which hardtail frame?
Discussion
i'm toying with replacing the trusty on-one inbred with something a little lighter for general xc riding (not into free-riding and am very happy to keep both wheels on the ground at all costs).
no.1 choice at the moment in the lynkskey ridgeline lt - on account that is essentially the same as a litespeed (same factory, same family ownership).
titanium appeals as i can pick up a low maintenance 3.5lb frame with forgiving riding characteristics for a whisker over £1k. carbon would save weight, but i am fearful of it's longevity in general 'use-and-abuse'. alloy i fear might be too stiff for longer riding, although i have spotted the pace and tomac frames at good prices. a steel frame (such as Chas Roberts DOGS BOLX) would be quite cool, but would be heavier than the Lynskey for the same money.
the idea is to have a bike built with fox forks, hope wheels, deore xt groupset etc etc for as close to £2.5k as possible.
no.1 choice at the moment in the lynkskey ridgeline lt - on account that is essentially the same as a litespeed (same factory, same family ownership).
titanium appeals as i can pick up a low maintenance 3.5lb frame with forgiving riding characteristics for a whisker over £1k. carbon would save weight, but i am fearful of it's longevity in general 'use-and-abuse'. alloy i fear might be too stiff for longer riding, although i have spotted the pace and tomac frames at good prices. a steel frame (such as Chas Roberts DOGS BOLX) would be quite cool, but would be heavier than the Lynskey for the same money.
the idea is to have a bike built with fox forks, hope wheels, deore xt groupset etc etc for as close to £2.5k as possible.
If money was no object, I'd be sorely tempted by a Cove Hummer but you'd be talking in terms of £3500 for a well specced bike.
My Genesis Altitude 3.0 is steel framed (Reynolds 853 tube), is very light and flexible and with high spec components, comes in at somewhere near £1300.
The Genesis is great value for money but you may be tempted by a good second hand titanium.
My Genesis Altitude 3.0 is steel framed (Reynolds 853 tube), is very light and flexible and with high spec components, comes in at somewhere near £1300.
The Genesis is great value for money but you may be tempted by a good second hand titanium.
van nicholas are worth a look, their ti frames are beautiful.
dave yates does a week long frame buliding course which might be good fun. 853 reynolds tubing still has its devotees and you get the perfect fit.
www.daveyatescycles.co.uk
dave yates does a week long frame buliding course which might be good fun. 853 reynolds tubing still has its devotees and you get the perfect fit.
www.daveyatescycles.co.uk
pablo said:
van nicholas are worth a look, their ti frames are beautiful.
dave yates does a week long frame buliding course which might be good fun. 853 reynolds tubing still has its devotees and you get the perfect fit.
www.daveyatescycles.co.uk
aren't van nicholas frames built in the far east?... if i'm going down the titanium route, i'd quite like to go for US-built.dave yates does a week long frame buliding course which might be good fun. 853 reynolds tubing still has its devotees and you get the perfect fit.
www.daveyatescycles.co.uk
fatwomble said:
Would thoroughly recommend a frame from Dialled Bikes, although it doesn't look like they are selling Ti frames anymore. I still love my Dialled Bikes Morning Glory, best bike I've ever had.
Also recommend Chas Roberts as he is my Mum's Cousin.
ah, Mark, you know how you are my very favourite elise-owning BOLOC (for those unaware what a BOLOC is, it has something to do with Lotus and Bournemouth)..... welllllllllllll... if i give you my inside leg-measurements etc, would you be able to pretend you want a Chas Roberts DOGS BOLX frame and get it made for say.... half price?Also recommend Chas Roberts as he is my Mum's Cousin.
:-)
I would If I was you, e-mail silverfish the cove importers, to see if they are selling there old test hummer, as there is a new 2010 hummer out , which will be on there test fleet.
I test rode their hummer, loved it, but could not justify the cost, so got a handjob (steel version) instead, did a 2K build, then silverfish sold the test bike, with fantastic kit for 1.6K just after, then later they sold another for 1.8K.
I ended up getting a hustler, as well, (as I have a cove stiffee too) intstead, as three cove hardtails was apparently excessive or so I was informed. The handjob is an excellant steel frame.
Still would like a hummer, one day but not anyday soon.
I test rode their hummer, loved it, but could not justify the cost, so got a handjob (steel version) instead, did a 2K build, then silverfish sold the test bike, with fantastic kit for 1.6K just after, then later they sold another for 1.8K.
I ended up getting a hustler, as well, (as I have a cove stiffee too) intstead, as three cove hardtails was apparently excessive or so I was informed. The handjob is an excellant steel frame.
Still would like a hummer, one day but not anyday soon.
I can't believe no-one has mentioned the On-one 456 Ti. You must have noticed that one-one make a Ti 456 surely? It's had fantastic reviews ("World's best hardtail").
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/frames/moun...
A recent group test of some Ti frames by MBUK (including Cove, Whyte etc) used it as the benchmark. Judging by the comments on the forum afterwards it was still the best bike on the test.
"Seeing as the Ti456 is/was still unchanged and in my opinion the scores and it's position in the Ti hierachy is unaltered (we actually rode one as a control throughout the four way test) we didn't re include it. "
Costs £1099, and it's made by Lynskey in the US.
http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catal...
Perfect for you I'd have thought?
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/frames/moun...
A recent group test of some Ti frames by MBUK (including Cove, Whyte etc) used it as the benchmark. Judging by the comments on the forum afterwards it was still the best bike on the test.
"Seeing as the Ti456 is/was still unchanged and in my opinion the scores and it's position in the Ti hierachy is unaltered (we actually rode one as a control throughout the four way test) we didn't re include it. "
Costs £1099, and it's made by Lynskey in the US.
http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catal...
Perfect for you I'd have thought?
Edited by tybalt on Tuesday 18th August 10:20
tybalt said:
I can't believe no-one has mentioned the On-one 456 Ti. You must have noticed that one-one make a Ti 456 surely? It's had fantastic reviews ("World's best hardtail").
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/frames/moun...
A recent group test of some Ti frames by MBUK (including Cove, Whyte etc) used it as the benchmark. Judging by the comments on the forum afterwards it was still the best bike on the test.
"Seeing as the Ti456 is/was still unchanged and in my opinion the scores and it's position in the Ti hierachy is unaltered (we actually rode one as a control throughout the four way test) we didn't re include it. "
Costs £1099, and it's made by Lynskey in the US.
http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catal...
Perfect for you I'd have thought?
i know about the on-one titanium frame... that is what got me into this to begin with... i'm not sure however how much longer on-one are for this world, now that brent has gone off to design ragley bikes.http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/frames/moun...
A recent group test of some Ti frames by MBUK (including Cove, Whyte etc) used it as the benchmark. Judging by the comments on the forum afterwards it was still the best bike on the test.
"Seeing as the Ti456 is/was still unchanged and in my opinion the scores and it's position in the Ti hierachy is unaltered (we actually rode one as a control throughout the four way test) we didn't re include it. "
Costs £1099, and it's made by Lynskey in the US.
http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catal...
Perfect for you I'd have thought?
Edited by tybalt on Tuesday 18th August 10:20
village idiot said:
tybalt said:
I can't believe no-one has mentioned the On-one 456 Ti. You must have noticed that one-one make a Ti 456 surely? It's had fantastic reviews ("World's best hardtail").
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/frames/moun...
A recent group test of some Ti frames by MBUK (including Cove, Whyte etc) used it as the benchmark. Judging by the comments on the forum afterwards it was still the best bike on the test.
"Seeing as the Ti456 is/was still unchanged and in my opinion the scores and it's position in the Ti hierachy is unaltered (we actually rode one as a control throughout the four way test) we didn't re include it. "
Costs £1099, and it's made by Lynskey in the US.
http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catal...
Perfect for you I'd have thought?
i know about the on-one titanium frame... that is what got me into this to begin with... i'm not sure however how much longer on-one are for this world, now that brent has gone off to design ragley bikes.http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/frames/moun...
A recent group test of some Ti frames by MBUK (including Cove, Whyte etc) used it as the benchmark. Judging by the comments on the forum afterwards it was still the best bike on the test.
"Seeing as the Ti456 is/was still unchanged and in my opinion the scores and it's position in the Ti hierachy is unaltered (we actually rode one as a control throughout the four way test) we didn't re include it. "
Costs £1099, and it's made by Lynskey in the US.
http://www.on-one-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catal...
Perfect for you I'd have thought?
Edited by tybalt on Tuesday 18th August 10:20
I agree, the Ti 456 would be my first and probably only suggestion.
I don't think On One are going to disappear, they're getting new designers in and will start to produce different models, and if they continue to churn out good UK bikes at cheap prices they will do well. The reason a lot of the old stock is being sold off cheap is that it doesn't pass the new EU Frame regulations, so they need to get rid of them while they can. Brant has achieved this with the new Ragley's, but many of the other designers/manufacturers still have to get these approvals.
However, if you're talking about building up a lighter bike, the best piece of advice is to obtain some lighter wheels as that makes the single biggest difference to bike feel and performance.
I don't think On One are going to disappear, they're getting new designers in and will start to produce different models, and if they continue to churn out good UK bikes at cheap prices they will do well. The reason a lot of the old stock is being sold off cheap is that it doesn't pass the new EU Frame regulations, so they need to get rid of them while they can. Brant has achieved this with the new Ragley's, but many of the other designers/manufacturers still have to get these approvals.
However, if you're talking about building up a lighter bike, the best piece of advice is to obtain some lighter wheels as that makes the single biggest difference to bike feel and performance.
The Ti 456 looks to be a belting good frame - I can't see what EU regs could possibly apply or be relevant here, but then I'm always amazed at the breadth and depth of red tape about the place these days since we became part of the socialist republic of europe - at very good money.
It was my #2 choice for my next bike; an uber light single speed for winter night rides thorugh the woods. I've gone for a Marin team titanium though, as it's a tad tighter on the head angle (which I prefer) but there are other titaniums well worth considering; Cove, Genesis and Whyte.
IIRC there's a review of titanium hardtails in Mountain Biking UK this month.
It was my #2 choice for my next bike; an uber light single speed for winter night rides thorugh the woods. I've gone for a Marin team titanium though, as it's a tad tighter on the head angle (which I prefer) but there are other titaniums well worth considering; Cove, Genesis and Whyte.
IIRC there's a review of titanium hardtails in Mountain Biking UK this month.
tybalt said:
Digga said:
IIRC there's a review of titanium hardtails in Mountain Biking UK this month.
Yeah - that's the one I'm talking about above. The Whyte came out on top, but the Ti456 was the reference frame.My "winter and general" riding is on very tight, techy twisty singletrack on Cannock Chase, often at night. So I wanted step and quick steering, but for others, who spend time on 'bigger' faster and steeper trails the slacker angles will be more desireable.
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