"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Argh. I broke my frame.

My frame cracked at the weld between the drive side chain stay and BB. This is the 2nd time I busted a frame in the same way - both Felts. It didn't happen in a crash (as far as I know - and it has been about 2 yrs since my last crash). The first time they replaced it on warranty, now the bike is about 5 yrs old, so I doubt I'll get anything from Felt.

So now I'm looking for an inexpensive race frame. Any suggestions? I'll build it up with my current components.

cmh

You massive sprints are too much for such wussy frames! And I'd like to be the first to say CAAD9/10. Or Spooky. You can now close the thread.

You can now close the thread.

fact.

Are you sure it's not Trek frame you have?

Seriously, the CAAD9/10 is the best bang for your buck race frame IMO

CAAD10 yes , Spooky no no no no.

CAAD10 yes , Spooky no no no no.

I thought you used to like the spooky? What changed your mind?

how much is inexpensive?

I rode a spooky, there is a difference. My team was sponsored by Micky and every review I gave of it was accurate. They are super stiff no frills crit frames, the flip side to that is they are absolute back crackers and the geometry is not suited for longer distances(my opinion). Also I had some issue with my frame and the rear end being formed wrong that took months to sort out. If you only ever do crits or rides under 2 hours it is probably great.

For the price they are now I think the caad10 or many carbon frames are a better option. Frame/fork and headset is $1700 which is crazy for an aluminum frame cranked out of a factory. Sorry Micky, again just my opinion and not that of my team or teammates.

jrennie--thanks for sharing. I was just curious to hear your opinion. I race and train on a skeletor and like it a lot, even over longer distances. Granted, I'm young, fairly light, and not too powerful.

Yeah, lots of guys racing on them think it is the greatest frame ever, I might be in the minority.

Salsa Podio.

find an old sworks e5. best bang for the buck if you can find your size

FWIW I wasn't endorsing Spooky either..never ridden one..I was just being a smart ass because like the CAAD recommendations the Spooky recommendations were soon to follow...I do have experience with the CAAD frames though..and C'dale does some weird voodoo with their al and it's pretty freak'n good.

no team frame?

No team frame. I do have a bike shop discount and I'll check what they have to offer, but they are a pretty high end shop so they seem to offer me a decent discount on a $3500 frame, which still ends up being over budget. But now I see that they are a Salsa dealer - I guess I'll check out the Podio.

I'll check out a Caad9/10 - I knew that would be recommended. I've never heard of a Spooky - anyone have a link?

By inexpensive I'm hoping to spend something around $1000, which likely means used. I guess I'll scrounge up $1700 if thats what it takes and I don't find anything decent used in the next few weeks. It seems like if I'm spending $1700 for a new frame I might as well get a complete bike for not too much more. Then I can keep looking for an inexpensive used frame to hang the extra components on.

Thanks for the suggestions.
cmh

Snip....
By inexpensive I'm hoping to spend something around $1000, which likely means used. I guess I'll scrounge up $1700 if thats what it takes and I don't find anything decent used in the next few weeks.
Snip...


A brand new CAAD10 frameset is $900. Buy one and don't look back.

Podio is around $800.00

find an old sworks e5. best bang for the buck if you can find your size

Or for $500.00 you can get the new E5 Allez frameset with tapered headtube.

A brand new CAAD10 frameset is $900. Buy one and don't look back.

This or the Pogio sound like good options. I misread jrennies post to be $1700 for the CAAD10. Does $900 include fork/headset or anything? It is possible that my current fork/headset will work, I suppose.

This or the Pogio sound like good options. I misread jrennies post to be $1700 for the CAAD10. Does $900 include fork/headset or anything? It is possible that my current fork/headset will work, I suppose.

Frameset=Frame/Fork (and in this case headset)

caad10 frame set = frame/fork/hs, which you should be able to get into for sub $900. i've been racing a caad9 for the past year. going from fancier carbon frames to it, i thought i'd be downgrading so to speak. i was incorrect, and am now a caad zealot.

1k will go a long way. is aluminum what you want?
i dont know what size you are but for 1k you can probably buy a lightly used Pino prince, Colnago c50, etc. high end carbon - these bikes have horrible resale.

I'm riding a Velo Vie 300SE (http://www.velovie.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Vitesse300SEFrame); my team has a sponsorship deal with them for a small discount, but they really are pretty good frames. Lighter and stiffer than my '07 Madone 5.2, and a lot cheaper (though it is higher than your $1k limit).

You should be able to get a complete CAAD10 setup for 1700 or less, a quick google search revealed "a SRAM Rival option for $1,799, and finally a more entry-level Shimano 105 option at $1,499" according to bikeradar.com

This or the Pogio sound like good options. I misread jrennies post to be $1700 for the CAAD10. Does $900 include fork/headset or anything? It is possible that my current fork/headset will work, I suppose.

There's a few things to say about the Podio. It's my favorite Al bike I've ever ridden, and yes I've ridden a CAAD9. My only real complaint is that the headtube is fairly long considering that you have to use an external headset. I run mine with a -17° stem and no spacers (pic in my sig). Something to keep in mind if you have a really large saddle to bar drop.

Or for $500.00 you can get the new E5 Allez frameset with tapered headtube.

This seems to be about the deal of the century. The only problem is that you can't up-order it with a carbon steerer tube, but that's pretty minor for the money they're asking. If the thing rides 1/2 as good as all the other Specialized bikes, you'll be dialed.

PedalForce. Inexpensive carbon frames. They have good service and stock in the US.
Unfortunately their site appears to be down at the moment.

There's always one of the generic carbon options as well.

A teammate of mine just got one from Jennie at Hong Fu. I think he said it was $600 shipped including fork, headset and integrated seatpost.

That said, I bought a Caad 9 last year to race on. It replaced a 2004 S-Works E5 frameset I had picked up on Craigslist for $100. I got a deal on the Caad, frameset was about $650 new.

I posted a thread about a Pedal Force group buy in the Road forum, but it didn't get much response. I'm still considering it myself. I know a few people that own Pedal Force frames and haven't heard of an issue from any of them. Also, warranty is 5 years.

Other thread with link to details. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?698498-Pedal-Force-QS3-Group-Buy&highlight=pedal+force)

Cinelli Xperience?

http://www.gvhbikes.com/

What size are you?

I ride a 58cm right now and have been looking for the geometry of the bike without success. I generally like a slightly shorter top tube length 56-57cm or so as I have long legs and a short torso.

you are about a week late... otherwise you could have had my 2009 58 hellafaster for <$400.

Have to recommend November bikes. Disclaimer: I am on one of their sponsored teams. Pics do not do this frame justice.

http://www.novemberbicycles.com/

That's the first I've taken a look at the November geometry. They were offering us university kids a good deal, but I didn't need a new frame this year. Nice looking bikes but funky geometry for me (looks like I'd have to go down a size and use a monster stem)...but seems like it'd be good for a long leg/short torso person. The price for the frameset is nice.

No team frame. I do have a bike shop discount and I'll check what they have to offer, but they are a pretty high end shop so they seem to offer me a decent discount on a $3500 frame, which still ends up being over budget. But now I see that they are a Salsa dealer - I guess I'll check out the Podio.

Which shop? River City?

Which shop? River City?

Cyclepath. And I have to say its been about 2 yrs since I was looking at bikes there and they gave really good deals to some of our team on Scott Addicts - they were just out of my price range. They are a really nice shop and have given our team great wrenching service at a good discount. I'm going to check out the Podio there and see what else they have that fits my budget.

I did have a look at the Spec Allez and it seems really decent for $500. I also checked out a Caad10, but was told that it may be a long time to get a frame only as C-dale is selling them like crazy as complete bikes.

My frame cracked at the weld between the drive side chain stay and BB. This is the 2nd time I busted a frame in the same way - both Felts. It didn't happen in a crash (as far as I know - and it has been about 2 yrs since my last crash). The first time they replaced it on warranty, now the bike is about 5 yrs old, so I doubt I'll get anything from Felt.

So now I'm looking for an inexpensive race frame. Any suggestions? I'll build it up with my current components.

cmh

Might still be under warranty.

Cyclepath. And I have to say its been about 2 yrs since I was looking at bikes there and they gave really good deals to some of our team on Scott Addicts - they were just out of my price range. They are a really nice shop and have given our team great wrenching service at a good discount. I'm going to check out the Podio there and see what else they have that fits my budget.

I'm going to have to poke my head in there when I'm back in town over Christmas break. It looks like the sub $1000 options are going to be fairly limited from them, however. I'd agree that the E5 is a pretty sweet deal. I was riding an Allez before I picked up my Giant and was pretty happy with it.

Frames are like saddles: What is heaven for one rider is hell for the next.

A brand new CAAD10 frameset is $900. Buy one and don't look back.

Used 9 is even cheaper.

Used 8 cheaper still. :)

Cinelli Xperience?

http://www.gvhbikes.com/

I have a Cinelli Xperience. I don't recommend it, unless you ride on perfectly flat roads. It is a jackhammer. I'm going to replace mine with something else.

PedalForce. Inexpensive carbon frames. They have good service and stock in the US.
Unfortunately their site appears to be down at the moment.


I posted a thread about a Pedal Force group buy in the Road forum, but it didn't get much response. I'm still considering it myself. I know a few people that own Pedal Force frames and haven't heard of an issue from any of them. Also, warranty is 5 years.

Other thread with link to details. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?698498-Pedal-Force-QS3-Group-Buy&highlight=pedal+force)

+1 on the group buy for their 2011 QS3 frame. I'm in on it. My son loves his 2010 model. Price for frame, fork and headset should be close to $750. This is the same exact frame set as the Ritte Bosberg that sells for more than $1700.

I just bought a used Al TCR frame for $175. I'll transfer all my components, but I think I'll spend the same for new cables, chain and anything else I might need as I did on the frame. This will get me through the winter. In the spring or early summer I'll have a bigger budget to shop for a more permanent race bike and this will become my rain bike. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

That should work - don't break it!

The Soloist frameset works for me.

There's a few things to say about the Podio. It's my favorite Al bike I've ever ridden, and yes I've ridden a CAAD9. My only real complaint is that the headtube is fairly long considering that you have to use an external headset. I run mine with a -17° stem and no spacers (pic in my sig). Something to keep in mind if you have a really large saddle to bar drop.

Isn't it scandium? Maybe you have an older model.

Scandium sounds toxic to me.

Isn't it scandium? Maybe you have an older model.

Scandium sounds toxic to me.

Its a 7000 series Al frame with small additions of scandium which act as a dispersoid strengthener, it also pins the grain boundaries which limits grain growth during welding or other high temperature heat treatments. Since the strength of a metal increases with decreasing grain size (at least down to ~1 micron according to the Hall -Petch relationship) Sc is a very potent strengthener. Sc is very expensive and oxidizes readily so an entire frame made out of it doesn't really make any sense.

/materials science rant

I rode a November once on a demo ride. Very good value.

I actually like the geo specs on the November.