Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - so 183rd st or Dolan frame

So this:

http://www.tomhallent.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=42&products_id=862
http://www.tomhallent.com/catalog/images/LAB_Shoot-183rdblack.jpg

Or this:
http://www.dpmsports.com/dolan/03-track/kadet.html
http://www.dpmsports.com/dolan/03-track/pics/precursa-frame-900.jpg

I'm having trouble finding info on the 183rd st frame... I really like the Dolan, but I just found the 183rd, and it’s a bit cheaper, although it doesn't come with a fork or headset.

Thanks :thumb:

one is steel, one is aluminum, that makes a big difference.

I'm willing to bet with all the references to it being a street frame, the 183rd street bike will have significantly different geometry than the Dolan as well.

So you're basically asking us which we'd chose, apples or oranges.

***Edit: okay, so which would you pick, an apple or an orange :), and why?***

I know, that’s one of the reasons I’m unsure which to get…

I weigh 210-220, and I would be using the bike on the street mostly, with occasional trips to the track. Does that help?
Thanks

I'd pick oranges because they have more zing than apples.

I'd likely go with the steel frame because I don't like aluminum and I don't have a velodrome nearby. For me I like a bike you can ride for an entire day and not feel sore and ****ty like you would on a typical track frame, but then I doubt my bike would be appropriate for the velodrome

Makes sense, thank you :thumb:

$400 w/o a fork?! You can do better than that man.

yes, you can spend less.

can you get seamless cromo, re-enforced headtube and nice drop-outs for that $ point?

Nuts to the dolans.

yes, you can spend less.

can you get seamless cromo, re-enforced headtube and nice drop-outs for that $ point?

The "cromo" is not seamless, I can clearly see the welds. The reinforced headtube, is nice, but so what? The drop-outs are the same Maxway ones used on a BD frame that retails for $249 shipped. So yes, you can get all those for that price point, and get a nice fork in the process as well. IRO, BD, Surly, Alien, Soma, and many others all offer more for your money than this 183rd St. deal.

dolan

The "cromo" is not seamless, I can clearly see the welds. The reinforced headtube, is nice, but so what? The drop-outs are the same Maxway ones used on a BD frame that retails for $249 shipped. So yes, you can get all those for that price point, and get a nice fork in the process as well. IRO, BD, Surly, Alien, Soma, and many others all offer more for your money than this 183rd St. deal.




tubing is made two ways. 1st is Drawn over mandrel. If you've ever played with a playdough machine and squeezed out a long str or rod shape it's kida like that. That is refered to as seamless tubing or DOM.
This style of tubing is speced for race car frames and rollbars and other serious mechanical needs.


Seamed cromo is made by taking thin strips of flat cromoly and rolling the tube around a form and then welding the seam. you cant see the seam on the outside of the tube. Next time you're at Home Depot, stop by the fence post steel tubes, you can see this seam on the inside of the tubes. This grade of tubing, even thought it might have the same 4130 material is NEVER used on a rollcage or other serious spec. Seamed cromo works ok for a bicycle frame. Seamless works better.

There's plenty of ways to build a cheaper frame. One way is to place a cromoly sticker on the frame all it needs is 1 cromoly tube. (that tube is the one that the sticker must be on so trust me there's plenty of frames out there with cromoly seat tubes! The rest could behigh-ten steel on cheaper frames.

The finnish on the black 183rd st is called E.D. black and it's a semi gloss black that can be left as is or you can powdercoat right over it with-out prep work.

The 183rd Street are nice. I haven't had the opportunity to ride one but the welds are clean and it had a great looking fork. Continnum Cycles in NYC has been stocking them since they first came out and they are selling well. I favor steel over aluminum.

tubing is made two ways. 1st is Drawn over mandrel. If you've ever played with a playdough machine and squeezed out a long str or rod shape it's kida like that. That is refered to as seamless tubing or DOM.
This style of tubing is speced for race car frames and rollbars and other serious mechanical needs.


Seamed cromo is made by taking thin strips of flat cromoly and rolling the tube around a form and then welding the seam. you cant see the seam on the outside of the tube. Next time you're at Home Depot, stop by the fence post steel tubes, you can see this seam on the inside of the tubes. This grade of tubing, even thought it might have the same 4130 material is NEVER used on a rollcage or other serious spec. Seamed cromo works ok for a bicycle frame. Seamless works better.

There's plenty of ways to build a cheaper frame. One way is to place a cromoly sticker on the frame all it needs is 1 cromoly tube. (that tube is the one that the sticker must be on so trust me there's plenty of frames out there with cromoly seat tubes! The rest could behigh-ten steel on cheaper frames.

The finnish on the black 183rd st is called E.D. black and it's a semi gloss black that can be left as is or you can powdercoat right over it with-out prep work.

ahhh, ok. didn't know what you were talking about before. even so though, you could still get more for your money, at least a complete frameset. I guess for tricks or really abusive riders this type of tubing might be a good investment, but otherwise I can't see most people using their bikes as roll cages. still think OP could do better.

what do you think would be better?

I definitely leaning toward the dolan though

Soma Rush & IRO Angus both offer higher quality tubing and complete framesets. That 183rd. St. frame looks like it might have a sloping top tube, but I can't tell for sure. It does look decent though. I'd always go for steel over aluminum for the street though. Aluminum may feel good for sprinting or climbing, but it feels like hell on the streets for me. If it were me, I'd go for a Rush. For real cost savings, the Angus can't be beat.

yes, the 183rd has a slight slope to it.

as for the comment on the welds, thank you. Yes we looked for a good shop that layed down some tasty beads. We could have gotten a cheaper factory. I had several factories sending samples.

Make sure if you order one to get a 30.0 seat post clamp.

I'd get the Dolan if it cost $200 more.

I will get neither of these immediately.

No wait. Apple.

So I ended up getting the 183rd street frame and fork! I liked the geo better and the fact that it is steel. I'm going to be building it up with some deep v's... I can't wait to get this frame!