Looking for cheap small road frame

Diarmuid

I'm on the look out for a small cheap frame. My SO has a Trek1000 size 50 which is marginally too big for her. She's 163 tall with 77cm inseam. So I plan on buying a new frame, fork and other bits and moving the groupset and finishing kit from the Trek to the new frame. She likes a more comfortable position, so not a frame built for speed. And before anyone suggests a shorter stem, I've already swapped in an 80mm stem.

On my short list at the moment is this Ribble 7005 Sportive Frame and matching fork. The same geometry is on the 7046 version which is over €100 more expensive (incl fork), presumably for a slightly lighter frame. I'd put the Ribble carbon on the short list but the geometry looks more racy which is not what she likes.

Anyone got opinions on the sizing? I'm thinking effective top tube of ~510mm would be suitable, relaxed geometry.

With regard to other potential frames, any suggestions? Budget for frame and fork about the €300 mark. There's f-all on the PlanetX site in that size + budget. I'd almost consider a Chinese frame but not sure I'm willing to dig though lots of websites to pick out a suitable geometry and have to deal with import duties etc...

Zen0

Dolan do some smaller sized frames as well. Not sure how the geometry compares.

Diarmuid

Probably way out of my budget

thebouldwhacker

Hi Diarmuid, I have an alu Dolan Preffisio frame with carbon Alpina forks same as this,



It's in great nick, a lovely frame that looks as good as a Dolan frame should and they make good frames. I bought it for my wife but she only rode it once before banishing it for a more relaxed touring frame. I stole the components so it's stripped and ready to rock.
Measure up the other frame and see, the Dolan centre of bb to top of seat tube is 54cm. Top tube, centre to centre is 54.5cm.
This may sound bigger than your looking for looking for but check the measurements as it's a tiny frame (I think so anyway but I'm 6'3")

If it's of any use to you pm me your email address and I'll send you pic's, it's in Cork.

nak

I am the same height; stared out with a 50cm Trek 1000 WSD, followed by a Ribble Sportive 49cm carbon. Latter was maybe a little long in the top tube, but found it comfy on long spins. Now have a Specialized Tarmac size 49 - think top tube is 51.8cm. Maybe try the Ruby for more relaxed geometry.

Diarmuid

thebouldwhacker wrote: »

Top tube, centre to centre is 54.5cm..

Thanks for the offer but that's too big

Seaneh

Zen0 wrote: »

Dolan do some smaller sized frames as well. Not sure how the geometry compares.

Dolan Preffisio and Ribble 7005/winter trainer frames are identical, Terry Dolan designed it for Ribble.

The only different is tubing used AFAIK ribble have priority 7005 tubing where as the Dolan uses "off the shelf" Italian aluminium tubing, so there might be a difference in weight.