What you can do is ask the manufaturer if any shops near you have those bikes on display. At least, that's what I did when wanted to see a specific bikeframe.
Personally I would prefer a bikeframe which factory is not that far away. I saw people who had to loose their italian frame for 2-3 months when it had to be returned to the factory (for only a simpel repaint).
I had a look into the option for steel, since I am driving that now. And in the netherlands there is only one factory still making those, and that be Duell. Great looking strong bikes (almost look like alu frames) but also expensive and almost 50% 'heavier' compared to carbon or alu.
And for $3000-5000 you can get one hell of a bike, so why not take to option of the latest technologies like carbon?
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Thread: Custom road bike
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10-07-2006, 05:00 AM #1
Feel the wind ...
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10-07-2006, 03:43 PM #2
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I ride a serotta. the range of prices goes really high, but their fitting is great. I ended up, in the end, paying in the mid $3000 range for their "stock" frame - the Fierte - which is titanium and carbon. It fits like a dream and they had one without having to go the "full" custom.
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10-08-2006, 07:29 PM #3
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Very cool! Roark is in Indianapolis, very nice custom TI stuff. Seven is maybe one of the larger all custom builders. Co-motion also makes nice custom single bikes - not just tandems. If you can be sized with some of the WSD bikes, you can get a very nice full carbon off the shelf bike in that price range. With an awesome ride, light weight, and top shelf components. However, a custom bike would be really cool.
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10-08-2006, 08:45 PM #4
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Thanks once again for all the responses. Definitely a lot to think about......LOADS of options, too.
I have a few thoughts on carbon vs. steel, but what do you all think in terms of ride comfort, speed, etc.?
Cheers!
Teresa
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10-08-2006, 08:47 PM #5
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I've only ridden all-carbon once. so I really have no basis to speak. (Except to say I didn't like it, but it could've been the geometry, not the carbon)
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10-09-2006, 12:27 AM #6
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The biggest advantage of carbon is the weight ... that's more or less it.
Steel, Ti and/or alu frames have more strength as a whole. Meaning if you would drop your bike chances are more likely a steel bike would show only paint scratches and carbon could have serious damage to the carbon. Carbon is only strong is the direction it was designed to be and steel (alu) is strong as a whole.
Imho it would be wiser for your first bike to go for steel, ti or alu frames.
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