Hmm, is that an offer to pass one along at or around cost?
Cuz, I would definitely drive to Beverly for that. Can you even get it from your distributer?

On the bike biz theme- is the only difference between the rum runner and excel frame straight vs double butted?

That is one diff, the geometry is prob a little different as well (I haven't looked tho). Excel frame is made by maxway. LBS local sells the Fuji obey frames (a lugged maxway) and it's pretty nice even if the components w/ it are ugly as hell. At the "sale" price the Excel is an awesome deal. If they had them in giant man sizes I would have prob picked one up myself. I haven't seen a pake in person but I'd be willing to bet the Excel is a better frame and right now cheaper to boot.

"On second thought, I don't think it can withstand my style."

Exact same geo between the excel and the rum runner, to the mm.
I haven't seen that before in bikes that aren't comming off the same assembly line. That's why I asked :)

We've gotten a little off-topic here. In case you haven't noticed, the Excel frame has a slanted top tube and can fit bigger tires than a Rum Runner.

Well to keep it on topic, I'll keep this afloat with my first post on this forum.

I'm moving back to a big city, so I'm going to be commuting on a bike again and was considering this frame as well. I'm not as turned off at some of the things that people have had issues with, but would like to see if there is anything else floating around on this frame yet that anyone could find.

I'll probably buy one regardless, as it honestly just keeps sitting in my mind as a frame that I would enjoy, so if someone wants to find me a killer deal on this I may be able to give that real world experience.

There's still not much word on the french 75. There's a guy in the Soma & Pake thread that just ordered one and will be building it up soon. See post #43 here http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...e-Lounge/page2

I did my fair share of searching when I first posted this thread a month ago and couldn't come up with much on it.

[MENTION=44824]mihlbach[/MENTION] or [MENTION=312438]trilobite[/MENTION] can either of you guys (or anyone else with experience with this frameset) give a review of the thing that goes past initial impressions? I can't find anything substantial on the Google.

Looking at possibly purchasing this over the winter. Mostly concerned with the single sided drop out inserts, and the insides getting chewed up over time (which may not even be a valid concern). Also overall feel/ride quality.

Don't worry about this. Only the outside inserts are really needed. I've got several aluminum frames like this and it's never been a problem.

Thanks, good to know.

[MENTION=300027]Adrian_[/MENTION] 's got one too

I wouldn't worry about the single-sided inserts. My dropouts look just fine. I've been riding mine for almost a year now...my initial impressions still stand. If you have any other specific questions about the frame, let me know.

Funny how folks are tearing this bike apart regarding welds & dropouts (and rightfully so, that's sloppy) but when I had my late 90's GTB people would offer me stupid amounts of money for it, and man did that frame have some ugly welds!...nevermind the complete lack of any kind of steel plates in the dropouts.

Goes to show how far "street cred" will get you.

Thanks for the quick reply. Your initial review was pretty comprehensive, and I just re-read it, helps to reinforce my choice.

Good luck! Where the hell is my review? Ive forgotten which thread.

Btw..despite any bashing about the welds...the welds on my frame look good...a lot better than most frames that cost a lot more.

At that price point, the welds don't bother me. If I was paying a couple hundred more, it'd be a different story. Review is in this thread...
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Pake+French+75

I almost pulled the trigger on a F75 until I decided on a Dolan Pre Cursa instead. I had built up my VISP with some nice components that I wanted to transfer to something lighter and smoother riding. I'll never know now how the F75 would have turned out, but I suspect it would be very similar to the Pre Cursa. The Pre Cursa also has single sided dropout protectors (no problem) and rather globby welds (also no problem). The only aluminum frame I own that has pretty finished and smoothed welds is the Bianchi Pista Concept, and it would cost more than twice as much today as a Super Pista. Still, far and away the most enjoyable street riding and distance riding FG I own is the Soma Rush, which is all steel (is real).

The Soma Rush has always been one of my favorite framesets. Everytime I buy a new frame its on the shortlist, but I always end up getting something else for one reason or another.