Tunnelrat81

Spent a few minutes this evening thumbing through the Lynskey website, trying to figure out which of their models that I can't afford would be the best fit for me...and as a follow up started thumbing around google for titanium frame builders. One of the first ones I came to was pride cycles, a company of 3 people who offer Ti frames (even custom) at screaming deals...and supposedly the main builder worked for Litespeed for years (this according to a snippet on the serotta forum) before leaving and eventually doing his own thing.

Anyway, I don't know why I'm even asking about this beyond pure curiosity, as I'm in no need of a new frame, and likely won't be for at least a few more years. It did pique my interest though, as I wasn't able to dig up any hits here on the forum, and thought I'd see if they're known to anyone at all.

They offer frames from road, touring, mountain etc....and apparently offer each in your choice of traditional geometry or that triple-triangle design that GT used to use, a design that I'm not drawn to, but interesting nonetheless.

I apologize if this is a repost, but as I said, I tried and failed to find any other references to these guys here. Oh, and here's the link. https://www.pridecyclesusa.com/index.html

-Jeremy

Tunnelrat81

Hmm, well I think that may be my answer.

-Jeremy

Mark Kelly 

Not so fast, with the recent flurry of useless numbercode posts it's easy for good things to get lost.



I bought this frame* from Pride late last year, it cost me $1200 including custom geometry but not including shipping. Turnaround time was excellent, frame shipped about 3 weeks after we finalised the design. I'm guessing they're not selling many frames in the current economic climate, hence the pricing and the quick turnaround. My 590 st x 580 tt frame was 1600g including the headset (so 1500g without). US made by experienced guys / girls (the welder's name is Josie) using US sourced tubing, both big plusses in my book.

Straight gauge tubing, no stupid marketing driven "shaped" tubing (except top tube, see below). Single pass welds which are not as pretty as double pass but possibly stronger. Simple plate type dropouts to save cost - OK by me, I really dislike Wright / Breezer dropouts. The frame geometry checked out exactly as ordered, everything is straight and true, bike tracks and corners amazingly well. I really like the way it rides but I think the fact that it fits perfectly is a big part of that.


Minor quibbles: I had to re-chase the BB threads to prevent the cups binding. There was some leftover grit blasting powder inside the frame tubes (kinda hard to get out). I think the seat insert they use (aluminium) is ugly, but it works. I went with the flattened top tube, I now wish I hadn't but that's hardly their fault.

Overall I'm very happy, I will be buying another Ti frame from them (for my wife) as soon as I can afford it.

* The phot is from their website, the pewter CK headset and the geometry identify it as my frame.