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Posted

So you have all this high end stuff that's been gathering dust in the cave for over a year, just hard earned money and parts collected every month 

 

20 months ago you signed up for and paid for your new bike in development.  For various reasons said bike is still not ready, and now you're so over it.  

 

In fact you are so into gravel riding you are not even sure you want a new MTB but you never know

 

What do you do?  Sell off parts?  I always regret this and they are paid for, the pain long gone.

 

Find a new frame - your budget is 75/80k but there are rules...

 

you are a weight weenie 

you will never require a dropper post or flat shoes

the Fox 34 SC is so much more than you will every need

You won't ride a common brand so no Spez, trek, giant, 1 forked freaks etc

You don't care about warranties  - the way you ride frames don't break.  You think the K2C is proper

 

what do you buy?

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted

So you have all this high end stuff that's been gathering dust in the cave for over a year, just hard earned money and parts collected every month 

 

20 months ago you signed up for and paid for your new bike in development.  For various reasons said bike is still not ready, and now you're so over it.  

 

In fact you are so into gravel riding you are not even sure you want a new MTB but you never know

 

What do you do?  Sell off parts?  I always regret this and they are paid for, the pain long gone.

 

Find a new frame - your budget is 75/80k but there are rules...

 

you are a weight weenie 

you will never require a dropper post or flat shoes

the Fox 34 SC is so much more than you will every need

You won't ride a common brand so no Spez, trek, giant, 1 forked freaks etc

You don't care about warranties  - the way you ride frames don't break.  You think the K2C is proper

 

what do you buy

 

 

 

 

 

You get a Calculus Bikes custom frame.

 

 

My invoice is in the mail

Posted

My two options

 

https://www.unno.com/aora/

 

Going to be tight on the price.

 

https://www.orbea.com/gb-en/bicycles/mountain/alma

 

It is only about two weeks old.

 

I know the Spez is not on the radar, but I was day dreaming about the brakes you have, the wheels and the rest, will look sweet on a Spez Evo

 

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/s-works-epic-evo-frameset/p/175243?color=291506-175243&searchText=74820-0201

 

At the end of the day, only real option is a custom titanium frame.

Posted

So you have all this high end stuff that's been gathering dust in the cave for over a year, just hard earned money and parts collected every month 

 

20 months ago you signed up for and paid for your new bike in development.  For various reasons said bike is still not ready, and now you're so over it.  

 

In fact you are so into gravel riding you are not even sure you want a new MTB but you never know

 

What do you do?  Sell off parts?  I always regret this and they are paid for, the pain long gone.

 

Find a new frame - your budget is 75/80k but there are rules...

 

you are a weight weenie 

you will never require a dropper post or flat shoes

the Fox 34 SC is so much more than you will every need

You won't ride a common brand so no Spez, trek, giant, 1 forked freaks etc

You don't care about warranties  - the way you ride frames don't break.  You think the K2C is proper

 

what do you buy?

R70/80k for a frame only?

 

surely you do what the hell you want. but are you wanting to keep as much of the kit you already have for the initial build, or make something new out of what is there?

 

you've waited this long you get something custom to suit exactly what you need, so that's mercer (might need to pay a rush fee) or calculus.

 

or i'm sure there's overseas options too.

Posted

R70/80k for a frame only?

 

surely you do what the hell you want. but are you wanting to keep as much of the kit you already have for the initial build, or make something new out of what is there?

 

you've waited this long you get something custom to suit exactly what you need, so that's mercer (might need to pay a rush fee) or calculus.

 

or i'm sure there's overseas options too.

 

 

how can I forget the magician that is MR Dave Mercer......

Posted

Listen to the following podcast first. The one frame builder reckons a titanium frame is fine, until you crash it.

 

If it were me in your shoes, I’d get another steel frame but custom built (the Ritchey is off the shelf).

 

https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/the-cycling-podcast/id665713706?i=1000479478074

 

 

 

Same is true for a TIG or MIG welded steel frame. Crash it and its toast because you can't replace a tube like you can with a lugged frame.

Frame builders will always promote the material they're most comfortable working with and for many that is not titanium. Its a very specialised material to work with and deliver a high quality product

Posted

Listen to the following podcast first. The one frame builder reckons a titanium frame is fine, until you crash it.

 

If it were me in your shoes, I’d get another steel frame but custom built (the Ritchey is off the shelf).

 

https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/the-cycling-podcast/id665713706?i=1000479478074

Okay I didn’t listen to the podcast. Been reading some interesting stuff on steel vs. titanium recently. One point of view is that in the late 80s the only titanium available was aerospace grade. But these days with composites this is not easy to find anymore and in general lower grades of titanium are used on bikes these days. This, together with better grades of steel, has resulted in the difference between steel and titanium frames in terms of strength and weight almost disappearing. Steel is, however, still cheaper.

 

Anecdotal evidence from an American bike builder is that they receive more titanium frames for repairs these days than steel frames.

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