Frame for around $400?
 

I was planning on building up a new road bike- Had my eye on a mid 2000s specialized roubaix carbon frame, would have cost around $400. This would have replaced my trek 1000 from 2001.
Then, I built up a conversion fixed gear. This is on a 1990 Trek 400 frame, and I'm in love. :thumb: I'm considering upgrading this setup, starting with a new frameset.

My tastes:
simple lines (leaders are nice and all, but I'll leave that look for when I get my triathlon specific bike)
Level top tube- sure, call me superficial.
I like the look & feel of lugged steel, but I'm open to other options.
I would like (but don't require) a water bottle mount.
Light weight is always a plus, but not at the cost of durability. I'm 160 lbs +/- and 5'11''. I can easily enough do 150 miles/week, though often it's closer to 75 because of work or school.

It may or may not end up with my celeste velocity deep Vs on it, since the trek will be getting re-painted in dark silver & celeste (lugs)

Frameset suggestions appreciated, even if you only hit a few of the above points!

sorry, no attempt to help you out, but you're on Silverfish as well right??

Personally I'm probably going to build up a Surly Steamroller. I've only heard good things about it, and the frameset is around 430

Haha, yeah. I've been on silverfish for a while but I quickly tire of some of the new guys on there.

IRO Mark V! around $300 for frame/fork so you can put the extra $100 into goodies.

Try the Mercier Kilo TT from bikesdirect.com . Might be a good option as a start, it's going to be mine after riding on Gbomb Cambiar for awhile and even finding it inadequate for commuting.

alien bikes?
a bit more than 400, but im in love with them.

Anything a little more unique? I'm perfectly willing to buy used (but not abused) if it's something that ought to be reasonably available in a ~56cm size.
These bikes all look good quality, but none do any more for me than my trek already does..
What's it cost for something with WOW factor?

[edit]
Alien might be getting a little closer- do they just offer that one frame?
Weighs more than an IRO, though- assuming IRO includes the fork weight.

Steamroller frame is cheap at www.universalcycles.com - use vip15 coupon for 15% off.

ps. - Not a shill, just a happy customer.

I'll say from my very new experience but probably one month of research before acquiring the money to buy a fixed gear that there doesn't seem to be much difference in the frames of these bikes except for
lugged versus non,
steel versus aluminum (at least in this price range),
threadless versus threaded,
straight fork versus curved fork
Add-ons for commuting like braze-ons, brakes and the like versus pure track frame with zero holes,
Road Geometry Versus Track Geometry
Tire clearance Versus Bar Spin-ability.
Any one with more experience will probably say there are more differences then that but to me most of that seems pretty trivial when it comes down to it and probably nothing you don't already have unless you want a spiffy paint job and actual dropouts versus conversion drop outs.

Maybe the real question ought to be, will I find anything for $400 that is a significant upgrade from what I have?
It's easy in the road bike world, with lots of frames coming through the LBS.
Track ends would be nice, but they don't make a huge difference when it comes down to it.

Anyone have a source for used, higher-end stuff?

For a frameset (new) for $400 I would go with an Alien, probably. Although I suppose the Kilo TT frame on Bike Island is only half as much and equal if not better quality ... if I had to spend the entire $400 on just a frameset I would go with the Alien because it is simpler and there aren't really superior materials/designs at this pricepoint.

Sounds to me like you ought to surf ebay and find an old Merckx or Pinarello or something.

Yeah, I'd looked on ebay some for something older & nicer, but it seems all the NJS types are > $600, which is past my price range. The new ones look to be well over a grand.
Anyone know any better (read: less expensive) sources?

Why not just go with the Alien? It fits several of the specifications you made: durable (chromoly steel), lugged, clean lines / horizontal tube (clean lines basically being the point of this frameset). Doesn't have water bottle mounts ... but that's what you sacrifice when you want clean lines.

Also, they offer it prepainted for just $50.

RE: Alien
Looking into it a bit deeper, the marginal front brake clearance bothered me some- I do like to have a front brake there, though I don't use it often. It looks like you *can* make one work, but it's a little tight & you have to use just the right brake.
Also, for whatever reason, it's heavier than its competition.

If you're looking for a WOW factor, expect to spend more than $400. I'm more about ****ion so the Steamroller does the job for me.

They don't come drilled for a brake, of course, but they do offer it extra. It's heavy because it is a cheap, generic type of 4130, not some light, toutable type. If you wanted a brake you could get a low-clearance Keirin brake.

The particular combination of stuff you want on your bike might be difficult to find at this price point (new, lugs, light, drilled).

If it were all about function, there isn't really much that my current trek 400 is lacking. If I can get something lighter & in some other way nicer, I'll do it- if not, I'll just work on upgrading drivetrain components on the trek.

New isn't an issue. Used is fine. I just haven't been able to find much used other than the several $600 plus bikes on ebay.

Mostly is just the lugs that are difficult to find.

I'm not completely hung up on having lugs, but they add some interest to the frame.
I'd go for a more modern track bike too, like the bianchi pista concept, but I haven't seen it in my price range.

I guess the issue is that I want something that is clean looking, but not to the point of being boring, if that makes any sense.

Maybe I just won't find what I want, in my price range.

A Pista Concept will have the hipster tax associated with it (in my experience). You can get a previous generation FTP though for pretty cheap though if you don't mind having an outdated body style.

For $400, I think the Alien frameset is the cleanest frameset you can get with lugs.

If you are looking used, there are a ton of options of course, but with lugs it will generally be heavier because they are older frames ... this is a result of course of limited availability/options. If you can afford to be patient you will find what you want. It depends on how fast you want it.

Yeah, they seem to be a bit pricey.
I'll think about the alien some more. I'm in no rush, I'd be happy if I found something by mid-fall. I could wait longer, if prices drop when it gets too cold for most people to ride. I'm just trying to figure out what it is that I should be looking for, even.

Dude look harder on ebay for something interesting!!

I have seen several frames recently on ebay that give the "wow" factor:

2001 Bianchi Pista (black w/ celeste decals)
Trek T1
Specialized Langster Comp
FTP
GTB (GT triple triangle track bike)

keep your eyes out for older, italian track bike frames or modern aluminum ones. Several of the bikes I listed are modern, aluminum frames that you can sometimes find cheap. Older italian frames are slightly more expensive, but you could get lucky. Stay away from keirin/NJS--overpriced and overdone.

You just have to be persistent with your searches. Right now there is a grey/gunmetal colored pista on there that looks cool (I'm a sucker for the older style pistas)

Also, as far as a brand new option, the Soma Rush is as close as you're gonna get for your desires. It's agressive, made w/ good tubing (Tange) and has no braze ons OTHER THAN water bottle. And it's hot.

Alien is just another overpriced, generic track bike frame. Pretty pointless if you ask me.

Soma Rush isn't lugged. Alien is. If you get the Soma you may as well just get the Kilo TT frameset from Bike Island, imo.

http://www.leaderbikestore.com/pd-ld...rack-frame.cfm

This is another frame I thought of. Simple, lugged. But also twice what you wanted to pay. I am only including it because I once saw this frame on eBay for less, and once on their site with a discount. IMO the lug detailing is nice, have the option to get a threaded fork (I assume since you like lugs you probably also like quill stems.), and some other carbon options as well.

Like I said before, the previous model FTPs are super nice. I personally like the 09 frameset more though, so I'd probably not get it.

I recently got a Cervelo P2T that I am extremely pleased with. An old frame, but I didn't have to resort to a Concept and I can take it to the track.

Like Pedalling said, the T1 might be an option if you can get it cheap.

If you want a Pista, cruise your local CL. I found this earlier today: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/bik/1178405005.html

Not a bad deal considering it comes with Brooks Saddle (not B-17), AND Brooks bar tape. Full bike for $400. You might find something similar in your area.

Is it just me or are the top tubes on the lugged Leader frames kinda long?

No, Soma isn't lugged, the fork can be though. But he said he was flexible with those guidelines. And it is made out of nicer steel than the alien or kilo. Actually, if you want to compare something to the kilo, wouldn't it be the alien since they are both made out of 4130?

ATX,
Some of those would deff be nice, I'll have to search harder! Soma isn't bad either.

DevilsHaircut,
That leader sure looks nice, I'll be patient and see if I can catch one cheap.

I looked at what I think was a 2001 Pista. It looks like this one

http://web.mit.edu/jsoltren/www/three.html

It claims to be a 2001 on this page. The frame does not appear to be lugged though. Like this one that claims to also be a 2001 http://velospace.org/node/6351 Which does look lugged.

The bike I looked at I took a picture of here for my records.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/evanhor...36664/sizes/l/

It is the $400 price range if OP is interested in it I can pass along the details.

Akkando, What size was the black/celeste pista that you looked at? I do have a soft spot for bianchis, even if that frame isn't as fascinating as some of the others mentioned above.

He told me it was a 55. It felt like a 55 when I road it, but I am new. He was selling the bike for $425 or $450 at the time, I don't remember. That was a week ago. If he still has it I bet he would sell it for less. He seemed liked he was done with the who track bike thing, if you just want the frame I am not sure if he would cheapen it more... I think he wants to get rid of the whole thing, no use for the parts. But who knows, he doesn't seem like he needs money super bad, and like I said if he still has it, he would probably be willing to cut a deal now. He was nice when I met him.

Also the reason I did not buy it had nothing to do with the frame, I quite liked the frame. I was sort of just looking, it felt a little strange to ride, the tires needed air, and he may have stripped something..... something seemed off with peddaling... then again it was the second time I road a fixie, and in the rain for that matter.

It is a cool looking frame for sure. Two more pics of his frame. File size is LARGE
http://ease_one.shackspace.com/Bikes%20006.jpg
http://ease_one.shackspace.com/Bikes%20008.jpg