Which steel road frames / steel bikes?

Oak Cycles, you will probably have to wait the best part of a year but it would be a bike for life..

Bob Jackson? Also Goff and Hewitt do the sort of thing you're looking for.

Not in London but reputable.

If you want a second had bike set up a wanted thread. You will have to be patient. Have you looked in the CTC forum classifieds?

Thanks was thinking about Bob Jackson. Do any of these manufacturers take my measurements and put a bike together? Eg with this groupset, wheelset etc or only just frames? Do I need to go to an LBS for that?

Not keen on oak if it takes a year!

What's your budget?

£1-1.5k for everything all in incl an ultegra groupset and decent wheelset

Mercian?

Hello all

I'm a 6'3" guy who is pretty normally weighted (i.e. no Bradley Wiggins) and I'm on the look out for a high end steel Merckx frame in 60cm.

Issue I have is that as a larger rider I am a bit concerned about frame flex around the BB which happens on a 531c build up I have.

I currently have a Merckx Strada OS which is a great ride (sorry make that GREAT ride) but as I have just aquired a 9 speed record titanium groupset in excellent condition (were talking 300 miles tops maybe) I would like to match it with a similarly top end mid to late 90s Merckx frame.

Have been on the look out for an MX Leader F&F but they are overpriced or not my size on ebay and nothing turned up on these forums despite a post in the wanted section.

Just wondering what my other options are? Corsa 01? SLX? SL? Or do I just wait for that elusive Leader frame?

Any advice would be much appreciated

Rusher

Longstaff, Yates or Woodrup are other options.

£1-1.5k for everything all in incl an ultegra groupset and decent wheelset

That's probably not enough. Custom built frames start at about £600 for a basic 631 (or equivalent). By the time you've added various touring bits to your specifications, you're looking at £800-1000 for the frame alone. Frame weight isn't the main consideration for touring.

Custom frame builders will not only take your measurements, they will also have a discussion with you about how you will use the bike and advise on components. Take their advice.

I suspect that small single person operations e.g. Dave Yates will not be that keen to build the bike up for you but would if pushed (paid). The larger businesses such as Bob Jackson or Mercian who also have shops would be quite happy to do it for you, at a price.

Agree about decent wheels. Consider discs.

Ultegra isn't really a groupset designed for touring. Many touring bikes use mountain bike components to get low enough gears.

PS Longstaff is dead (unless someone else has bought the brand and is building frames using the name)

I think George's, er, staff continued the business IIRC

Incidentally I also had a look at the current Roberts price list, they're currently asking about £1300 for a touring frame.

Longstaff was at bespoked IIRC

BJ doesn't do components/builds, just the steel frame.

Sorry that wasn't too helpful. A mate at work just got a Condor Heritage, £600 for the frameset. In London, they would happily build something for you in your budget. One of these
http://www.condorcycles.com/Condor-Bikes/9459-Condor-Heritage-2011/flypage.tpl.html

https://sslcache.se/f5580a61b44baaedf2581e848544b0e33c7fe661/687474703a2f2f7777772e636f6e646f726379636c65732e636f6d2f636f6d706f6e656e74732f636f6d5f7669727475656d6172742f73686f775f696d6167655f696e5f696d677461672e7068703f66696c656e616d653d436f6e646f725f48657269746167655f5f353236353061616161666566632e6a7067266e65777873697a653d353835266e65777973697a653d3538352666696c656f75743d

Ellis Briggs will do you a complete bike, British built and good to go for just outside your budget:

http://www.ellisbriggscycles.co.uk/our-bikes/super-tourist/

http://i2.wp.com/www.ellisbriggscycles.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Ellis-Briggs-Super-Tourist-01.jpg

I had a look round a little while ago and the majority of UK builders (for 853 or equivalent) are at the £1,300 mark or above.

What sort of touring are you thinking of here- heavily laden Alpine pass hunting, or tootling around the UK between Youth Hostels with a couple of changes of clothes?

Has anybody suggested Talbot yet?

Given the quality of his recent work ( both forum and bespoked show bikes), I'd be very tempted head straight over there.

Agree with not enough money comments for a full custom. If you could up the budget a little, I'd personally always go for a Roberts - I've got a couple and love them though that's probably brand loyalty talking as much as anything else.

A Condor Fratello would be just about doable probably, and you'd get a fantastic service from them.

Given that frames just don't hold their value and if you can wait any longer , a used Roberts / Mercian / Yates or whatever are always fun. Something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/mens-mercian-bicycle-/301161094767?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item461e999e6f

This guy seems to be starting out, with very reasonable pricing:
http://bellevillemachine.blogspot.co.uk/p/prix.html

Steve Goff

http://www.steve-goff-frames.co.uk/

I had a look round a little while ago and the majority of UK builders (for 853 or equivalent) are at the £1,300 mark or above.

What sort of touring are you thinking of here- heavily laden Alpine pass hunting, or tootling around the UK between Youth Hostels with a couple of changes of clothes?

Thanks all for the responses. Dammnit to answer your questions it's more light touring. Going to mix it w commuting. Need a rear rack but don't for see a front rack. Just needs to be quality as I want this frame for a while

Regarding the condor suggestion I'll check them out again. I priced out their flagship steel model w an ultegra groupset and it was £2k ouch. Might as well get a titanium bike for that!

I'd have a look at something in the Genesis range in that case.

Thorn Audax?

Not true custom but I was very impressed with the Enigma OTP frames at bespoked. Their classic steel frame, Ethos looked good and had appropriate bits for touring.

Skinny Eric's in Hackney Wick sell a touring frame made by Ted "Superted" James. Made of various types of Columbus tubing. It's nice and light, but strong.