Frame choices

[Ontherivet77]

Out of interest did Mercian offer a replacement on the frame that broke?

I never bothered to take it back to them, I’d had it for 7 years and it was bought in 1997, so before Mercian started charging megabucks for their frames. I think I only paid just over £200 for it, so considered that I’d had my money’s worth.

I could have had it repaired but with a respray it would have cost more than I paid originally, so didn’t bother.

Fair enough. Years ago I sold a Specialized Sirrus with about 2k on the clock. A couple of months later the frame failed and even though I couldn't find the receipt we managed to get a replacement frame from Specialized through the dealer. You would hope to get the same treatment from Mercian in the modern era considering as you say the top prices for their current frames.

[nsew]

It used to be that aluminium frames (in the late 1980's) gave a harsher ride than steel, but not now. The last aluminium road frame I tried (a 2011 frame) wasn't as harsh to ride as the old steel 531 frame I had around the same time. That was the harshest of the lot.

Rose tinted glasses are one thing but with China now selling carbon frames easily accessible at under £500 with a fork (and they are even now at these prices here in the UK, or were before all this virus kerfuffle started), you're getting everything in the one package, stupidly lightweight + no road vibration. In fact the carbon road frames I have used have not only taken away just about all the road vibration, they even soak up mild bumps.

The only thing I would keep metal today is the seatpost and handlebars.

I don’t buy from China.

https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/as ... ort-china/

[Megasaur123]

If you want the best carbon road frames, buy time or look. French hand built carbon frames, nothing comes close. I won't buy,Cannondale,Specialised,Boardman or Trek.

LOOK and TIME carbon road frames are the best in the world.

[Jamesh]

If you want the best carbon road frames, buy time or look. French hand built carbon frames, nothing comes close. I won't buy,Cannondale,Specialised,Boardman or Trek.

LOOK and TIME carbon road frames are the best in the world.

Must be a Hambini fan!!

Not sure I agree!

Cheers James

[mig]

It used to be that aluminium frames (in the late 1980's) gave a harsher ride than steel, but not now. The last aluminium road frame I tried (a 2011 frame) wasn't as harsh to ride as the old steel 531 frame I had around the same time. That was the harshest of the lot.

Rose tinted glasses are one thing but with China now selling carbon frames easily accessible at under £500 with a fork (and they are even now at these prices here in the UK, or were before all this virus kerfuffle started), you're getting everything in the one package, stupidly lightweight + no road vibration. In fact the carbon road frames I have used have not only taken away just about all the road vibration, they even soak up mild bumps.

The only thing I would keep metal today is the seatpost and handlebars.

why only those two things? for reliability in those heavily stressed areas?

carbon rims? carbon stem? carbon saddle rails?

i'm never sure how people compare the 'harshness' of frames in isolation. the way how the frame rides can be picked out from within the whole package from the wheels, the volume and pressure of the tyres, the frame geometry, the way the rider sits the bike etc. for example if the geometry tips the rider forward so that there is more weight supported by the hands then any bike will feel 'harsher' over even a semi decent surface. use a set of wheels with stiff, over inflated tyres in that same frame then it's worse still. blame the frame material if you like but is it really the main culprit?