Discussion
As Sway says, you shouldn't be parting with a Reynolds 853 frame for £50, let alone a complete bike. If you do sell it, clean the frame and polish it to show it in it's best light, and make a BIG feature of the 853 tubing in any advert. I like it, but would not insult you by offering what I can afford to pay for it...
yellowjack said:
As Sway says, you shouldn't be parting with a Reynolds 853 frame for £50, let alone a complete bike. If you do sell it, clean the frame and polish it to show it in it's best light, and make a BIG feature of the 853 tubing in any advert. I like it, but would not insult you by offering what I can afford to pay for it...
Agreed, fifty quid is far too low. 853 is still valued highly. Make an account on retrobike.co.uk and see what they reckon to it on there.
Sisu9 said:
Lovely! How much travel does your HeadShok™ have? I have one on a Cannondale Backroads which someone (in period) converted to be a drop bar bike with 9-speed Shimano 105 (triple) on it. But it has only 25mm of travel up front, coupled with a "suspension seatpost". It makes for a comfortable "gravel bike" and the front Headshok™ is smooth throughout it's travel, up until you ask too much of it and it hits the stop.
I love mine, but do worry about finding spares and servicing support for it. https://vintagecannondale.com/info/headshok/
Quite a bit of travel (after I had to free it up this year). I have it locked off most of the time as I use it on road / unpaved roads. Do sometimes use it over the cobbles!
Unrelated but I saw someone crash a fat bike last week. The thing simply wouldn't go around a perfectly normal corner and he went flying into a lamp-post, What exactly is the point of those? Are they like SUV designed for the road i.e. completely compromised in every way
Unrelated but I saw someone crash a fat bike last week. The thing simply wouldn't go around a perfectly normal corner and he went flying into a lamp-post, What exactly is the point of those? Are they like SUV designed for the road i.e. completely compromised in every way
Sway said:
Yep, pre (and early) Trek owned Klein were the top of the tree for an aluminium frame. Few of the adult staff at the bike shop I did my Saturday boy job at had them.
Routine workshop stock was balloon modelling balloons - the tube walls were so damned thin you could flex them like a coke can with your fingers... Regular dents were the result of cross country. Feed the balloon in (they're tougher so don't care about snags), inflate, and wait for the ping...
The (gorgeous) paint seemed bloody tough!
Klein were nice bikes for sure (I nearly bought one) but chose a Pace RC200 F6 instead. No regrets Routine workshop stock was balloon modelling balloons - the tube walls were so damned thin you could flex them like a coke can with your fingers... Regular dents were the result of cross country. Feed the balloon in (they're tougher so don't care about snags), inflate, and wait for the ping...
The (gorgeous) paint seemed bloody tough!
CharlieAlphaMike said:
Sway said:
Yep, pre (and early) Trek owned Klein were the top of the tree for an aluminium frame. Few of the adult staff at the bike shop I did my Saturday boy job at had them.
Routine workshop stock was balloon modelling balloons - the tube walls were so damned thin you could flex them like a coke can with your fingers... Regular dents were the result of cross country. Feed the balloon in (they're tougher so don't care about snags), inflate, and wait for the ping...
The (gorgeous) paint seemed bloody tough!
Klein were nice bikes for sure (I nearly bought one) but chose a Pace RC200 F6 instead. No regrets Routine workshop stock was balloon modelling balloons - the tube walls were so damned thin you could flex them like a coke can with your fingers... Regular dents were the result of cross country. Feed the balloon in (they're tougher so don't care about snags), inflate, and wait for the ping...
The (gorgeous) paint seemed bloody tough!
My misses was offered a free bike from someone at work, took them in a bottle of gin and came home with a 96 Raleigh M_trax titanium. XTR cranks, XT gear levers, hope hubs with titanium skewers and team issue wheels. The stem, brakes, saddle and rear derailleur have been swapped for cheaper replacements. I've bought some xt brakes and levers but misses likes it as is, so changing other parts may have to be done by stealth over time... Although too small for me I do plan on using it as well.
snobetter said:
My misses was offered a free bike from someone at work, took them in a bottle of gin and came home with a 96 Raleigh M_trax titanium. XTR cranks, XT gear levers, hope hubs with titanium skewers and team issue wheels. The stem, brakes, saddle and rear derailleur have been swapped for cheaper replacements. I've bought some xt brakes and levers but misses likes it as is, so changing other parts may have to be done by stealth over time... Although too small for me I do plan on using it as well.
f
king hell! Hope it was a good bottle of gin!Sway said:
snobetter said:
My misses was offered a free bike from someone at work, took them in a bottle of gin and came home with a 96 Raleigh M_trax titanium. XTR cranks, XT gear levers, hope hubs with titanium skewers and team issue wheels. The stem, brakes, saddle and rear derailleur have been swapped for cheaper replacements. I've bought some xt brakes and levers but misses likes it as is, so changing other parts may have to be done by stealth over time... Although too small for me I do plan on using it as well.
fking hell! Hope it was a good bottle of gin!It's marginally intriguing as the person at work thinks their father in law had it from new, however the wheels, hubs and handlebars are all the same as my friend 's who has Barrie Clarkes old race bike and these parts weren't offered as options to the public apparently.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/8LP7Ma5J.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/bYkSNDLh" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/bYkSNDLh.jpg)
Zippee said:
CharlieAlphaMike said:
Sway said:
Yep, pre (and early) Trek owned Klein were the top of the tree for an aluminium frame. Few of the adult staff at the bike shop I did my Saturday boy job at had them.
Routine workshop stock was balloon modelling balloons - the tube walls were so damned thin you could flex them like a coke can with your fingers... Regular dents were the result of cross country. Feed the balloon in (they're tougher so don't care about snags), inflate, and wait for the ping...
The (gorgeous) paint seemed bloody tough!
Klein were nice bikes for sure (I nearly bought one) but chose a Pace RC200 F6 instead. No regrets Routine workshop stock was balloon modelling balloons - the tube walls were so damned thin you could flex them like a coke can with your fingers... Regular dents were the result of cross country. Feed the balloon in (they're tougher so don't care about snags), inflate, and wait for the ping...
The (gorgeous) paint seemed bloody tough!
...Not a frame issue with my RC200 but a handlebar problem. Last year, I had an argument with a tree along a narrow bit of singletrack. I lost (sprained wrist and grazed knee so fortunately nothing too serious). The tree most definitely won and I thought the bike did too. Unfortunately, I was just about to change my X-Lite bar ends for some Ergon GP3's and upon taking the old bar ends and grip off, I noticed that the handlebars have split along the length. I'm guessing the tree did the damage and that the bar end and grip were holding everything together because I really didn't notice anything when riding. I guess I'm lucky that the whole bar didn't collapse on me whilst riding 
Anyway. The handlebar in question is a Renthal RC+130 28.4mm (edited to say I knew they were 25.4mm - silly typo) and 590mm in length. It's a flat (bone) bar and whilst I'd love to replace it like-for-like, that's probably never going to happen (unless anyone has or knows someone that has one for sale
me if you do).
Finding a similar spec bar is proving difficult. Everything is 700mm+ and high rise/swept back these days (what is it with this downhill obsession?
). And the weight of some of the stuff on offer is crazy. Even the carbon fibre bars weigh more than my Renthal which is of course 130g as the name suggests.
I have found a KCNC bone bar that is a very similar length and only weighs approx 120g. It's made from Scandium. Has anyone had any experience with this brand and is anyone using their handlebars? Thoughts and comments will be most welcome.
Anyway. The handlebar in question is a Renthal RC+130 28.4mm (edited to say I knew they were 25.4mm - silly typo) and 590mm in length. It's a flat (bone) bar and whilst I'd love to replace it like-for-like, that's probably never going to happen (unless anyone has or knows someone that has one for sale
me if you do).Finding a similar spec bar is proving difficult. Everything is 700mm+ and high rise/swept back these days (what is it with this downhill obsession?
). And the weight of some of the stuff on offer is crazy. Even the carbon fibre bars weigh more than my Renthal which is of course 130g as the name suggests.I have found a KCNC bone bar that is a very similar length and only weighs approx 120g. It's made from Scandium. Has anyone had any experience with this brand and is anyone using their handlebars? Thoughts and comments will be most welcome.
Edited by CharlieAlphaMike on Wednesday 19th May 20:07
Thoughts as replies to a couple of posts...
Both Pace and Klein frames were massively stiff race machines. Both uber cool, I genuinely don't know which I'd pick (but I do know I'd pick a Dekerf Team 853 over both). Horses for courses.
I've had a few KCNC bits in the past, certainly nothing has lead me to think they're poor quality or overpriced in any way - they're never built for toughness though, always on the weight weenie side...
The marketing is a little misleading - they're aluminium, but an aluminium alloy that has a little scandium in. Scandium is staggeringly expensive.
Both Pace and Klein frames were massively stiff race machines. Both uber cool, I genuinely don't know which I'd pick (but I do know I'd pick a Dekerf Team 853 over both). Horses for courses.
I've had a few KCNC bits in the past, certainly nothing has lead me to think they're poor quality or overpriced in any way - they're never built for toughness though, always on the weight weenie side...
The marketing is a little misleading - they're aluminium, but an aluminium alloy that has a little scandium in. Scandium is staggeringly expensive.
CharlieAlphaMike said:
...Not a frame issue with my RC200 but a handlebar problem. Last year, I had an argument with a tree along a narrow bit of singletrack. I lost (sprained wrist and grazed knee so fortunately nothing too serious). The tree most definitely won and I thought the bike did too. Unfortunately, I was just about to change my X-Lite bar ends for some Ergon GP3's and upon taking the old bar ends and grip off, I noticed that the handlebars have split along the length. I'm guessing the tree did the damage and that the bar end and grip were holding everything together because I really didn't notice anything when riding. I guess I'm lucky that the whole bar didn't collapse on me whilst riding
Anyway. The handlebar in question is a Renthal RC+130 28.4mm and 590mm in length. It's a flat (bone) bar and whilst I'd love to replace it like-for-like, that's probably never going to happen (unless anyone has or knows someone that has one for sale me if you do).
Finding a similar spec bar is proving difficult. Everything is 700mm+ and high rise/swept back these days (what is it with this downhill obsession? ). And the weight of some of the stuff on offer is crazy. Even the carbon fibre bars weigh more than my Renthal which is of course 130g as the name suggests.
I have found a KCNC bone bar that is a very similar length and only weighs approx 120g. It's made from Scandium. Has anyone had any experience with this brand and is anyone using their handlebars? Thoughts and comments will be most welcome.
They come up fairly often and ive had a few pairs of Rc130 this year. However they are very thin , so do crack regulary. The size is 25.4 just so you know. Ill give you a shout when i get my next pair as ive decided to run controltech on my rc200 due to the cracky issue Anyway. The handlebar in question is a Renthal RC+130 28.4mm and 590mm in length. It's a flat (bone) bar and whilst I'd love to replace it like-for-like, that's probably never going to happen (unless anyone has or knows someone that has one for sale
me if you do).Finding a similar spec bar is proving difficult. Everything is 700mm+ and high rise/swept back these days (what is it with this downhill obsession?
). And the weight of some of the stuff on offer is crazy. Even the carbon fibre bars weigh more than my Renthal which is of course 130g as the name suggests.I have found a KCNC bone bar that is a very similar length and only weighs approx 120g. It's made from Scandium. Has anyone had any experience with this brand and is anyone using their handlebars? Thoughts and comments will be most welcome.
A 'Formula 1 Cycles' full-suspension MTB, built in Surrey by a company with motorsport racing links and one of the first companies in the UK offering carbon fibre parts as far as I'm aware.
It was a joy to do school work experience there as a teenager and finally own a couple of them much later in life. Here's mine in its 'new' condition before I found it many years later in a weathered condition.
I reminisce about their history on my website https://www.vintagemountainbikes.com/formula-1-cyc...
It was a joy to do school work experience there as a teenager and finally own a couple of them much later in life. Here's mine in its 'new' condition before I found it many years later in a weathered condition.
I reminisce about their history on my website https://www.vintagemountainbikes.com/formula-1-cyc...
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