had. I accelerated very nicely. Right now I
have a custom made frame with a 75.5 degree seat angle and a 73 degree
head angle. I had it built this way cause I have short legs and my
lower back would end up sore in long rides. With these angles, my back
never hurts anymore.

It is a titanium aerolite. It is a canadian company that builds ti
frames in china. I like this frame a lot.

Andres

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

paul_in_toronto wrote:
> Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues
>
> -Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
> -Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
> - Your hieght? Inseam?
> - Frame tubing?
> - Any special features of the frame?
>
>
> --
> paul_in_toronto

alas, another that thinks inseam or height means anything, as in
standover. Femur length is the most meaningful dimension when it comes
to a road frame as it determines seat tube angle, then top tube length
is second, as that describes torso/arm length and flexibility. Frame
sizes omit these dimensions so your questions should be-

-best road frame?-Eddy merckx MXLeader and Mondonico Diamond Extra
-seattube angle and top tube length?-73.5 degrees and 56cm.
-frame tubing-steel, of course

 

[Mike Reed]

My current 62cm Ritchey Road Logic (steel)

Special features? Cool dropouts. Elegant seat binder. Says "Ritchey"
real big on the down tube. Pretty lightweight for a production steel
frame.

 

[Jee Chung]

paul_in_toronto wrote:
> Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues
>
> -Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
> -Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
> - Your hieght? Inseam?
> - Frame tubing?
> - Any special features of the frame?
>
>

For me, among the many bikes that I have ridden in the last 25 years, my favorite was (and still is) the 1984 Serotta Nova Series "Club Touring". This so called "touring" frame has a sub-38 inch wheelbase and handles better and quicker than any other bike I have tried. My comparisons include various Bianchi steel frames made with Columbus tubing, Vitus 979, Raleigh (531 tubing), 1976 Masi Gran Criterium(!), Guerciotti with Columbus SL tubing.

The Serotta has:

- 48cm (c-c) seat tube
- 50.5 cm top tube
- Columbus SL tubing, but many suspect that the seat tube may be SP
- Cinelli cast BB
- Cast semi-flat fork crown
- Campy long rear dropouts
- Extra-long chain-stay (remember? "touring frame")
- 120cm Cinelli stem

The combination of the short wheelbase and the long chain stay means that the toes will touch the front wheel on tight turns, but it does put the rider squarely between the two wheels resulting in near-perfect weight distribution between the front and rear wheels.

I am 5' 5" and have 28" inseam.

 

[Phil, Squid-in-Training]

paul_in_toronto wrote:
> Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues
>
> -Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
> -Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
> - Your hieght? Inseam?
> - Frame tubing?
> - Any special features of the frame?

Extra-small Giant TCR (virtual 48cm). If anyone can find a smaller 700c
frame, let me know.
--
Phil, Squid-in-Training

 

[Adam Rush]

24" Sekai road frame from the early Seventies.

 

[Donald Gillies]

paul_in_toronto <[email protected]> writes:

>Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues

>-Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
>-Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)

TREK 2300 3-tubes carbon (1992-98 series), bought at chain reaction
redwood city in 2000. awesomely quiet, sprightly, level top tube, but
the aluminum lug ears cracked, ruining the frame in 2003 after 2k
miles. Was also the worst road frame I ever rode. Inseam 33.5, frame 24".

Raleigh Professional 1974, Inseam 33.5, frame 24.5. This it the best
steel frme i ever rode, and the worst-looking bicycle i ever rode.
everything rusted, imron monotone repaint, no bdge, indexed headset,
bent handlebars, come=to=mother road feel - just don't look down!

- Don Gillies
San Diego, CA

 

[Paul Kopit]

On Sat, 18 Mar 2006 23:00:58 +1100, paul_in_toronto
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues
>
>-Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
>-Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
>- Your hieght? Inseam?
>- Frame tubing?
>- Any special features of the frame?

I have a 1991 Fuso that was made by a man, David Moulton
<http://www.prodigalchild.net/Bicycle2.htm#P5>. It is a classic design
SLX 56 cm frame that is perfectly executed. Both the seatube c-t and
toptube c-c are 56 cm. When I ride the bicycle, I often think of the
man in the workshop using his old world skills and hands to make the
unique piece of artwork. The ride is incredibly comfortable and the
bicycle tracks through the turns like it is on rails. I found a
pristine Reynolds 753 x 52 cm Fuso Lux with a Cinelli bb tube for my
wife. It may be one of a kind that is in existance and is another
piece of functional artwork.

The other bicycle that I currently ride is a Cannondale Optimo x
Record. It is typical of today's road rockets and I do, and have.
ridden my events, double centuries, with it
<http://www.lagrange.org/articles/Y05M02/a-triplecrown-pk.htm> I have
owned OCLV c/f, Ti, and most else that is available, usually in size
55-56 cm. Nothing gives me the joy of the Fuso.

 

[Larry]

Look KG386i and I have rode many.

 

[Scott Morrison]

Hi Paul,

Cycles Marinoni built a 43cm sloping for my girlfriend with 700c wheels
and carbon rear-end.

Give Paulo a call at cycles Marinoni in Quebec. I'd buy direct from
them and have them do your fitting for custom.

Prices are flexible from experience.
Scott near toronto

Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
> paul_in_toronto wrote:
>
>>Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues
>>
>>-Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
>>-Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
>>- Your hieght? Inseam?
>>- Frame tubing?
>>- Any special features of the frame?
>
>
> Extra-small Giant TCR (virtual 48cm). If anyone can find a smaller 700c
> frame, let me know.

 

[SYJ]

paul_in_toronto wrote:
> Taking a poll to figure out some geometry and size issues
>
> -Whats the best road frame you have ridden?
> -Size of frame? Compact frame? (ie sloping top tube?)
> - Your hieght? Inseam?
> - Frame tubing?
> - Any special features of the frame?
>
>
> --
> paul_in_toronto

Schwinn Fastback Comp (n'lightened gold tubes) picked up off of E-Bay
for $150.00. Not the coolest, lightest, newest, flashiest, or most
fashionable frame out there, but it fits me perfectly (goofy
morphology...short legs, long torso = perfect shape for compact frame).
The fit issue trups all others, and makes the bike more comfy than my
old Cannondale Caad3, my Trek 3 tube carbon, and my steel Specialized
Allez, all of which have been recycled in some way, shape, or form.

SYJ

 

[Ozark Bicycle]

Donald Gillies wrote:

<snipped>
>
> TREK 2300 3-tubes carbon (1992-98 series), bought at chain reaction
> redwood city in 2000. awesomely quiet, sprightly, level top tube, but
> the aluminum lug ears cracked, ruining the frame in 2003 after 2k
> miles.

Did the lug ears crack after 2k *total* miles?!?


> Was also the worst road frame I ever rode. Inseam 33.5, frame 24".
>