Which frame supplier ?

shaka

Hi guys , looking at building up my own bike this year.

Not in any rush, going to do it as I see the right components on offer but seem to have settled on Planet X , dolan, or maybe ribble as the supplier.

Has anyone any negative experiences of these suppliers and ?

Have wheels sorted as I have upgraded my current bike recently.

Probably going with 105 but if I see an ultegra at the right price on line we may go with that.

As I said I'm not in any rush so all in good time

wav1

shaka wrote: »

Hi guys , looking at building up my own bike this year.

Not in any rush, going to do it as I see the right components on offer but seem to have settled on Planet X , dolan, or maybe ribble as the supplier.

Has anyone any negative experiences of these suppliers and ?

Have wheels sorted as I have upgraded my current bike recently.

Probably going with 105 but if I see an ultegra at the right price on line we may go with that.

As I said I'm not in any rush so all in good time

Can only say good things about Ribble and their entry level prices.Bought an Evo por carbon in 2011 and can only say that it has never given any problems.Compared to other brands their prices are amazing.Usually its 14 days before they dispatch frames though.

godtabh

I was researching this at the weekend.

What tools would you need to build? Is it difficult?

shaka

Well I'm a engineer so reckon I have pretty much every kinda tool bar chain whip but guys in club and LBS will help as I need .

I have a work stand, Allen keys both metric and imperial (just I case) , torque drivers to prevent over tightening if your unsure. Have access to but won't bother with them.

Hanks have heard that about ribble, to be honest was leaning towards a dolan frame in particular the Hercules but open to persuasion.

feck sake lads

Dolan is reckoned to be one of the best frame builders on the planet.;)

shaka

feck sake lads wrote: »

Dolan is reckoned to be one of the best frame builders on the planet.;)

Ha ha work for dolan ?

feck sake lads

shaka wrote: »

Ha ha work for dolan ?

yeah i wish its a fact though.;)

shaka

feck sake lads wrote: »

yeah i wish its a fact though.;)

Are you riding a dolan ?

full gas

That Internet is full of great story's

shaka

full gas wrote: »

That Internet is full of great story's

Must try that new fangled interweb sometime:D

full gas

My opinion it's only an opinion , stay well clear of the planet x it could melt in the sun ,the carbon layered finish on some of there frames are poor and that's the part of the frame you can see , ribble , more like dribble , no adjustment on there braze on for the front mech, which I've seen to be badly fitted to a few frames , Dolan ok I just don't like there finishing of the frames , this is only an opinion , I've seen a nice argon 18 krypton frame lately looked pretty cool,spoke to a club mate who has the gallium and he loves it , properly more expensive then the other frames

shaka

Opinions are good full gas , hadn't considered that brand but will have a look .

feck sake lads

shaka wrote: »

Are you riding a dolan ?

no i don't but i painted a house for a lad that was an olympic track cyclist , it was he who told me that terry dolan made all his bikes, he knew him really well said he was a pure perfectionist when it came to building frames and he is respected the world over as one of the best.
his son runs the company now but terry still makes the bikes.;)
check out his site ask dolan owners what they think :cool:

anyway have fun remember no point in buying a super frame and putting a ****e pain of wheels on it.;)

shaka

No dolan owners in club ,none at all.

Do they really make all their frames or are they like everyone else and getting them put together in china - suspect the latter not I have an issue with that.

Have a nice new set of Mavics , upgraded for my own bike. Only after that did the notion of building take over.

Seaneh

the ribble Stealth is the same frame that De Rossa sell for 4-5 times the price and is fecking gorgeous (explained here).

The Dolan Ares is also a bit of a looker.




know a few lads with Planet X and OnOne (same company) bikes, some of them would be fairly competitive cyclists/tri heads amd not one of then has a bad word to say about the bikes other than one lad saying the Planet X calipar brakes that came on his SL Pro Carbon Rival werent great but he just swapped them out for a set of Apex and hes as happy as a pig in muck since.

shaka

Thanks Seaneh, ribble is a looker alright . Waiting to see what LBS is going to offer , have him on the lookout too

Brian?

Seaneh wrote: »

the ribble Stealth is the same frame that De Rossa sell for 4-5 times the price and is fecking gorgeous (explained here).

.

Just had another look at Ribble thanks to this post. Man alive that stealth is a fine looking frame. Light too.

The sizing of it is a little weird, biggest being a 54.5cm.

Seaneh

Brian? wrote: »

Just had another look at Ribble thanks to this post. Man alive that stealth is a fine looking frame. Light too.

The sizing of it is a little weird, biggest being a 54.5cm.

i still havent had a chance to try one but on paper it cannot be beaten for value for money.

Brian?

Seaneh wrote: »

i still havent had a chance to try one but on paper it cannot be beaten for value for money.

Even their full bikes are savage value. I did that frame up on their bike builder with full Ultegra, carbon everything and stock wheels. It came in under 1800

Seaneh

Yeah, I did one with apex and fulcrums and a nice finishing kit and it was less than 1500... great value.

shaka

Only really seen ribble on rok and rebel tour and both times guys were blitzing past me , must be the bikes

shaka

Seem to be between dolan Hercules and a ribble

funkyjebus

I have a ribble sportive bianco. Lovely frame, no complaints from me. Two quick things, ribble are slow, took 3 weeks and u must buy the fork with the frame.

Was gonna go with stealth, but I didn't like the geometry. Gran fondo is also nice but was out of stock for me.

shaka

funkyjebus wrote: »

I have a ribble sportive bianco. Lovely frame, no complaints from me. Two quick things, ribble are slow, took 3 weeks and u must buy the fork with the frame.

Was gonna go with stealth, but I didn't like the geometry. Gran fondo is also nice but was out of stock for me.

Thanks funkyjebus , really like the look of the stealth but geometry might be off , read on bike radar that it wasn't as responsive for the bigger cyclist either..

fat bloke

I must say I'd be astonished if you could come anywhere near Ribble or PlanetX's complete bike prices with a self build.

colm_gti

I quite like that ribble r872 frame.....

Seaneh

She's a looker alright.

shaka

fat bloke wrote: »

I must say I'd be astonished if you could come anywhere near Ribble or PlanetX's complete bike prices with a self build.

You might be right but its not all about cost ,I'm looking forward to putting together my own bike . LBS thinks money can be saved but I think only if I'm patient and hold out for the right deals.

shaka

Looks like a dolan hercules or a ribble gran fondo . Know more tomorrow, although every time I look at ribble site the stealth keeps winking at me

bcmf

Wont go wrong with a Hong Fu (and you will prob get it quicker then Ribble) and with a bit of searching you will get a 105 or Veloce gruppo for €500 and a self build with a decent set of wheels and finishing kit for less then €1500.
Just imo

shaka

Hong fu ?have wheels already

bcmf

Hong Fu/DEng Fu/Miracle Trade carbon frames.
Where Ribble/Px get theirs before they lash on paint decals.

shaka

Thought xpa made ribble? Anyways worth a look

Brian?

bcmf wrote: »

Hong Fu/DEng Fu/Miracle Trade carbon frames.
Where Ribble/Px get theirs before they lash on paint decals.

I got a quote from Hong Fu of $500 delivered to the US. I was very tempted, loads of good reviews out there on them.

Got a full bike on sale though, cheaper than a full build.

Radial

Tempted to chance a AC053 frame from Miracle Trade, very like a Scott Foil. About $600 to get it here. Looks good, don't know what it rides like though.

Anyone got one?

Donie75

Hi OP,
I bought a secondhand Dolan Hercules SE frameset from one of the guys here on boards for €300. It was well used with a few scratches but no problems. I then added a nearly new 105 5700 groupset and my own Mavic Open Pro wheels. I am a heavy guy and it performs brilliantly for me. When I bought it I rang Dolan to order a new headset and they were great. I asked the guy if the Hercules was suited to a heavy (120kg) rider. He said he was just after kitting out a few ex England rugby players who were 6 ft 8.
Its a very comfortable bike but it still has plenty of stiffness. The Hercules SL looks good too.
When I go to upgrade I'm going to drive over to Dolan in the UK and pick out my new bike and get fitted.

shaka

Hi Donie , is there any saving in visiting Dolan?

Went to look at hercules sl today which local LBS got but it arrived damaged which hasn't inspired confidence in Dolan, impact mark on frame.

Ribble looking likely

colm_gti

shaka wrote: »

Hi Donie , is there any saving in visiting Dolan?

Went to look at hercules sl today which local LBS got but it arrived damaged which hasn't inspired confidence in Dolan, impact mark on frame.

Ribble looking likely

Why would you blame the manufacturer for an impact mark?

shaka

Because they shipped it

Donie75

Shaka,
I don't think the prices are lower in Dolan's shop but the prices on their website are way lower than any of the Irish shops who sell them.

shaka

Had look at Turas and time frames at the irish cycling show, Turas looked better but not sure how long is/will company be around for . Tough times. A guy from stag cycles was trying to convince me of the merits of steel

shaka

Anyone any dealings with Mekk or seen one ?

johnk123

No sound for me at the moment, so no idea what this guy may or may not be saying, but here is a few more angles of the Ribble!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IwAwKkKKY8

letape

I have a ribble winter frame which I built up about three years ago. Ribble give great value for money and I have never had an issue witrh the frame; very happy with it.

shaka

Love the ribble but think its too sporty for my dodgy discs at the moment
Found Mekk frame but don't know how to post a pic up here

shaka

Looks like its a mekk 3g frame , relaxed enough ride. Have to pay for my own shopping from uk any oné any suggestions ?

pprendeville

Emailed Turas bikes (info@turasbikes.com) there last week and got no reply. Anyone ever get any info from them and care to share a contact email.

Smalltom

Hi Phil,
The lads in tri-bikes in Raheen, limerick city stock those Bikes. I was in there one day and one of the staff told me they bring in the frames/forks, paint and build them here in Ireland. They can custom paint them for a few quid extra IIRC. Hope the trainings going well?

shaka

pprendeville wrote: »

Emailed Turas bikes (info@turasbikes.com) there last week and got no reply. Anyone ever get any info from them and care to share a contact email.

I was dealing with kevin@turasbikes.com think he is a sales manager, took a week after first email to get anything back. nice enough fella.

I didn't think planet tri were doing them anymore , heard there was a falling out - might be wrong

pprendeville

When you say they "bring them in", does that mean they just buy generic bikes, spray them and sell them on? Training going well. Was coming back up the N7 on Tues and passing Silvermines on ones side and Glengalliagh on the other. Talk about spoilt for choice for the climbers.

shaka

I suspect that's what they and a lot of suppliers are at , they may have had design input but it seems that a lot of companies are getting their frames from same four or so companies.