Crooker

Hey Everybody,

new to this forum but already coming with the hard questions: what is better the "Leader 725", "Leader 735" or the Aventon Matero? Is all of it sh*t? Help me out please

I bought a single speed SE Bike with a flip flop hub two years ago at wich point I had no idea of single speed bikes and just needed a good bike for winter... now that I would love to ride a fixed, a bike like the SE: is 12 kg heavy, is starting to rust and it is ruining my knees plus i can't even get a skid done.
I want to make an upgrade, it doesn't have to be huge (I don't have that kind of money) but I definitely want to do a better job choosing a bike than I did before, so if any of you guys could help me out that would be great.

I would really appreciate hearing from those who have ridden one of these (or in the best case all of these) bikes.

Most important things to me are lightness of the bike (always alloy, not buying carbon) and that I don't have to worry that the bike will fall apart soon, so things like good welding are important to me too.
and yes if you know alternatives with the same framestyle as the Leaderbikes I am more than pleased because I have fallen in love with these frames (another reason I don't trust myself to buy the right thing)

Hope somebody has the answers for me, I really wanna have it right this time.

seau grateau

Leader doesn't have a great reputation around here due to widespread quality control issues with a recent run of frames. The fact that their website's shop section still lists frames as "Coming Soon" doesn't bode well.

SquidPuppet

Why do you want to skid?

veganbikes

I have said it before and I will of course say it again: If you don't skid your tidy-whiteys, why would you skid your bike?

Those fugly aero look pop can frames aren't worth much of anything unless scrap aluminum is worth something these days?!

If you really must has aluminum, Cinelli does a decent job using Columbus Tubi or the Specialized Langster isn't bad. However brakeless aluminum bikes have more place on a smooth velodrome than on a potholed city street.

TenSpeedV2

Set a budget, and buy the best thing you can buy on that budget. Knowing what I know now, I probably won't buy a full bike again but would get a frame/fork and build from there using quality parts.

And ride with a brake and stop worrying about the skidz. Skidding just wears your rear tire out faster and looks like you are trying to star in a Macaframa movie.

seau grateau

Don't listen to these squares. Skidding is rad.

Crooker

Thank you for the only useful answer, I heard of this problem and that's what made me quite insecure about the whole thing but I thought the problems were mainly with the 725 frame, do you have an alternative in that price range? you can get the Matero for around 300$ (wich is quite cheap?!!??!?) I think all together I could spend 1000‎€ on my bike, so a frame for 500???
obviously the more you pay the better the quality should get, but I don't want to buy a 500‎€ frame from Leader just to realise that I could have gotten a better one for the same price.

I need people with expierence who could answer my questions, how does the ride feel? is it a hassle?


Thank you @veganbikes I have totally changed my mind because of your awesome argumentation!
no but for real, you are entitled to your own opinion, I do like the aero look and you don't. unfortunately you just ignored my original answer. Do you think a brakeless carbon bike would be better on a potholedthen?


Correct me if I'm wrong but the world can not get rid of carbon fibre, it might be a very good material, but I cannot support something that is useless after you shred it and that is not possible to recycle (yet). That's why I don't want carbon.


I have set a budget, and until now I just want to choose a good frame.
thanks but I know what the skids do.
I already have a bike with brakes, it's for something completly different.
But I don't want to leave my expensive bike in a neighbourhood wich I don't know, you get me?

That's why I thought get a bike without brakes, without gears... a frame, a fork, handlebars, wheels and pedals is all I need

Crooker

not the point, man

seau grateau

I've never ridden an Aventon, so I can't speak to their quality firsthand, but I've heard some good things and they seem like a pretty decent value. I bought a Dolan Pre Cursa a while back that I've been very happy with. Nothing too fancy, no aero tubing or anything, just a well-built basic track frame. Got mine from an eBay seller in the US for $350 shipped, but if you're in Europe you might do better ordering directly from the company in the UK. Something to look into.

SquidPuppet

You brought it up as a reason for shopping for a new bike, so it very much is the point.

Crooker

thank you! the Dolan looks nice, glad that your happy with it! going to look into more details! Exactly what I was asking for, bikes that are good alternatives from people who have experience with them!

Crooker

I was asking if the frame I want to get is worth it, or if that frame makes skidding impossible. I don't need consultation on the skidding anymore, I drifted with my mountainbike when I was 5, I wanna do it again, why should I ruin my brakes and tires at the same time? tires are enough if you ask me

SquidPuppet

I didn't offer consultation, I asked a question.

Crooker

well and that was not something I needed in this thread. thank you!

TenSpeedV2

A frame has absolutely nothing to do with skidding. I think that you need to research a bit more before you post here again.

Crooker

Well instead of telling me that I'm wrong why don't you just tell me what has to do with skidding then?

Crooker

ugh guys, I see I didn't ask the right kind of people. nvm, I'm gonna look for help somewhere else. Thanks for the great help

TenSpeedV2

Gear ratio, tire choice and proper foot retention. Most of us here ride with a front brake, but you may do what you want.

TenSpeedV2

You actually did ask the right people because they are quite knowledgeable. You don't like the answers.

Crooker

I am open to choosing a better bike, but I don't need people to tell me I'm wrong without beeing given the "right" answer.
you get me?
you gave me the right answer in the end, so thank you for that

but we are getting off topic, do you kind sir have a better option for a 300 - 400 $ frame that would be better than Leader? If you know a bike with thick tubing it would be awesome (for example I saw the "Affinity Kissena" wich looks solid, but costs double)

TenSpeedV2

I don't. I bought mine used on Craigslist, and built it up that way. Got lucky on the frame/fork/post in my size and color I wanted.

iamtim

Did you consider a cro-mo steel frame instead of aluminum?

Carcosa

I've ridden a 2013 Leader 725 for more than two years now and have ridden a slightly newer Matero. Neither will let you down.

Only problem is, I wouldn't buy the newer 725s with the redesigned seat post that has been a proven issue and I don't think you can find the older 725s or 735s new anywhere these days.

Thus, Aventon is probably your cheapest/best bet in the aero aluminum game.

If you're willing to spend a little more money you could get an All City Thunderdome and you'd be a happy camper.

Any more money than that and you're talking Cinelli range.

Like previously stated. Skidding has nothing to do with the frame. All about foot retention and gear ratio.

Scrodzilla

Truth.

Thunderdome is amazing bang-for-the-buck. One of the best aluminum framesets on the market IMO. It doesn't have big ugly "aero" toooooobz, though.

Caleido Vigorelli's can be found at quite a bargain right now.

Carcosa

Do want.