[user name]

Does anyone know if the Lemond Poprad can be purchased frameset only, and if so, how much does it cost approximatley. I am semi- interested in the trek and the cannondale, but I am just not a fan of aluminum. I had a caad 4 road frame when it first came out, and it rode great, but I just don't feel that aluminum is "in it for the long haul" from a metallurgical standpoint. Any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

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[Homer]

I checked www.qbike.com, I didn't see any Poprad frames for sale. (qbike is a bike shopping search engine)

If you want steel, some other frames to consider are the Jamis Nova and the Surly Crosscheck. Qbike shows Air Bomb and Excell Sports have the Crosscheck for a little under $400. But if you don't have the parts already- that's going to cost you a lot to build-up. Pre-built bikes are going to give you less choice but be more economical. www.ibexbikes.com has a cross bike with 105 for around $850.

I'm a mechanical engineer- I have aluminum, titanium and steel bikes in my garage. Steel is a little more forgiving if the frame is poorly engineered. A poorly designed aluminum bike will be trouble. Aluminum doesn't have a great fatigue life- hence most aluminum frames are built really stiff so they don't see a lot of bending and in general aluminum frames are not repairable if they are damaged in a crash.

Don't worry too much about the Aluminum vs. Steel ride quality thing. You're going to be riding on big squishy tires. There's a lot of stuff that is an order of magnitude more compliant than the frame between you and the surface you're riding on.

[jim wallace]

The poprad can be purchased as a frame and fork. It is $600, but i saw one advertised somewhere on the net for $500.

[user name]

Awesome, thanks for the info gents.

[flythebike]

I bought a Poprad self-consciously because it is steel and I won't bend it (without being able to repair it) if I wreck it. I bought mine and then upgraded the stuff I didn't like (everything but the saddle, bars, and brakes, and the wheels for training, and the FD). I find 105 rear to shift rather slowly, too slowly for cross, and the brake levers don't offer much modulation. So I stole the Ultegra off an old road bike...did some other stuff - tubulars, ti BB, carbon crank and now I've got like a 20 pound bike. Makes it a lot easier than about 24 pounds to begin with. You can eBay the stuff you don't want and buy yourself some time and still have a bike to ride. Wasn't sure I'd love cross as much as I do, so that gave me time to figure it out.

[user name]

Good point, I'll think about that as well.