Foo - ok Foosters, I turn to you now, and ask for help

I sold one of my bikes to a friend who's moving here in a few weeks. I'm quite pleased to have it to offer to him; and it was a very pleasant deal (he'd ridden it a few times, and was teasing me about wanting to take it off my hands for a while). So. I have an empty space in the stable, and it JUST so happens I have an itch to build up a new bike. Something sleek. Light(ish). Biased towards climbing. A 'special day' bike, if you will. Don't get me wrong, I love my orange --It's the new black-- steel daily ride. I just wanna build something a little lighter, a little snappier for going up. I'm 80% set on Campy, so that's taken care of.

I need to start with the frame. I'm thinking Al or Al+carbon stays. I don't want to spend more than a grand (well, 500 bucks is the more realistic budget). And it has to be from a smaller company (no Trek, C-Dale, Specialized, etc).

Blue and Fetish Cycles are the current contenders. Foosters, I ask you now for help in choosing a frame. Please? I'd ask the Roadie Forum, but I prefer the Foo Perspective (on this topic). Thank you, My Foo.

http://www.vandesselsports.com/bikeNavArt/flahute_lg.jpg
Van Dessel Flahute (http://www.vandesselsports.com/flahute.php?bike=3)? $700 - frame, fork, (integrated) headset...

ooh, Van Dessel. There's a shop right by work that has them, very classy looking ride. Yeah, there's an option....

what about a single speed? Sleek as they come!! If you use used parts you can build a SS, using vintage steel of course, for 40-50$.

Dex...I highly recommend you go and check out Leader Bikes. www.leaderbikeusa.com They have several really nice road bike frames, including one with carbon stays. Great stuff.

what about a single speed? Sleek as they come!! If you use used parts you can build a SS, using vintage steel of course, for 40-50$.

Already riding an 80s Schwinn fixie (and I love it). This project is for something worthy of ooohs and ahhs and will float under me as I ascend into the heavens. For a modest budget, of course ;)

Yeah Leader is a good call. I just spoke to Fetish, and they have their 2005 Dirigente frames on stupid sale, and have my size. I may not be able to turn it away... http://fetishcycles.com/Diregenta.html

I'm partial to the ride of an 80's era Raleigh Technium frame. They're cheap and rather plentiful. Just my $0.02

Look into scandium frames, made of Easton 7000 series alloy with a touch of scandium added. I have one and it's my favorite ride.

Get a bikesdirect Motobecane or Mercier frame. It'll annoy people as your climb past them.

Yeah Leader is a good call. I just spoke to Fetish, and they have their 2005 Dirigente frames on stupid sale, and have my size. I may not be able to turn it away... http://fetishcycles.com/Diregenta.html
How stupid are we talking?

Dex,

Check out the 736R frame in blue ($299)and a leader carbon fork ($130). This is the exact frame, fork and color I test rode on a friends bike locally before I ordered my TT bike from them. The paint and finish on this thing was really, really nice. I'm considering one of these in the fall/winter. It was light, stiff(but not harsh)and responsive. And his bike with a mix of ultegra and dura ace was like 18 lbs. I only put about 10 miles in on it and was impressed.

http://www.leaderbikestore.com/pd_ld_736r.cfm#

How stupid are we talking?

300 bucks.

Get a bikesdirect Motobecane or Mercier frame. It'll annoy people as your climb past them.

Hey, I'm very close to buying a Track bike from them...Thinking the Motobecane Messenger....just for the free brake calipers/levers/pedals...fully road ready ss/fixie for $400. It would make a nice "beater" bike to tool around town on, and lock up at the mall and such.

Check out the 736R frame in blue ($299)and a leader carbon fork ($130).
http://www.leaderbikestore.com/pd_ld_736r.cfm#

yeah, that's a nice ride. But I have to be honest; I'm not smitten with the aesthetics. I look at this, on the other hand, and swoon:

http://www.rideblue.com/images/product_photo_rc4ala_big.jpg

^^ Sweet! That's a keeper for sure Dex! I really like the look of that setup and it has carbon stays too.

http://www.vandesselsports.com/bikeNavArt/flahute_lg.jpg
Van Dessel Flahute (http://www.vandesselsports.com/flahute.php?bike=3)? $700 - frame, fork, (integrated) headset...


Noteworthy comments: The Flahute is the current race bike of the Iraqi Junior National Team.

...and you've seen the road conditions in Iraq. If ever a frame was labeled "bomb-proof" this is it.

Get a mountain bike, who needs more than one road bike.

Foosters Lager

and for comparison, a couple others that have caught my eye--

The Dirigente:
http://fetishcycles.com/images/Img134.gif

The BMC Streetfire SSX (oooh, Swiss colors)
http://www.bmc-racing.com/images/bikes/Streetfire_SSX_Team_g.jpg

From GVH, the Cinelli Proxima (2004 though)
http://gvhbikes.com/buttons/LCinelliProximaBlue_small1.JPG

I just pulled the trigger on the Blue. $466 from Gottaridebikes.com

http://www.rideblue.com/rc4al.html

Nice! Congrats Dex! have to post some pictures of the build when it's done.

Niiice! Congrats Dex! I'm partial to the RC5-AL myself, but only cuz of the color. What gruppo are you putting on it? Chorus, Record? Wheelset?

[e] cycle17, that Leader track frame looks like it'd be fun...:)