Frames

[101%]

MY 2C.

 

Ive been following this post for awhile now , I find it very intresting to see how most of you choose frames of your choice . But its sounds to me that most people 1st go by looks , which (even to me ) is very important , But I believe when choosing a new frame and willing to pay around 15-20k for it , then one needs to do your home work.

 

:Find out what puts a frame into this price bracket.

:what makes this frame exclusive from other cheaper frames.

:find out why the manufacturers say they use High modules carbon and why its supposed to be stronger.

:try choose a frame you believe is best sooted to your riding , try go by more than looks and a cool paint job.

: most important WARRANTY!!!!!!!! most good quality frames have a life time warranty .DONT BUY A FRAME WITH OUT ONE!!!

 

Some frame manufacturers go that little bit further by offering a thing like a crash replacement which means if some how you write your frame off and didn't have insurance you are able to purchase another new frame at a much cheaper cost!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TNT1]

 

No Contest!!!!!

 

Exactly!!!!!

Pinarello!!!!!

 

[TNT1]

 

Pinarello F4:13 - Dont the Protour guys ride the Dogma rather than this one. Bee - utiful' date=' but cost  

 [/quote']

 

No, they are actually going to use the Paris F4 this season...

[TNT1]

 

...

do your home work.

:find out why the manufacturers say they use High modules carbon and why its supposed to be stronger.

 

On that note, do your homework real well. There is a lot of technical issues surrounding the need for constructing the entire frame of HM(High Modulous) Carbon Fibre, vs re-inforcing critical areas with HM. the issue is very complex (you can find plenty on it on the net, as the HM tech comes from the aerospace industry) and makes a difference in the end product and the price...

 

[Christie]

Racman, good question. My basic requirements for the last round was that the frame must at least be ridden by a well-known pro squad. This at least ensures a level of engineering and design acceptable to the pros. The second step was to compare weight (easy), price (easy), stiffness (hard to get scientific data), durability (found a list of frames tested by EFBE) and looks. I spent months looking at reviews (Pez has quite a lot )

Last time round the my top 3 was Scott, Giant and Cervelo R2.5. The worst were Trek, Merckx, Colnago C50, Time VRSX because of cost.

 

Currently I would lean towards the BMC SLC or Look 595, subject to price. (I'm not a fan of American brands, I prefer the traditional European bikes, but some are very costly)

 

I would also give a couple of less common frames a look: Argon18 Galium, a De Rosa King, or an Eddy Merckx, if I can find the right colour and price.

 

I agree with 101% on conducting some research. Most helpful is to surf the net for as many bike reviews as you can find.

Theoretical knowledge about technology is not all that useful when choosing a bike, because bike manufacturers know the secret of how to use the technology to create a frame. Each manufacturer uses different combinations of materials, different manufacturing techniques, different frame angles to get to what they think is the best frame design. The only way to know if they got it right is to read reviews written by people who have ridden a lot of different bikes. I like Pezcyclingnews.com, because they test each frame with the same components, saddle, wheels and tires. How else would anyone be able to tell if a Beryllium frame is better than a titanium one, or if Boron fibres are better than carbon. The list of high tech materials goes on and on: Kevlar, Spectra, Scandium (actually aluminium with a little bit of scandium), Magnesium etc etc. Rather read the reviews, look at what they liked and what not, decide if that will work for you. 

  

Christie2007-05-13 08:35:41

[narra]

Felt, Felt, Felt

 

http://www.feltracing.com/default.asp

 

Nothing more to say

 

[Lancealot]

bmc slc01 yeah!! the de rosa is also expensive the top range!! the new stevens is also a nice bike!

[Christie]

I agree, Felt & Stevens look nice. I like the look of the Felt DA TT bike

 

They do not make my list because neither are ridden by prominent international teams. 

[narra]

Slipstream/Chipotle Pro Cycling Team

http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif

http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/SSS_team.jpg General Information Get the down low on the team, their bikes and the Slipstream/Felt partnership http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/SlipstreamTrainingCamp0282012207.JPG http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Team Roster The Who's Who and What's What for all team members http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/SlipstreamTrainingCamp2310012207%20copy.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Team Videos Catch all the action from the Tour of California, courtesy of Felt Bicycles and Cycling.TV http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/TofC0294022307_0001.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif 2007 Race Schedule 2007 racing calendar in the United States and Worldwide http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/SlipstreamTrainingCamp1003012207%20WEB.jpg

 

Individual Pro Athletes

http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif

http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/MJ_crop2.jpg Tim DeBoom CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2002 and 2-time Ironman World Champion, 4-time Ironman top-3 finisher, 1993 and 2-time Amateur National Champion http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/DeBoom.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Sarah Hammer CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2007 and 2-time UCI World Pursuit Champion, 20-time U.S National Champion, 7-time UCI World Cup Golad medalist, U.S. National Record holder http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/hammer_podium07.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Michellie Jones CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 1992 ITU World Champion, 1993 ITU World Champion, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2006 Ford Ironman World Champion http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/michellie_head.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Becky Lavelle CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2003 Pan Am Games Bronze medallist, 4-time Pacific Grove Champ, 2003 LA Triathlon Champ, 2005 St. Anthony's Champ http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/becky_head_01.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Andy Potts CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2004 US Olympian; 11th place finish @ 2004 World Championships; 3 year USA Triathlon National Team Member; 2003 USA Triathlon Rookie of the Year; USA Swimming National Champion and Team Member http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/andy_head_01.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Emma Snowsill CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: Three times ITU Women's Triathlon World Champion; Commonwealth Games Gold Medal winner 2006; New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London World Cup winner http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/pro_pad_01.jpg http://www.feltracing.com/images/divider_hor.gif Craig Walton CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: 2000 Sydney Olympian; 2002 Triathlete Of The Year; 5 Times Noosa International Triathlon Champion; 3 Time Chicago Triathlon Champion; 2 Time LA Triathlon Champion http://www.feltracing.com/images/buttons/read_more.gif http://www.feltracing.com/images/download/small/walton_01.jpg

 

[Christie]

Im not saying Felts are not nice. There are lots of nice brands out there like Merlin, Javelin, Fuji, Kuota. They just dont meet my personal selection criteria. I dont see Slipstream Chipolte as a prominent team. Like Toyota-United, Navigators insurance & Healt Net they are an American local squad ( & wearing some of the ugliest kit ever in the history of cycling ). I dont think they will be getting wildcard invites to the spring classics soon.

 

 

Christie2007-05-13 12:03:58

[narra]

http://www.wiesenhof-felt.de/

 

http://www.wiesenhof-felt.de/upload/fotos/foto1787.jpg

 

http://www.wiesenhof-felt.de/upload/fotos/foto1793.jpg

 

http://www.wiesenhof-felt.de/upload/fotos/foto1772.jpg

 

[narra]

But then again, you must like the bike, it is not who rides it or who is the teams that rides them ? Or is it ?

[Christie]

Wiesenhoff deserves much more respect than Slipstream Chipolty  The fact that the Felt made it through Roubaix is a great feather in the cap for Felt. I'm convinced, I'll put Felt on my list for possible selection.

 

It is definately not about exactly who rides the bikes. The reason I have this as one of my selection criteria is that it gives an indication that the manufacturer has enough capital to spend, also on R&D, wants to be seen at the top level of the sport, and can build bikes that the pros like to ride, and get input from them for their new designs. Some examples of this is how CSC riders liked the old Soloist alu, asket for a carbon one, and influenced the design of the Soloist carbon. The new Scott Addict has a longer top tube thanks to a request from Saunier-Duval riders. Lance did not like the initial (2004?) Madone, his inputs resulted in the latest model being a much nicer ride.