its that time again!
 

I got the itch and sold the old bianchi. It was too small and I was getting sick of the excessive knee pain. Anyways, I'm on the hunt for a bike for city treking. I commute to work and just about everywhere else in the city so I'm lookin for a decent frame. I've saved all the parts off my bianchi so I have a bunch of really nice parts which I'm going to throw on a new frame.

I've got about 600-700 to use on a frame. I'm looking for a lugged frame, must be able to take a front brake. I have no preference on threadless or threaded. I'm lookin at something in the 58cm range.

To be honest with you I haven't really found too many bikes that are in that price range that are lugged.

I'm looking at the Soma Van Ness
http://www.somafab.com/vanness.html

and the Wabi Speciale
http://www.wabicycles.com/special_bike_spec_red.html

I'm used to the old road frame geometry so I'm a little partial to the van ness but totally open to suggestions. This would be my first "new frame" so I'm takin my time. Appreciate the suggestions/feedback.

Why not the Soma Rush? It's a great frame, can take a front brake, and it's lugged, for way under your budget too.
Use the money on some other nicer parts you don't have yet or buy a dog.

Never mind.. you want a lugged frame... The Van Ness seems like a good choice then.

alien/kazane

Honestly though, if you are looking for a lugged track frame, there isn't much choices other than those listed above and NJS bikes. Except NJS bikes don't have holes for brakes, so you might want to invest in one of those clamp on brakes if you REALLY want to go with lugged track frames.

yeah the dia compe brake adapters on an NJS frame is prolly your best bet.

i happen to check the alien site recently and they are going aluminum now. All steel frames are moved to viking, which is more expensive but still under the OP's budget.

EDIT: another one, brother cycles

Leader makes a really nice lugged frameset w/ relaxed geo:
http://www.leaderbikestore.com/prod_...xie_lores1.jpg
http://www.leaderbikestore.com/pd-ld...rack-frame.cfm

De Bernardi Thron?

when i was looking for a kazane i stumbled upon this website. an njs vivalo 54 for 500 with bb and headset and two kazane frames for 450 each. not a bad deal imo. one of the kazane frames has a chris king headset already.

the only thing is none of these frames are drilled for brakes. but there is always a way around it!

edit: one of the kazane's is your size. :)

Yeah, that pink kazane...is a little too fruity haha.

Love the De Bernardi Thron bike, its pretty much exactly what I want. I'd love to see some chrome lugs tho, but thats just aesthetics, not a deal breaker.

The Leader Bike Scrod suggested was actually what got me on this journey for a new lugged frame, the only problem with the leader frame is it isn't drilled for a brake. I'll have to look into the Da Compe brake adapter. Thanks guys.

i see your in brooklyn. if you are in manhattan i bought my eai/promax feirin brake from bikeworks. i know chari & co also has a brake setup but they are kinda pricy.