SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
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SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
Does anyone know where they come from and who makes them?
“Quiet, calm deliberation disentangles every knot.”
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
For £375 frame & forks must be from China.
But does it matter, given the price?
But does it matter, given the price?
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best,
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
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- Posts: 5327
- Joined: 27 Oct 2012, 9:13pm
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
Given I've just bought one i was interested in knowing.
When i was ordering the bike my questions about frame source where met with " trusted supplier" etc.
It's not a game changer, just curious...
When i was ordering the bike my questions about frame source where met with " trusted supplier" etc.
It's not a game changer, just curious...
“Quiet, calm deliberation disentangles every knot.”
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Be more Mike.
The road goes on forever.
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
Usually there is a sticker, under the BB?
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best,
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
landsurfer wrote:Does anyone know where they come from and who makes them?
Where's Colin he will know.
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
landsurfer wrote:Given I've just bought one i was interested in knowing.
When i was ordering the bike my questions about frame source where met with " trusted supplier" etc.
It's not a game changer, just curious...
well I wouldnt tell you my ( cheap ) chinese source incase you decided to source them your self - look at the cheap £10 wood burners sold by some dealers here at £25+ or the Yakalike trailers that before the flood @£60 were being sold at about £200.
so maybe dont press the question? I dont begrudge SPA their profit as they provide an affordable alternative to the over inflated price Galaxies
I think it would be an interesting holiday to look around the various factories in China and see what price they will knock things off for? oh we give them away in crates of cornflakes or use them to fill up any space in a container
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
Same old story: what is the real cost of an item nowadays?
Is it fair for some items to copy an original design and knock it off in thousands and thousands with cheaper manufacturing?
Hard to give an answer!
IMO, is better to support your local whenever possible. A quality bicycle frame can last decades, so buy it right and make it last
Is it fair for some items to copy an original design and knock it off in thousands and thousands with cheaper manufacturing?
Hard to give an answer!
IMO, is better to support your local whenever possible. A quality bicycle frame can last decades, so buy it right and make it last
It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best,
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them.
Thus you remember them as they actually are...
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
mercalia wrote:landsurfer wrote:Given I've just bought one i was interested in knowing.
When i was ordering the bike my questions about frame source where met with " trusted supplier" etc.
It's not a game changer, just curious...
well I wouldnt tell you my ( cheap ) chinese source incase you decided to source them your self - look at the cheap £10 wood burners sold by some dealers here at £25+ or the Yakalike trailers that before the flood @£60 were being sold at about £200.
so maybe dont press the question? I dont begrudge SPA their profit as they provide an affordable alternative to the over inflated price Galaxies
I think it would be an interesting holiday to look around the various factories in China and see what price they will knock things off for? oh we give them away in crates of cornflakes or use them to fill up any space in a container
They're hardly the first to "knock off" bicycle frames. Isn't every conventional frame more or less a "knock off" of John Starley's 1885 Rover?
For what it's worth I was under the impression Spa's frames are made in China either the mainland or on the island of Taiwan. I think the forks are made in the UK - Lee Cooper perhaps?
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
At least they aren't claiming to build it themselves.
Good luck to Spa.
I can't criticise their approach.
Last time I looked at the Hewitt page they seemed to kind of imply that they built the frames themselves, or were willing for folk to go away with that idea.
I think one of their steel frames is now up to £600.
Which is a tad much considering where it almost certainly comes from.
edit: by the by landsurfer, I would be interested in your impressions of the frame, including when built up.
Good luck to Spa.
I can't criticise their approach.
Last time I looked at the Hewitt page they seemed to kind of imply that they built the frames themselves, or were willing for folk to go away with that idea.
I think one of their steel frames is now up to £600.
Which is a tad much considering where it almost certainly comes from.
edit: by the by landsurfer, I would be interested in your impressions of the frame, including when built up.
Sweep
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
I've just bought a Spa Touring frame to replace my rusty Ridgeback. It has a couple of things I wasn't expecting. There's no rear hanger for cantilever brakes, it seems to be designed with the assumption that you'll use mini vee brakes. The headset that comes with it is rubbish. The bottom bearing holder appears to be made out of cardboard. If buying one, it's worth paying extra for a better headst.
Sherwood CC and Notts CTC.
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
A cart horse trapped in the body of a man.
http://www.jogler2009.blogspot.com
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
TrevA wrote:I've just bought a Spa Touring frame to replace my rusty Ridgeback. It has a couple of things I wasn't expecting. There's no rear hanger for cantilever brakes, it seems to be designed with the assumption that you'll use mini vee brakes. The headset that comes with it is rubbish. The bottom bearing holder appears to be made out of cardboard. If buying one, it's worth paying extra for a better headst.
A surprise there, when the titanium version came out (just after I bought my Van Nicholas) I was jealous that unlike the VN the Spa did have a hanger.
You can see it in the picture here.
http://www.spacycles.co.uk/m1b0s21p2554 ... -Ti-Tourer
Planet X used to do a seatpost clamp with a fixed cable stop cast into it, much better than the "dangly" versions that you can buy.
Yma o Hyd
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Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
My Spa tourer has provided three years of excellent service including two fully laden continental tours. Nothings gone wrong and it still kooks good. Handles a load very well. Does it matter who made it? They did a good job.
Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
I thought they had to say "Made in xxxx" Consumer law and all that.
My new Surly proudly announced Made in Taiwan.
My new Surly proudly announced Made in Taiwan.
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Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
I have the spa steel audax frameset. I was under the impression it was made in taiwan( or china ) and would imagine the tourer comes from same factory. When I got the frameset I was very impressed with the neatness of the welds, the people making the frames clearly are very good at what they do. All measurements were correct and all threads were clear of paint when fitting mudguards etc. For the price they are very nice frames. Everything fitted without any fettling.
As with TrevA the headset I felt let the package down... and was a heavyweight with no weather sealing. I bought an orbit mx for £19 with cartridge bearings easily serviced or replaced. So I would advise similarly to upgrade headset when buying frameset, tourer may be similar.
As with TrevA the headset I felt let the package down... and was a heavyweight with no weather sealing. I bought an orbit mx for £19 with cartridge bearings easily serviced or replaced. So I would advise similarly to upgrade headset when buying frameset, tourer may be similar.
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Re: SPA CYCLES STEEL TOURING FRAMES
Is it maxway in taiwan?