New, Cheap, and Classic?

[grognaak]

I’m looking for a steel race bike with classic diamond geometry and modern rear spacing. Threaded headset is preferred. Do any manufacturers make these new for a decent price? Closest I can find is Surly.

[ultraman6970]

Which size are you looking for???

[grognaak]

Which size are you looking for???

It’s for a friend. She’s 5’6.5”.

[ultraman6970]

5'6 .. 1,67 ish... hmm im out of offerings for that height.

has to be steel? If she is racing I would try ebay with an aluminum canonondale, ridley or bmc. All of those in size small (50/51/52 at most)

[jasonification]

sounds like the soma stanyan might me up your alley? it's on sale on Velomine

[p nut]

https://www.raleighusa.com/road?cat=138

[mhespenheide]

Soma, Marinoni.

And Roland Della Santa...

[colker]

De Rosa Neo Primato.

[belopsky]

Bob Jackson?

[Hellgate]

Surly? Barf. For that much find a classic on FleaBay.

MY PX10 was $375 shipped. I built it with an OEM group, but a modern one would fit fine.

Because you ride a smaller frame there should be plenty out there to chooses from.

Start looking and good luck!

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

[oliver1850]

My first question is: Why new? Plenty of nice used frames out there for low cost. Modern rear spacing dates back to around 1990.

Don't know what your price range is. Not a threaded fork, buy you might consider Ritchey:

https://us.ritcheylogic.com/us_en/road-logic-frameset

I like the Stanyan for the type of riding I do, but you said race bike so not sure it fits the bill.

[MagicHour]

Check out Black Mountain Cycles (http://blackmtncycles.com/shop/frames/road-v3/)
Not a race bike though-awesome, fun and versatile bike; wide tire clearance with a throwback vibe. Soma smoothie, All city mr pink, and Ritchey Logic are other budget oriented steel bikes in a similar vain to look at.

[Louis]

Gunnar Roadie

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8622/16550898519_ea1e6d36e4.jpg

[Clean39T]

https://www.raleighusa.com/road?cat=138

Second. I don't love the look of the steel forks where they hit the HT, but overall, Raleigh is a great company trying to do things right...

[grognaak]

My first question is: Why new? Plenty of nice used frames out there for low cost. Modern rear spacing dates back to around 1990.

Don't know what your price range is. Not a threaded fork, buy you might consider Ritchey:

https://us.ritcheylogic.com/us_en/road-logic-frameset

I like the Stanyan for the type of riding I do, but you said race bike so not sure it fits the bill.

Well, we were trying to rush to find a nice bike for her for an upcoming ride. Realizing this probably isn’t going to pay off. We are now looking at the used market. Nothing off the shelf is both affordable and has the charm of the older classics. O, well. Re-learning what I already knew. Although, those Raleighs . . .

[Black Dog]

https://www.raleighusa.com/road?cat=138

This. They have exactly what you are looking for.

[stien]

I came here to post about my all-city but clicked the Raleigh link and saw that the Grand Prix is breakaway. For $1k. That’s nuts.

https://www.raleighusa.com/grand-prix-27399

[holliscx]

Closest I can find is Surly.

:help:

[cmg]

Planet X has some classic steel frames. Smaller sizes are harder to fit. https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/FRHOCO/holdsworth-competition-frameset

[fiamme red]

The Carlton Team Ti is Reynolds 531 with Nitto quill stem: https://www.raleighusa.com/carlton-team-ti.

But of course you can get a classic bike much cheaper on the used market.

[FlashUNC]

That Raleigh is pretty killer.

[belopsky]

Is Made in China worse than Made in Taiwan?

[colker]

This. They have exactly what you are looking for.


One of the hallmarks of classic vintage bikes is the 1cm increment in sizing. The Carlton is sold in four sizes only. Not one of them fits 5´7 to 5´9 riders.

[colker]

is made in china worse than made in taiwan?

yes.

[p nut]

One of the hallmarks of classic vintage bikes is the 1cm increment in sizing. The Carlton is sold in four sizes only. Not one of them fits 5´7 to 5´9 riders.

According to the chart. But look at the numbers. "57cm" has a TT (ETT?) of 546mm. Stack/reach of 553/381. That would fit 5'7" - 5'9" riders.

[colker]

According to the chart. But look at the numbers. "57cm" has a TT (ETT?) of 546mm. Stack/reach of 553/381. That would fit 5'7" - 5'9" riders.
It wouldn´t... not w/ a 145mm head tube and a quill stem. I wonder if it would fit anyone.

[deechee]

Check out Black Mountain Cycles (http://blackmtncycles.com/shop/frames/road-v3/)
Not a race bike though-awesome, fun and versatile bike; wide tire clearance with a throwback vibe. Soma smoothie, All city mr pink, and Ritchey Logic are other budget oriented steel bikes in a similar vain to look at.

+1 While I don't have his road bike, the Monster Cross constantly amazes me. I'm out of shape but I can still annoy the crap out of roadies while riding knobbies, full fenders and a giant saddlebag or backpack. Definitely email/call the owner, Mike, he knows is stuff and is extremely helpful with fit and any questions!

[grognaak]

The Carlton Team Ti is Reynolds 531 with Nitto quill stem: https://www.raleighusa.com/carlton-team-ti.

But of course you can get a classic bike much cheaper on the used market.

In fact, this is the bike she just ordered! We are both excited, and I'm a little jealous. I think it's a good compromise and helps us get something that will work well for her in a short period of time. I'll report back with her impressions when it arrives. Thanks, y'all!

[Villgaxx]

The Carlton Team Ti is Reynolds 531 with Nitto quill stem: https://www.raleighusa.com/carlton-team-ti.

But of course you can get a classic bike much cheaper on the used market.

wow, that Raleigh is pretty nuts for a production bike; it even has horizontal dropouts. nitto bar and stem, turbo saddle. insane. the geometry is a straight-up awful, though, but it would probably work well for as women's sizing, so that's perfect for the op.

[sokyroadie]

It wouldn´t... not w/ a 145mm head tube and a quill stem. I wonder if it would fit anyone.

I am 5'7" and it would fit me perfect.

[colker]

I am 5'7" and it would fit me perfect.

You may be 5´7 and ride a 57cm bike but everybody else at your height will fit on 52/53cm w/ 120mm, 125mm max head tubes when it comes to classic old school stage race geometry and a quill stem.

[FlashUNC]

You may be 5´7 and ride a 57cm bike but everybody else at your height will fit on 52/53cm w/ 120mm head tubes when it comes to classic old school stage race geometry.

Why not post a pic of you looking good on a 57cm bike? Maybe my experience is wrong.

Yeah, that'll show him.

FWIW the x-large size geo looks about in the ballpark of what I ride. Isn't 100% a match to my Della Santa, but the numbers are all roughly in the right place. Would nip a few mms here or there, but by and large would work.

Not sure what's super outrageous about the geos they have for these.

[bigman]

That's a super good deal on a very nice bike - i have one which I picked up on a recommendation from a friend - it's pretty relaxed and smooth. the campy works great and the wheels are surprisingly robust and nice looking.
It has the ritchey breakaway system and room for 32's.

[colker]

Yeah, that'll show him.

FWIW the x-large size geo looks about in the ballpark of what I ride. Isn't 100% a match to my Della Santa, but the numbers are all roughly in the right place. Would nip a few mms here or there, but by and large would work.

Not sure what's super outrageous about the geos they have for these.

:fight::bike::rolleyes:

There is nothing outrageous other than no size being offered for 5´7 to 5´10 riders, according to their chart.
There are four sizes only.
I also find weird that a 5´7 rider could fit perfectly on a 57cm bike w/a 145mm headtube and a quill stem. In my head it looks really bad. ymmv.

Imo bikes w/ this kind of geo should be offered w/ at least 2cm differences between sizes if they are any serious about fit.

[classtimesailer]

In fact, this is the bike she just ordered! We are both excited, and I'm a little jealous. I think it's a good compromise and helps us get something that will work well for her in a short period of time. I'll report back with her impressions when it arrives. Thanks, y'all!

Very cool. You will want one too. I know someone who has one and he is very happy with it. I suspect it is as well made as some vintage bike boom frame set.

[choke]

I have to agree that the geo on the Carlton is kind of odd. I'm 5'8" and typically ride a 54 or maybe a 55 (top and seat tube); the TT on the 57 world work for me but a 57 seat tube is a bit long.

The geo on the Record Ace is much closer to what I would consider normal.

[fiamme red]

wow, that Raleigh is pretty nuts for a production bike; it even has horizontal dropouts. nitto bar and stem, turbo saddle. insane. the geometry is a straight-up awful, though, but it would probably work well for as women's sizing, so that's perfect for the op.To be honest, I don't know much about geometry, but it looks fairly normal to me except that the top tubes are on the short side on both the 57 cm and 61 cm frames. What else am I missing? Is there anything unusual about the geometry of the 53 cm frame, which I presume is what the OP's friend bought?

[colker]

I have to agree that the geo on the Carlton is kind of odd. I'm 5'8" and typically ride a 54 or maybe a 55 (top and seat tube); the TT on the 57 world work for me but a 57 seat tube is a bit long.

The geo on the Record Ace is much closer to what I would consider normal.

If you are 5´8 there is no bike for you. LOL. Look at the chart: they don´t even have a bike for your height.

[R3awak3n]

that raleigh gran prix is a crazy deal. too bad they don't have 58s any more

[p nut]

That's a super good deal on a very nice bike - i have one which I picked up on a recommendation from a friend - it's pretty relaxed and smooth. the campy works great and the wheels are surprisingly robust and nice looking.
It has the ritchey breakaway system and room for 32's.

Ritchey Breakaway, Veloce group. It's a pretty tempting package. One I would not mind buying to have packed away for out of town trips.

[fiamme red]

that raleigh gran prix is a crazy deal. too bad they don't have 58s any morehttps://aventuron.com/products/raleigh-grand-prix?variant=49261452493

[R3awak3n]

https://aventuron.com/products/raleigh-grand-prix?variant=49261452493

damn you.

and this thing fits 32s???? damnnnn you.

[C40_guy]

In fact, this is the bike she just ordered! We are both excited, and I'm a little jealous. I think it's a good compromise and helps us get something that will work well for her in a short period of time. I'll report back with her impressions when it arrives. Thanks, y'all!

Can you custom order it with Weinmann centerpulls?

:)

[dddd]

I'm not certain how Raleigh measured those Grand Prix toptube lengths, but those toptubes seem very short for the rider sizes listed.
Then there are those super-slack headtube angles, which in my experience may not handle so well when combined with a longer stem.
It seems odd even to this short-torso'd rider, though might be somewhat normalized if they are showing actual toptube lengths and not effective lengths, which would be strange.
The early-70's Raleigh Super Course and Grand Sports bikes had the very same 73ST and 71HT angles that suggested off road use or solo riding on country roads. This Grand Prix is no racer of course, but might work for some.

[fiamme red]

damn you.

and this thing fits 32s???? damnnnn you.According to this the frame does fit 32's:

http://bicycletimesmag.com/review-raleigh-grand-prix/

I’ve owned a lot of steel bikes and the Grand Prix is fine example of the breed. It’s not the lightest thing out there, or the finest riding, but it is stiff enough for a proper sprint and won’t rattle those fillings on less than smooth tarmac or even some dirt. Room for 32 mm tires (or 28s with fenders attached to the provided braze-ons) is a nice touch, as are the downtube shifter bosses. The cable adjusters on the downtube were a big help for fine tuning the derailleurs after reassembly.

[bigman]

32 is good,front probably 35 but no more than 32 in back.Even the promax brakes are fine. Those slack angles - its no racer.

[93KgBike]

The last reviewer of the Grand Prix reviews (https://www.raleighusa.com/grand-prix-27399) wrote, "I have owned a custom Serotta which had shimmy issues. The Grand Prix has none of that. Love this bike!"

It is a nice bike. I have built more than a few high-end Raleighs, and Ritchey tubes are excellent, but hang on a second there fella! :fight:

[grognaak]

Is Made in China worse than Made in Taiwan?

I believe that the Team Carlton TI (2017 maybe?) is produced by Raleigh Japan based on feedback from customer service, but they couldn't give me any info about the factory situation. Does anyone know if that particular frame is put together in Japan? I translated the Raleigh Japan website, but didn't find any info about this--maybe the frame is put together by Araya since their name is on the website footer. I think the tubing comes from Reynolds in England; fork is Cro-mo.