dave35

tl;dr: Why doesn't anybody make a steel bike (or ANY bike) in race geo with Campy 10 on it? I've built frames up before, but am trying to shop around for pre-built stuff first to save money. Budget maybe $2500.

I'm looking at buying a fancyish road bike in the next year or so. I have never bought a new complete before, only framesets, but would like to save some money, and building up framesets gets really expensive. Here are my really odd preferences:
-steep race geometry (not 'relaxed' or 'endurance'), as I tend to like lots of saddle-bar drop and quick handling
-Campy Veloce or Centaur (10s), as I don't like the Shimano ergonomics or the SRAM durability
-full-size 130 BCD crank (changing this is really expensive, and almost everything is compact now)
-steel, partly for feel and partly because straight, skinny tubes look pretty, and I weigh enough that weight isn't a huge priority; don't want to argue about frame materials here ... although some aluminum frames are really pretty
-tire clearance (25mm with fenders would be nice for training, 27-28mm without fenders would be nice for gravel)
-real fender mounts
-level top tube (does this even exist anymore?), again a looks thing
-strong hand-built wheels with lots of spokes (HA! I can dream ...)

So far, I've found the steel Marinoni Piuma (marinoni.qc.ca), which I could get with Veloce for about $2200. I'm hesitant to get a frame quite that light because they only warranty it for people up to 200 lbs and I am slightly over into clyde territory. They also have the Sportivo, which is slightly more relaxed and uses heavier tubing, but has better tire clearance, and they can change the geometry for another $125. For that matter, they could probably beef up the Piuma tubing for the same price. This would be near the upper end of my budget, and I would like some money left over for wheels in the future. They also have the slightly cheaper aluminum Delta, with similar custom options.

I have looked at the aluminum and carbon pre-assembled bikes available from the major manufacturers, and can't find much of anything with Campy on it, or anything at all in race geo with reasonable tire clearance. Non-compact cranksets are also hard to find.

I'm also considering buying a cheaper steel frameset, like a Soma Smoothie, and a Veloce groupset, and building some nicer wheels for it, but this wouldn't save me money over a Marinoni complete. I can't afford a $1000+ Marinoni frameset AND the nice parts I want.

So, any recommendations? Does anyone other than Marinoni offer Campy on anything under maybe $2500? Open to out-of-the-box suggestions, maybe even aluminum or (!) carbon. A really awesome steel bike with Shimano or SRAM might be okay, too, but pre-built steel bikes are a rare find these days.

Apologies for wall of text.

AdelaaR

Tl;dr

I will say, however, that if you can't find exactly what you want in the regular consumer market ... you can always buy parts and assemble the thing yourself ... it's great fun and very rewarding and you get EXACTLY what you like

dave35

Added tl;dr above.

AdelaaR

lol

jtwilson

Check out the Surly Pacer frameset.

RollCNY

You can build what you want for less than your budget. All City Mr. Pink Frame. Piecemeal a groupset through Ribble (Centaur mostly, Miche cassette, long reach brakes). Buy whatever wheels you want.

I did this with a Cinelli Xperience frame, handbuilt Velocity A23's on Campy Record hubs, with a Centaur group. I used Veloce shifters for the silver levers, but my whole deal was within a few dollars of $2k. Including shipping to the US. Now, my frame is about $100 less than the Mr. Pink, so that would make your $2200 very possible.

RollCNY

Did you get your fly out schedule yet, or are you still in a waiting game for the rest of your group?

jtwilson

Should be flying out on Monday, couple days in Kyrgyzstan, and make it back to the States on the 15th! Stoked!!

Gluteus

^ Thanks for your service and welcome home (in advance).

MarkThailand

How about Ritchey Logic or Ritchey Swiss Cross?

However, it might not be Italian threaded.

Mark

RollCNY

Awesome, I hope the schedule holds for you. I'm sure there is a seat reserved for you in Addiction, along with a jacket with buckles in the back.

pallen

I have one.

But I had to build it myself. Torelli frame with Centaur. I would need a different fork for tires over 25mm, but I think I can go bigger in the rear. (that's what she said?)

I also have a Surly Pacer as mentioned above, Its heavier than the Torelli but considerably cheaper. I think I have 32s on the Pacer right now.

kaliayev

Soma Smoothie. Better frame than the Pacer.

rossi46

Maybe this?



https://cielo.chrisking.com/bikes/sportif-details/

pallen

Also check out the All-City Mr.Pink. Its a better frame than the pacer as well. Slightly better tubing, internal cable routing on the top tube and some other nice touches.

Commodus

I really think you just described the Sportivo. I bought one for my girlfriend she loves it. I'm jealous every time I see it.

Buy it, you'll like it. The Veloce stuff works great, no need to spend more.

caloso

Try the Kyrgyz shashlik. It's the best.

caloso

As for your bike, you are exactly describing my '86 Gazelle Champion Mondial. I built it up with a 10-speed Campy mix (Record/Chorus/Centaur). Wonderful bike.

In addition to the Surly Pacer, take a look at the Ruben Exile. https://www.traitorcycles.com/Bikes_Exile.cfm

dave35

Thanks, everyone! Looks like there are some nice, not-super-expensive steel frames out there I hadn't thought of. It also looks like OEM Campy is as rare as I thought, so I'll probably wind up putting something together unless I get a great deal on a Marinoni. The Mr Pink looks really appealing, nice tubing for cheap. I will need to compare the geo numbers in more detail.

A Surly Pacer frameset was my first thought (long ago), but the geometry is more relaxed than I would like. I already have a Cross Check for when I want to relax a bit more, and want something that handles faster and affords more saddle-bar drop.