Which Bike / Frame on a budget

[Elliot M]

Re Rob's dig at cheap carbon frames, i think it's becoming more obvious that China and Taiwan are the experts at it. The Pedalforce, Pearson, Planet X etc are all cheap, light, well made and get excellent reviews.

It's getting more difficult to determine exactly what is made where, but already most carbon frames are made there, although they may be assembled or finished elsewhere in order to be stickered as made in Europe or the US. And the ones that aren't are certainly subcontracted to CF fabricators - they come out of moulds, not handbuilt by gnarled Italian craftsmen you know.

You can also see expensive frames sold elsewhere with different stickers for a fraction of the price.

Quality? Remember China already makes pretty much all laptops (try and find one that isn't) where tolerances are a bit higher than a bike frame.

[Richard (Apples)]

Elliots right ! how much of this is down to the name on the frame

I seem to remember someone said "It's not about the bike"

[Jon H]

"It's not about the bike" Damn right too.

You can go and spend a shedload of money on a fancypants bling bike and be an "all the gear and no idea" type.

Or you can do some training and make a pretty ordinary bike go fast.

Whatever bike you get you still have to pedal it. Of course having a bling bike and making it go fast is even better.

[Mike I]

I have no advice on frames, except make sure it fits and is comfortable, especially if you're planning to do sportives. That matters more than weight. If your shoulders and knees hurt because it doesn't fit, it doesn't matter how light your bike is.

I agree with Jon on the budget split. If I'm buying a groupset, I always upgrade the hubs to the next level (sounds as if I buy one every six months - not true!) Have fun shopping around.

[Ian A4size]

Pedalforce, Pearson, Planet X, absolutely nothing "wrong"with these frames- Planet X frame is just brilliant , i would love their TT frame, there are 2 pearson frames in the ACC peleton at least- covering both sections of the weight spectrum lightweight Paul Dewis and Paul Tunnel who comes into the same category as moi ( clydesdale) he has been chucking his bike around the race ways for some time.
I think the junior world TT champ rode the same factory frame as the planet X- check their website.

Yanks

[Rob]

i notice how alot of you point out same factory, all out of china etc..

why go for a chinese cheap carbon frame with a groupie which isnt top and some wheels which arent top for £1500, when you can go for an aluminium frame which isnt chinese a full carbon record groupie(worth 2k alone), and some top campy eurus wheels(in silver) for £1500....ok i dropped out business school at uni, but im still smart enough to know which is the better deal!

[kieran]

so where is this wonderful bargain to be got then?? does it exist or just a day dream?

[siwickm]

Rob, what are you on about, how can you get a Record encrusted bike with Eurus wheels for less than £1,500.

Record is about £1,000
Eurus Wheels £400

That leaves you £100 for a frame, tyres, handlebars, saddle, seatpost, bottle cages etc.

Cheers

Marek...

[Stu Merckx Man]

gypsy camp in banstead?

[Ian A4size]

Maybe Rob is confusing his posts and is really going on about Alans new colnago

[Rob]

lol, firstly im here in the u.s....and the dollar rate is very weak....secondly......stuff is coming pretty direct from factories, no middle man, shop crap like that.

its called the life of having sponsors, but because my sponsor is a bicycle manufacturer, he can hook people up.


its on offer if anyone wants it.

[Jim B]

Just buy the one you like the look of the best.

I'm a bit sceptical of the whole measuring up service. If you sit on it and it feels right then it probably is. Just measure your old bike, presumably that is the right size or you know if it feels cramped etc..

We all know that if only we had the same bikes as the pros we'd be as good as them. (Assuming we stuck testosterone patches on our nads etc.)

Make sure you leave enough in your budget for some matching clothes though. A 10 year old washed out trade team shirt ain't gonna cut the mustard on your new bling steed.

[Rob]

which is actually a valid point, geta frame roughly the right size, then it can be made right altering the stem, saddle postion and seat post.....

a good example of why you shouldnt be measured up for a bike 100%properly....cycle fit, they make most people look naff!

[Richard (Apples)]

Rob

PM'd you

[kieran]

Richard, Rob,

Years ago I imported a bike from the USA for my wife (a terry's bike) and just looking at the US price it was a very good bargain but shipping wasn't too cheap and the main snag was duty etc or whatever on importing it into the UK - I believe this still exists and the cost was a few 100 pounds as the % was of the bike and shipping costs, for a %1500 bike you might need to add another what 400 or something - unless Rob has ways and means of avoiding all of that?