Road Cycling - I have a budget of $1300 for a new Frame/Fork What would you get??

Hello,
I have a budget of $1300 for a new Frame/Fork.
I ride a KHS Flite 500 now. I ride about 100 miles a week.
Most of my riding is about 18-20 mph on a smooth bike trail.
I also compete in a few triathlons and a few Cat 5 Criteriums.
I need an all purpose bike (training/relaxing/racing)
I will probably upgrade again in 3 years.
I weight about 185 lbs.
I don't want steel.

With a budget of $1300. What would you recommend?
Thanks in advance!
Lancer

$1300 buys you a lot of frame/fork.

I'd have a Marinoni Piuma [UltraFoco steel] custom made, with a Columbus Carve CF fork... [I know you don't want steel, but you asked what I would get...]

Or maybe a Colnago Tecnos... or a Steelman Stage Race... or a Look KG 361 [Carbon]... A Merckx Majestic [Ti]...

Your choices are endless. Have fun.

I checked Litespeed and Merlin but they're a few hundred more than your limit. You might check out Airborne for a Ti frame and fork. They may be in your range.

That will buy you a Principia RSL frame and fork. Not so well known in the US, but these Danish lightweight Al frames have a superb reputation for low weigh, great ride quality and strength. Many pros ride them, esp the ones who are not sponsored by bike companies.

http://www.bullteksports.com/catalog/road_frames.htm

http://www.principia.dk/pages/products.html

let me understand this correctly. you want to commit $1300 for a frame/fork for a moderate amount of riding....and you want to exclude the smoothest still the most attractive material available for road bikes? dude... you don't deserve the real feel of steel.

go and get your aluminum can (ting!) or your 'i think that low end ti or carbon fiber is the same as the expensive stuff' frame/fork --

stop buying into hype.

We're supposed to be civilized here. Personal opinions about materials don't allow for personal attacks against other members. There are other web sites for that juvenile behavior.

To RiPHRaPH,

Relax on the disrespect.
What's your problem anyways?!

It's freaks like you that give road biking a bad name.
The fact of the matter is I don't like the feel of a steel bike.
The key word here is "I"
Do you get it now...."I"
It's a matter of PERSONAL preference!

Since you offered absolutely no advice and just a negative post, it clearly reflects your personality or should I say, It's obvious lack thereof.

Stay on the Prozac, You'll be a happier guy.
Lance

To RiPHRaPH,

Also,

I already bought the Dura Ace Groupo for $1500.
So all in, this will end up being a $2800 bike.
I'm sure that many people who will read this likewise have spent a great deal of money on their bikes and wouldn't appreciate some referring to them as "ting" tin can aluminum or low end carbon fiber or Ti. It's truly an insult to everyone else not riding steel.

In the court of popular opinion, I wouldn't want to stand next to you.
Lance

Okay, everyone, let's cool it down a bit.

Someone's frame material choice should not be grounds for ad-hominem attacks, and intemperately-worded opinions dhoulf not bring calls for medication and insults.

The original question was valid and Lance has his preferences, so let's respect that.

Just me, being a moderator.

Out of curiosity, Lance, why are you not interested in steel?

To velocipedio,

It's not really so much that I don't like steel, There is no denying that steel is a comfortable ride. My take on the disadvantages are the common ones...It doesn't feel as rigid to me or as quick during acceleration as Ti and aluminum bikes. Also, It's heavier. My primary training is for Triathlons. I can only get in two 50 mile rides a week, The rest of my schedule is taking up by running 40 miles and swimming 5.
On the days I am schedules to ride, I ride no matter rain nor shine. My bike gets wet very often, Steel can possible rust.
Also, This really shouldn't come into play much, however, If I were looking at two sports cars with equal performance, I, like anyone, would go with the better looking one. I personally like the look of a ti bike and oversized aerodynamic aluminum tubing.
Ti bike are also very comfortable to me. Just as comfortable as any steel bike I've ridden.
Again, these are just my personal preferences.
Thanks for asking.
Lance

I don't know what the prices are but here is my list of perfect bikes:
Pinarello Prince & Marvel
DeRosa Merak & Planet
DeRosa Vega is pretty darn good too
Merckx Fuga & Team SC
LiteSpeed Ghisallo & Vortex
Cannondale CAAD5 & 7 with full carbon Slice fork (handmade in the USA!)

Bike I haven't ridden but sure feels good in a parking lot & looks hot:
Fondriest U107

Hopefully one of those hits your price range!

Forgot one--
Titus Drop-U (great AL racer about $1000 with a Ozu Pro full carbon fork, leaves extra for a sweet set of wheels!)

Are you looking at a road bike, or a tri bike? Or a road bike to use in Triathalons? :) I dropped by my local triathalon shop yesterday, and put a few miles on a Felt Tri bike, sheesh its fast! I'm now thinking about putting some aero bars on my Quantum Race.

You can get a well built (over built? definitely NOT noodley) Ti frame from Habanero Cycles for $695. That leaves a lot of $$ left over for the fork. :-)

Their Ti frames weigh in at a little over 3 pounds depending on frame size, so they're not super light. They are built for stiffness and durability. One of their frames ought to last decades.

Here's their website:

http://www.habcycles.com

I've worked with Mark Hickey over the past couple of months in the process of ordering a new complete bike from them, and I can vouch for the fact that the guy is totally committed to customer satisfaction. The man has a lot of integrity. He's been an absolute joy to work with.

Also, two of my friends have frames made by Habanero and both feel they made the best choice in buying those frames.

everyone -

my comments, IN CONTEXT doesn't not constitute a personal attack. did i call him out and drag him through the mud> no, my play on 'you can't handle the truth' and my comments thinking that he bought into the marketing hype were intentionally intended to make one stop and think about choice of materials.

and everyone's comments since then more appropriately fall into the category of personal insult and intent - and don't for even one second assume that you know my intent or what's in my heart or what makes me tick.

like a 30 second commercial, you've got a short time to make a statement and my words were chosen with that in mind. did i say....dude, you are an @ss.... or, dude....you are an idiot.....
have i used the word dude or other slang in any of my other 100 posts?

look at the bike lust posts. i just wanted you to stop and not overlook a great material and not blow past it like you've already made up your mind.

so, settle down, francis. and don't blow your pyloric valve by misinterpreting a little fun (this forum is a fun distraction, right?) and everyone.... please..... when you read this stuff.....remember.... people have differing moods and react to things differently depending on the time of day. better i should say...."oh, yes, that aluminum frame that you are going to smooth over with a steel or carbon fork (see!!!) is just perfect for your needs" ......see? that's fun.

i wouldn't know the first thing about 'calling someone out' and i guess if you read my post in different inflections it could take on different tones, but hey. i am having fun here. i am laughing that people logged on and started chiming in and defending someone with the INTENT of personally attacking me. so, i used strong wording trying to persuad someone to rethink their bias towards steel.

i especially liked the guy who told me to go on Prozac. nice. this too is in fun.


i had other things in mind for my 100th post, but hey. the joke is on me.

all the day's best. riph.

Lance,
looking at the world of possibilities here several frames come to mind.
Quintana Roo makes some sweet tri frames, that have gotten great reviews. Airborne was mentioned here and I agree. Felt does not get the respect it deserves, however super quality. When it comes to Habanero, you cannot go wrong with them. At that kind of price for a handmade custom Ti frame, IMHO it is the way to go, if you like Ti.
Now if you arer talking road bike well then that opens another can of worms with alot more possibilities.

"sorry" would have been alot quicker


Originally posted by RiPHRaPH
everyone -

[blah, blah blah]

all the day's best. riph.

riph, dont worry about it. Is hard to read into somebody's intentions in a forum such as this.

Hey I am in the same boat :). I have a KHS 500, and looking for a new frame/fork. I only have $1000 max. I do not not have a recommendation but have you seen this site?


http://www.gvhbikes.com./current.html

BTW I do not know if we have the same year model, but my KHS flite 500 is steel.

http://www.epinions.com/bike-Bicycles-All-46180-KHS_Flite_500__2000/display_~full_specs

Lance,

At www.excelsports.com they have last years Look KG281 frame and fork for just over $1000. This is a great buy for a great frame. I decided to buy one after 3 years of riding aluminum and this bike surprises me everytime I ride it. I built it with Durace and Ksyriums and it weighs in at only 16.5 pounds. It is worth looking into if carbon frame material is on your list.

Thats a great choice-- I saw the KG361 w/ fork (in cool as hell matte black) was only $1000 too.
http://www.excelsports.com/item.asp?description=KG361+with+Pro3+Fork&vendorCode=LOOK

Yeah, I got the Black matte finish and it looks awesome in the sunlight as you can see the carbon weave. The whole package looks very stealthy and mixes old school looks with new style tubes shapes and geometry.

I test rode a Calfee and the Trek 5500 and 5900 but to me they all had the "dead wood" feel you hear about from some people. The Look is much more active beneath you and is almost as stiff as my Klein. I wasn't a carbon fan until I rode this bike. Hopefully it stands the test of time as I have 4500 miles on it so far this year and it is holding up well, but I worry about the bonding between the carbon and the aluminum lugs.

1300 buys all the frame and fork you want, look at some of the Mercks, Airbornes, used litespeeds? The big thing is it will be hard to ride them before hand so do alot of research. I recently went through this process, started out looking for Ti or Carbon fiber, even a Cannondale Caad4. I ended up with steel mostly because of budget. I got a great deal on a new old stock Lemond Zurich frame. I always have ridden steel and was familiar with the ride qualities so that helped my decision. Based your description we are the same weight and ride about the same amount at the same speed. Although alot my riding is on less than perfect roads. Regardless of anything else if you spend 1300 on a frame and fork you need to be happy with it. Its a few buck more but....Serotta??

Thanks everyone for the advice...more is always welcome!