Framebuilders?

rottenhat · 12-02-2009 11:59am #1

If you were thinking of getting a new steel road frame (lugged preferred, naturally), who would you be going to? I won't say money no object but this is going to be a long term project so a couple of extra months' saving won't hurt.

DirkVoodoo · 12-02-2009 12:06pm

I'd buy a Voodoo Rada, because they are very nice and I can say my username has a meaning then: Link.

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 12:19pm

Mercian, without question

Chips Lovell · 12-02-2009 12:26pm

Planet X has just started selling Guerciotti lugged steel frames.

scottreynolds · 12-02-2009 12:27pm

Colnago(1st)
Mercian (2nd)
Condor (3rd)

Oh yeah - there's a very nice MASI as well maybe thats first.

Morgan · 12-02-2009 12:34pm

Money really no object - Independent Fabrications
http://www.ifbikes.com/

Some builders who immediately spring to mind: Chas Roberts, Robin Mather, Dave Yates

rottenhat · 12-02-2009 12:52pm

I used to own an IF, until the day I jumped a light without a clear view of oncoming traffic - I didn't have a scratch on me but there was a two-inch long cut in the top tube. But yes, it was great bike, absolutely beautiful paint job, flawless welds...straight-bladed forks still don't look quite right to me though. A couple of people I knew from DC work there now.

Thanks for the tips on the UK builders - will check them out.

stuf · 12-02-2009 1:29pm

Bob Jackson used to build a lot of bikes for British and European pro cyclists and then they'd be rebranded with team decals and then carbon happened - bleargh

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 1:45pm

Again I say, Mercian

No one will ever change my mind on that (but then I am a bit biased!)

beans · 12-02-2009 1:52pm

+1 Mercian

They built a frame for me last year using lugged steel, and it's a joy to ride. I found Grant and all I dealt with to be sound, they guided my choices and made well-received recommendations.

Took around 10 months from order to delivery in my case.

rottenhat · 12-02-2009 1:58pm

I was thinking Mercian all right - I like the old school look of their frames - but I came across a few things on the internet suggesting that their build quality wasn't all it could be. Of course, it's hard to say how much credence to give these, and in at least one case they were being compared with the absolute top end US builders, whose frames go for three to four times the price if you can even get them to build one for you. I presume you lads were entirely satisfied with yours, though?

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 2:18pm

rottenhat wrote: »

I was thinking Mercian all right - I like the old school look of their frames - but I came across a few things on the internet suggesting that their build quality wasn't all it could be. Of course, it's hard to say how much credence to give these, and in at least one case they were being compared with the absolute top end US builders, whose frames go for three to four times the price if you can even get them to build one for you. I presume you lads were entirely satisfied with yours, though?

Mine is second hand, but the workmanship can't be faulted at all. Do you happen to have links to the concerns you found (simply for my own interest). There have been some rumblings about Bob Jackson and a couple other framebuilders possibly importing frames, but Mercian are all hand built in Derby by people that have been doing it years. You're welcome to pop over see mine (or find me one night in a pub with Karma and see both of ours

)

ROK ON · 12-02-2009 2:23pm

beans wrote: »

+1 Mercian

They built a frame for me last year using lugged steel, and it's a joy to ride. I found Grant and all I dealt with to be sound, they guided my choices and made well-received recommendations.

Took around 10 months from order to delivery in my case.

I spend a lot of time drooling on their website. If you dont mind me asking, what make type of Mercian did you go for, and what type of dosh for build out. What wheelset/groupset did you go for (Campag I suppose?)
If you dont want to say publicly, perhaps you could pm me the rough cost?

Also, do you have to have the gear shifters on the down tube (old skool style), or can you have them integrated onto the brakes?

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 2:28pm

You're looking the best part of a grand for one by the time you add VAT and custom paint options etc, maybe 1200.

ROK ON · 12-02-2009 2:34pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

You're looking the best part of a grand for one by the time you add VAT and custom paint options etc, maybe 1200.

Thats a bit better than I thought, given that frames are between £550-750 ex-vat.
When you say a grand, is that a grand from newly built frame, or full kit out.

Thinking now as I type, a grand probably would get you a fit out, just the frame right?
http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frame_king_mercia.asp
Prices at bottom?

gman2k · 12-02-2009 2:42pm

Whatever happened to Rapperee frame builders near Enfield?
a good few lads I knew had these frames, when 531c, 653 and 753 were the bees knees!

beans · 12-02-2009 2:43pm

I have around 1000km on mine, and cannot fault the frame in any way - in that it's light enough, has not broken, is comfortable over long hours... but this could have as much to do with the rest of the components as the frame.

The finish was pretty good out of the box, one very minor issue with paint on the lugs, but that's neither here nor there.

Others on here have older Mercian frames, and can better say how they fare over time. But I'm guessing the answer will be 'very well'.

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 3:02pm

ROK ON wrote: »

Thats a bit better than I thought, given that frames are between £550-750 ex-vat.
When you say a grand, is that a grand from newly built frame, or full kit out.

Thinking now as I type, a grand probably would get you a fit out, just the frame right?
http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/frame_king_mercia.asp
Prices at bottom?

Yup, prices are at the bottom, so you're looking at a grand before you add wheels etc etc to it, but that's really not a lot for a custom frame, fit exactly to you and your needs/wants.

In terms of longevity, my frame is from 1989, and you wouldn't think it's 20 years old -handles like a dream, is light and fab. It's 653 steel (I think) which wasn't around long, but it falls between 725 and 853. Was refurbed once (I think), but is utterly gorgeous for its age

ROK ON · 12-02-2009 3:09pm

Thanks tiny. Have seen the pictures of your bike. Lovely machine.
My next bike I think. (Had better get saving).

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 3:15pm

ROK ON wrote: »

Thanks tiny. Have seen the pictures of your bike. Lovely machine.
My next bike I think. (Had better get saving).

I'm sooooo tempted to say 'f**k the cervelo plans' and get another one with gears I like it that much

rottenhat · 12-02-2009 3:29pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

Do you happen to have links to the concerns you found (simply for my own interest).

The most substantial one is this one - seat tube not properly reamed. The others were more about the quality of the finish around the lugs and durability of the paintjob etc.

I've been keeping an eye out for your Mercian as it happens. Don't think I'll have any trouble recognising it if I come across it - not too many lugged steel frames around Dublin.

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 3:31pm

rottenhat wrote: »

The most substantial one is this one - seat tube not properly reamed. The others were more about the quality of the finish around the lugs and durability of the paintjob etc.

I've been keeping an eye out for your Mercian as it happens. Don't think I'll have any trouble recognising it if I come across it - not too many lugged steel frames around Dublin.

Unlikely you'll see it during the day as it's in work with me, but best bet is evenings around Hogans or Anseo (and then it may well be locked to, or near another Mercian!)

Planet X · 12-02-2009 3:32pm

http://www.enigmasteel.com/

Chips Lovell · 12-02-2009 3:33pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

...evenings around Hogans or Anseo...

The Tiny Explosions training plan (TM).

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 3:34pm

rottenhat wrote: »

The most substantial one is this one - seat tube not properly reamed. The others were more about the quality of the finish around the lugs and durability of the paintjob etc

Yes, my seatpost is very tight too... I suspect that it's a 27mm one, not a 27.2 (though I have a 27.2 in mine)

Planet X · 12-02-2009 3:34pm

http://www.orangecountychoppers.com/

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 3:35pm

el tonto wrote: »

The Tiny Explosions training plan (TM).

It works for me.... ish

Gavin · 12-02-2009 3:41pm

TinyExplosions wrote: »

is evenings around Hogans or Anseo (and then it may well be locked to, or near another Mercian!)

Fakenger !!

rottenhat · 12-02-2009 4:20pm

I knew I should have stayed away from that goddamned internet...now I want one of these.

TinyExplosions · 12-02-2009 4:29pm

Gavin wrote: »

Fakenger !!

I do try gav.... but I used to be a courier, so I guess I'm just retired now!

scottreynolds · 12-02-2009 4:55pm

http://richardsachs.com/

His bikes are pretty nice as well.

or build your own on a frame building course....

http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk/courses.htm

rottenhat · 12-02-2009 5:48pm

A Sachs would be awesome but he's no longer taking new customers (nor are Vanilla, while I'm dreaming) and his frames are about a grand more than anyone else's anyway.

The frame building course would be a great experience but I confess I'd rather have someone who was less of a klutz build me a bike.

Framebuilders?

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