Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - mid-range framesets?

i'm on the hunt for a mid-range frameset for my next build. i've been riding a DIY road frame, Rush, and Steamroller and I'm looking to upgrade on the next build. while i'd love a custom frame, my wallet can't handle it right now. any ideas for a mid-range frame between the mass-produced tawain frames, and the $2k customs? ideally it would be lugged..

What size? I know Spicer had a lugged frame on the site for $400 or so. There's only two though, both 53's.

http://spicercycles.com/index.cgi?cat=29&sub_cat=Frames&prod_id=835&cat_desc=Close-outs

http://spicercycles.com/index.cgi?cat=29&sub_cat=Frames&prod_id=834&cat_desc=Close-outs

bareknucle
Lugs are overrated.

mid-range and lugged?
if you're looking for road geometry then look at the Soma Delancey. Other than that there's not much in your pricerange.
The Alien frame is lugged, but i wouldn't consider it an upgrade.

a mid-range frame between the mass-produced tawain frames, and the $2k customs

this sounds like your budget is ~$800 and $1K, am i right?

I've looked into the delancey. Anyone riding one of those? Feedback?

Yeah Budget is under $1k

Thanks for those links jmichaeldesign. I'll check them out.

have you checked out bob jackson's vigorelli? really well made reynolds 631 lugged frameset.
you get a choice of like fifty paint colors (three different paint types), and can coordinate with any color lug lining and typeface color for well under $1K shipped, which (if you want) includes optional fender mounts at no additional charge.
they also have quite a few lug options which increases the price, but that's for you to decide.
i ride one and love it. really great quality frameset with pretty unique geometry that works well for aggressive city riding.

http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=307

http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/images/vigore600.JPG

I wanted bob jackson so i emailed them via their email form. 1 week passed and no answer yet. I've heard their communication via email doesn't work too well. Anyone knows better / smoother way to get the frameset from them??

The Bareknuckle frames are reasonable and ride great.


65203

I wanted bob jackson so i emailed them via their email form. 1 week passed and no answer yet. I've heard their communication via email doesn't work too well. Anyone knows better / smoother way to get the frameset from them??

Not sure... i emailed for sizing dimensions and got a response after two days (they're closed on wednesday). after that, i placed an order and recieved it in no time at all. i forget how long it was, i think three weeks.

The Bareknuckle frames are reasonable and ride great.



and are not lugged.

i've looked at the BK before but i don't know if that's the route i want to go..it's still in my list of options though.

i'm not saying i need lugged, i just kind of thought i'd see if there were lugged options out there since i have yet to own one..so that's not a necessary stipulation

thanks for the replies everyone, very helpful so far. i hadn't looked into the bob jackson frame but that's shot up to the top of my list quick. love all the aesthetic options.

i'm on the hunt for a mid-range frameset for my next build. i've been riding a DIY road frame, Rush, and Steamroller and I'm looking to upgrade on the next build. while i'd love a custom frame, my wallet can't handle it right now. any ideas for a mid-range frame between the mass-produced tawain frames, and the $2k customs? ideally it would be lugged..

taiwan frames/bikes aren't bad. it's the ones from china u have to stay away from imho

If you can ignore the dropouts, the Kazane frames look quite tempting... I've been eyeing them myself.

Lots of good used frames and bikes on eBay; 531, Columbus SL, etc. I've gotten these frames for less than $175 each:

http://gallery.mac.com/bbattle/100038/100_0330/web.jpg

http://gallery.mac.com/bbattle/100030/100_0266/web.jpg

http://i24.ebayimg.com/08/i/000/d7/90/0e2d_3.JPG

sp00ki,
What was the total for your Bob Jackson order including shipping? I see the frames translate to about $677USD.


have you checked out bob jackson's vigorelli? really well made reynolds 631 lugged frameset.
you get a choice of like fifty paint colors (three different paint types), and can coordinate with any color lug lining and typeface color for well under $1K shipped, which (if you want) includes optional fender mounts at no additional charge.
they also have quite a few lug options which increases the price, but that's for you to decide.
i ride one and love it. really great quality frameset with pretty unique geometry that works well for aggressive city riding.

http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=307

http://www.bobjacksoncycles.co.uk/images/vigore600.JPG

In addition to Bob Jackson, you may check out the Mercian Super Vigorelli: http://www.merciancycles.com/frames.asp

just get a Pake!

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/product/FR_VIGO.html?action=currency&id=USD
do it.

Bare Knuckle, Bob Jackson and Mercian are all good options. There are some other nice italian or japanese frames in that range too.
If you want to go totally custom, Landshark frames starts at 1249.

Who mentioned Paké? Hes looking for an upgrade from a Rush/Steamroller I dont think Paké would be much of an upgrade.

i'm on the hunt for a mid-range frameset for my next build. i've been riding a DIY road frame, Rush, and Steamroller and I'm looking to upgrade on the next build. while i'd love a custom frame, my wallet can't handle it right now. any ideas for a mid-range frame between the mass-produced tawain frames, and the $2k customs? ideally it would be lugged..

yeah you can get a pake frame for around 200.
or if you look around your local shops, they might have an 06 or 07 fuji track there trying to get rid off for around 350 complete.

but if you really want cheap, that bmx company SE came out with singlespeed bike's, one i seen was 279 complete.

ahh, patric, are you following the conversation??

how about a 1996 eddy merckx corsa extra with columbus slx tubing for 600 bucks. it would make a nice conversion...
pm me if interested

thanks again guys for all the input.

i've been emailing back and forth with a guy at bob jackson and while the price of a custom is more than i'd like to spend at this time, it's less than half what others are asking. so i think i'll be going with a custom BJ Pista at this point.

all good options though, especially Landshark, I've never heard of them and they look good. I wish there was a site that had a compiled list of all the independent builders out there instead of the ones i know from word of mouth.

w/ the Pake frame, that's definetly not an upgrade from what i've been riding to this point. it's a very fine frame and a heck of a price, but just not what i'm in the market for.

thanks again guys for all the input.

i've been emailing back and forth with a guy at bob jackson and while the price of a custom is more than i'd like to spend at this time, it's less than half what others are asking. so i think i'll be going with a custom BJ Pista at this point.

all good options though, especially Landshark, I've never heard of them and they look good. I wish there was a site that had a compiled list of all the independent builders out there instead of the ones i know from word of mouth.

w/ the Pake frame, that's definetly not an upgrade from what i've been riding to this point. it's a very fine frame and a heck of a price, but just not what i'm in the market for.

acadiaME,
What sort of prices are they quoting you for a frame+shipping. I remember I inquired about a complete and it was around $1600-$1800. I still want the frame, though it is made with reynolds 631 just like the IRO Mark V Pro, which I wanted, but they don't have my size.

sp00ki,
What was the total for your Bob Jackson order including shipping? I see the frames translate to about $677USD.

Sub-Total: £251.06
Shipping to US : 18 lbs: £90.00
Total: £341.06

which equals:
664.793 USD shipped.

it was actually cheaper when i bought it, as our dollar's value has fallen since then.

You know, I don't want to be a Negative Nelly here, but it doesn't sound like you really know what you are looking for. Customs aren't all 2k, there are lots that cost less than $1000, but you seem to be flatly saying that you're not interested. What you seem to be describing is a high-end frameset for $500, which basically doesn't exist. Mid-range framesets are what you already ride: That's what the Steamroller and Rush are.

I'm in a similar boat to the OP, riding a Steamroller now, but I am thinking of picking up a frame that's a little prettier and with a more conventional track geometry.

I think the Bob Jackson Vigorelli would be pretty slick, but I can't find a geometry sheet anywhere. Anyone know the actual specs on 'em?

@ bonechilling,

i guess when you look at it some ways you could consider surly, soma, etc. as mid-range. they are amazing frames for the price and i'm not knocking them by any means. i'll be the first to admit i am not a know-it all of bicycles, but i do know that a lot of custom lugged frames i have inquired about have been around the $2k mark as a starting point. these are very nice frames and are probably worth it, but i just can't kick that kind of money as a college student at this point.

so when you say i don't know what i want, i just don't think you know what i want. i made it fairly clear i am on the hunt for a frame for under $1k and that is preferably lugged construction. that seems clear to me, maybe my use of 'mid-range' was misplaced and maybe 'upgrade' too. i'd say low end frames are those such as Pake, mid-range is surly, soma, EAI, etc. and high-end are when you start getting to the $1k+ mark. at least in my book.


that being said..phew. i think i've been provided with some good options here. i am a bit turned off by Bob Jackson now since I have been quoted a 6 month wait on a custom from them. i understand they are popular, but i just don't want to wait that long. so it's either an off-the-peg Vigorelli or something else.


thanks again guys for all your advice! cheers.:beer::beer:

Zombie...their site SUCKS. I hunted for a geometry chart for a while but it's not there for some reason. I'd email sales@bobjackson.co.uk and ask about sizing. Warning: they are very slow to reply to emails IMO. Maybe i'm too hooked into technology but I feel like a couple day's for a business to reply to you is too long. I sent my last reply to them Sunday night (est) and they still haven't gotten back to me..

ahh, patric, are you following the conversation??

haahh my bad, good point. those weren't mid range at all, i apologize.
i'm too used to only working three days a week and spending the little money i have on food, beer and cheap bike parts.

spicercycles.com can make you a custom for around $850. I don't think it will be lugged, but the construction will be strong. I've been talking the the owner, Gene, about possibly doing this. He can use thicker tubing than lugged frames and build it to your specs. He does have a lugged frame@$600, but not all sizes and not custom.

Pretty much all track frames or track oriented mass market frames on the market in the "midrange" category are compromised. I mean you can get one to look cool but it won't feature the same quality tubeset as a nice road frame.

You can either get a tin can frame or a heavy steel frame. The best candidate for your project is going to be a road frame conversion. If you aren't riding on the track get a more comfy geometry. Also consider that Tange Prestige is an often under appreciated frame material.

You might luck out and find an old beat up Centurion cheap, or better yet find a Centurion Cinelli! There are a lot more options of midrange quality or better if you don't need track drop outs.

I've looked into the delancey. Anyone riding one of those? Feedback?

Yeah Budget is under $1k

Thanks for those links jmichaeldesign. I'll check them out.

What's wrong with that white $400 Spicer. Wicked deal.

Pretty much all track frames or track oriented mass market frames on the market in the "midrange" category are compromised. I mean you can get one to look cool but it won't feature the same quality tubeset as a nice road frame.

You can either get a tin can frame or a heavy steel frame. The best candidate for your project is going to be a road frame conversion. If you aren't riding on the track get a more comfy geometry. Also consider that Tange Prestige is an often under appreciated frame material.

You might luck out and find an old beat up Centurion cheap, or better yet find a Centurion Cinelli! There are a lot more options of midrange quality or better if you don't need track drop outs.

First of all, not true in the least. I can list a load of solid frames, that are not compromised and are a decent weight. Basically anything from IRO is a decent weight, EAI bare knuckle etc. Quality tubesets and decent looks can be found in abundance in track frames. Hell, most keirin framesets go for ~$600 with headset and bottom bracket. In no way is a road conversion the "best candidate" for his project, he said he would like track geometry. You would be hard pressed to find a road frame that rides like a track frame, they just arent built to. I think to say you will end up with a compromised frame if you buy something with track geometry is pretty hasty, as there are plenty of companies out there that provide solid track frames that are well built and of a decent weight.

I'm in a similar boat to the OP, riding a Steamroller now, but I am thinking of picking up a frame that's a little prettier and with a more conventional track geometry.

I think the Bob Jackson Vigorelli would be pretty slick, but I can't find a geometry sheet anywhere. Anyone know the actual specs on 'em?

BJ vigorelli is like a pretty version of an IRO with better tubing. parallel 73's or similar. not very traditional track geo.

I ended up pulling the trigger on a Soma Delancey frame. I have enjoyed my Rush well enough that I trust I will enjoy the Delancey with it's road style geometry. I would've gone with the Bob Jackson but the wait time and slow response to emails turned me off.

I did email spicer about the white frame listed on the site, and he emailed me back within an hour which was great. Very helpful with my questions, but just wasn't what I wanted to go with in the end. Someone should snatch it up though!

BJ vigorelli is like a pretty version of an IRO with better tubing. parallel 73's or similar. not very traditional track geo.

Yeah, that's not exactly what I'm looking for. It seems that Mercian is the better way to go between the two. They are 74/74, but you can order custom geometry at no extra cost according to the website.

Now I just have to go ride a zillion frames and figure out exactly what geo I do want.

I'm not sure if you're set on steel, but if not I'd go for a concept.