Ramon1976

Hi everyone

I’m quitting smoking so the cigarette money is going to something better… I want to build a new bike from parts and the first thing I need to choose is a frame set. It’s gona be a single speed, and I’ll be riding it mostly as a commuter. I live in a small city with lots of hills and cobblestone roads. I don’t know much about frame geometries so the frames I’ve selected are based on looks and supposed build quality. The quality of the frames and craftsmanship is one of my main concerns, because I want to build something really special. From this selection what do you think will fill my needs in the best way? Thank you all for your help!

Bob Jackson or Mercian Vigorelli Track

Soma Rush

Wabi Special

Condor Paris Path

Cinelli mash work

De Rosa Pistarda

P. S. I will ask you to please ignore the price difference of the frames because I'm not going to make a decision based on that.

SquidPuppet

I would not select any of those for frequent hills and cobblestones. I'd want something that would accept high volume tires.

franswa

Soma rush accepts a larger tire. The latest frame has side tacked seat stays and a curved chain stay to accommodate bigger rubber. I'd bet you could squeez 32s .

johnnytheboy

steamroller.

vettracer

I agree, something like the All City Nature Boy

rreahard

I think the work frame takes 35s. But yeah, take a look at the Nature Boy.

SquidPuppet

Cobblestones. Not rough pavement, cobblestones. Every ride.

franswa

Htfu

SquidPuppet

Ramon1976

I guess I didn't explain myself, I have some cobblestone roads where I live but there's also a lot of good roads and I would not like to run high volume tires all day long on these.

SquidPuppet

Then it's the Condor Paris Path for sure.


Filet brazed....

franswa

I live in downtown San Antonio and there is a fair bit of cobbles. I manage just fine running 700xhtfu on my soma.

SquidPuppet

I had no idea that SA had cobblestone roads. Doesn't it beat the crap outa ya?

rreahard

Apparently he's H'edTFU.

franswa

^^^ and I don't stay on 'em too long.

veganbikes

Mercian Vigo with 853 tubes and spacing for 32c tires! That is what I am thinking about if I get the money. Mercian has that neat online frame builder in which you can even turn a King Of Merica into a track end bike with clearance for big tires and run some neat customized paint (with outlined lugs are you f'ing kidding me holy f'ing moly that is hot a hell)

I have also considered the Mash Work because it is kind of what I want because I am interested in a steel framed fixed cross bike that I can run a small nitto rack on but I have developed a taste for the finer things and well a lugged Reynolds 853OS track bike that can fit wide tires is a bit more appealing to my bike afficionodery!

Congrats on quitting smoking and picking up a bike.

Ramon1976

I really like Mercian's and Bob Jackson's frames but I don't how they quality compares to the other options; is it the same? Is it better... or worse? I would also like to know more about the De Rosa frame. Anyone own or knows anything about it?

veganbikes

Bob and Mercian have been doing it for a long while. They are classic british framebuilders with a good bit of experience. My guess is they have changed with the times and probably have a lot more staff and new folks but it seems like they are still doing quite well.

That DeRosa is aluminum. Stiffer frame material so more power transfer to the pedals but a less comfortable ride. I cannot tell you a whole lot about DeRosa since I really don't see them often and their website tells you almost nothing. However Ugo DeRosa did make some nice bikes back in the day and their line up for 2016 seems solid. Plenty of steel and titanium which is good, though no steel or ti fixed gear bikes which sucks but those can be hard to find in quality (plenty of manufacturers are doing hi-ten or 4130 these days)