Ok. I went in and ordered the new frame today. A Boreas Ignis frame that is aluminium and with C.F.Forks weighs in at 1515 grammes For the pair including the headset. This is going to be a top end bike and I have to start thinking about components now. First of all it is going to be Compact crank and thanks to a very ggod Deal- is going to be Truvativ. I have chosen Ultegra as the Rest of the drive chain and the wheels will be Ultegra as well. I have the training set for normal and comfort use. I have left the rest to the LBS with the Main consderation being Lighness with strength. Lightness being the operative word but I do not want fragility to come into the equation. The estimate is that the bike will finish up at 16lbs so should give me a quality bike.
So now starts the wait as it will be a couple of months before the frame is in. and hopefully another month before it is assembled. Hopefully? I won't be able to afford it before then so I don't want the shop doing me any favours in rushing the order through. The other problem will be that I now have to put the whole bike to the back of my mind- otherwise the Doubts will come in. Have I selected the right components? Will I be able to get up the hills on 34/27 or should I think about reverting to 9 speed and put an MTB 12/34 cassette and XTR derailler on? Am I going to be good enough for a bike of this quality or should I go to Wally-Mart and see what they have in stock.
Pic is attached from the website of a built up bike- but I am hoping to get a different colour to the one shown- They do a hard anodised finish that will be better for me than a painted version- + it is lighter. Ridiculous thing is that I l know nothing about this Manufacturer-The LBS build them up to spec for their customers and this is a Race bike. Then the 1 hour long test ride I did on the shop owners bike yesterday convinced me that I had to have this bike. Didn't take it up any hills but did get in 18miles up a few slopes- and I was using the big ring on his normal crankset. He is the same size as me and his bike is set up with Dure ace but he talked me out of the "Extra" expense as Apparantly- Ultegra is more sensible for someone that does not race.

Now to the cost-This is going to cost-a-lot. My idea is though that within a few years I will not be up on the Hills on the MTB- except for a few Enjoyment rides- and If I am going to do more road riding- I do need a better bike than my existing one.I could have gone for a top end "Manufactured" Bike but taking this custom build on a top end frame-I will finish with a bike that I will not have to spend another few $$$$$ on to get it to what I want. Final retail cost is estimated at around $3,500 to $4,000 but- It will come out a lot cheaper than that due to Discount and favours.

Whether I am making the right decoision- I will will you know in 3 months +500 miles.

https://www.boreas-bikes.dk/pages/ignis.html

You guys are killing me. I want a new bike sooo bad and I am racking my brain to find a way to pay for it. So far I have:

1. Buy more lottery tickets - very very low odds
2. Stop at one of the Indian Casinos near by - low odds
3. Rob a bank - damn exploding dye packs will ruin my clothes

So far as you can see have no real solution to my problem.

BTW the bike looks sweet, especially with those wheels

Congratulations stapfam. Very wise move. If you're as good a roadie as you are a mountain biker...there's gonna be hell to pay for those other roadies in the South East of England.

Hey stapfam, I'm happy for you, but looking at that seat, and those handlebars, I know I couldn't handle it. It's a beautiful bike, have fun and ride safe.

That is a great looking bike. I'm sure you're making the right decision and will enjoy it for years.

Advantage of custom build- It will not be like that on "MY" bike

And Stonecrd. I am in the fortunate position of Both my daughters having Bought their own houses in the last Month- The wife is working and The house is very nearly paid for. What else am I going to spend my $200 a week wages on?

stapfam - It looks like a beautiful bike. I don't know how you will be able to take your mind off of it for the next few months.

Yes that is fortunate, I have a 25yo son out of college back living at home and 14yo old daughter who will start college in 4 years. My wife works, but it is taking care of the house and kids so zero income in that. I will find a way, eventually.

Good luck on your purchase - it looks good.
I'll be waiting to hear of a new John O'Groats - Lands End record in the near future.
Take care and enjoy

look great,You can't go wrong with Ultegra. You stated nothing about wheels and could go either way on some parts. You're gunnun' for a sub eighteen pound bike huh, even with non-crazy-light wheels.

Great Bike. Can't go wrong with Ultegra any way you look at it. Both my road bikes have Ultegra and it is beautiful to look at and works flawlessly.

Good Luck

After buying all the bikes I have, when I see something like this, I would like have one built for me.

I'm considering bionic surgery and having a bike built attached to me.

First you should give some thought as to where it is going to be attached......

Nice beer can. I'm sure you'll enjoy some great riding on it.

Way to go! Yep, just put it out of your mind, and then enjoy when you get it! Can't wait to hear ride reports. Maybe I am needing a new bike also!?!

Beer comes in barrells- Lager (Yuk) comes in bottles and Coke comes in cans.

I am off soda at present.

Congrats on the new bike. FWIW, it very hilly around here and I started w/standard road components. I ended up with a 50/39 compact crank and a 12/27 cassette. There are still a few hills around that put me on overload, however, for the most part, the rides are comfortable and I do not top out on the flats.

...and bike frames are made of steel.
Just yanking your chain. Looks like a great bike. Not what I would choose, but then, my ideal bike would not be what you would choose. Enjoy the bike.

But one real concern. Why let the shop have all the fun? Take the frame and parts home and build it yourself.

I say get it. You will have at least thirty allies who will continually assure you that you did the right thing.

And alway express the price in Pounds Sterling, because the numbers are smaller. Or you could use Euros but the exchange rate isn't so favorable (or is it?).

Exchange rate of $2 to £1 so just double the £'s. Sounds better in $'s aswell. Sounds like I am Richer than I think I am.

As an aside- Prices in the UK are a lot more than in the US- Except for the tyres at Pro-Bike for some reason. SO anything made in the US is going to be very expensive over here. "Made" might be the wrong word so change that to "Originating".
This frame is European and the £ against the Euro is pretty good at present.

Not certain on the prices of Bikes in the US but for around £2,000 this is a lot of bike. And that is me comparing up against the High end Treks- Giants and Specialised. I have just looked at a 2006 Giant TCR team bike with Ultegra fittings. Retail of £1800 but down to £1300---- For last years model. Plenty of parts to change from the standard and Would not have the "Bling" Of a Custom Build.

Barring the colour- Which you rather have?

What wheels.......What wheels?

Very nice bike. As you are one of our more fit riders, I'm sure you will feel the difference. Besides, everyone lusts after a Ferrari at least once in a lifetime.

Your choice is much better than the Giant.

Must have pics of the real thing. Forget the garage door, British countryside looks better.

Wheels will be the Ultegra 6600- the Expensive ones and not the ordinary. Not certain what they will ride like but I have the training wheels if they are too stiff for this Older body on the long rides. Plus the fact that the wheel builder at the LBS-When He found out what I was Ordering frame wise- Came rushing out and Said that he had a brand new set that He had rebuilt for himself. Now this is a wheel builder and These are his wheels and they will be at his cost. He built them up for his own bike-and after spending a day of tensioning- trueing and setting the bearings up perfectly, he went to fit his 9 speed cassette on and found out that these wheels are for 10 speed only-. They would not take his 9 speed cassette.

The only thing that worries me about building a custum bike, like a Rivendell or something, is I would be affraid to get one I didn't like, or fit. I don't know that much about it for one, but even if I did, if I screw up, this baby is mine. So I guess you really have to do your homework. Or if I did have a bike built and screwed up, I bet my kid would take it. I know you've been riding long enough and know what your doing, and I'm just dreaming. Have fun.

stapfam , I have a similar story on wheels, I got lucky like that... anyway, I like the pink and black. It's a great color,the black sets in-off well. It reminds me of the old Tomasini color, others too.