TransAm 2016 - www.transambikerace.com

@hippy What about these? Ordered by reach:

Tarmac 56cm S/R = 564/395

BMC Granfondo GF01 Disc 56cm S/R = 580/384

Centurion Gigadrive Disc Team 56cm S/R = 576/384

ROSE XEON DX-3100 Di2 55cm S/R = 566/383

Grimes Disc M S/R = 584/381.5

Masi Vivo range M/L S/R = 591 / 379

Trek Domane Disco 56cm S/R = 591/377

BMC Granfondo GF01 Disc 56cm S/R = 580/384
Too long (only allowing 10mm each way to preserve handling)

Centurion Gigadrive Disc Team 56cm S/R = 576/384
Never heard of them

ROSE XEON DX-3100 Di2 55cm S/R = 566/383
Maybe

Trek Domane Disco
Too spendy. Lance.

Grimes Disc
Never heard of them

I'll probably just buy a frame from someone. Just thought I'd try due diligence and ride a contender first.

Centurion Gigadrive Disc Team 56cm S/R = 576/384
Never heard of them

German made. There are many bike brands nowadays, you live in an island, you where born in another... you need to realise there is much more crossing to the continent :).

For example here in Spain you get:

MMR Adrenaline SLD

BH G7 Disc

Orbea Avant range

Any they are just the most known... the fact that you may only know Orbea because of the Pro Peloton, doesn't mean that actually MMR is better in quality/price and has Chechu Rubiera working as an designer/engineer

If you want a carbon, hydro disc, di2 bike... you have many models to choose from, just do some research like I did (I'm just copy pasting from a big excell that I filled months ago while looking for my new bike)

All of them are made in Taiwan.. :P

I've been a bit of a bike forum nut for years now so if I've not even stumbled across a brand, I'm not going to stake 6 months training on it. I'll stick with stuff I know or people I can find and kick in the balls if it goes wrong.

I couldn't decide between the short few I had listed, adding more to the pile isn't going to help :)

Of those I know BH and Orbea. Don't think I've seen an MMR before.

If something goes wrong with an international order it's that much more problematic getting it sorted out. That's why I generally like to stick with frames that are at least distributed by UK companies, so I have a local company to cry to when something goes wrong.

I have done a bit of research, that's how I came up with my earlier list. I found a frame I was ready to buy only for it to disappear because it was too popular. Other options are less appealing as even though they fit, they are more expensive for little benefit.

That's how I felt with Kinesis when my frame got problems with the rear 160mm rotors... and when I couldn't buy a spare dropout hanger because there is no distributor here in Spain. But they finally got it sorted and sent me a 140 adapter, rotor and dropout hanger a week later.

I could help you with MMR (they are from my home town) if there where something wrong... anyway their frames are Taiwan made :) too. But I understand your fears... lets focus on UK and well known brands then

I got a pile so big that I used material to cut it by half (no carbon for me please), maybe you did it also but should reconsider...

Tarmac 56cm S/R = 564/395
Kinesis Aithein Disc 56cm S/R = 565.8/397

Also its lightest alloy disc frameset available for purchase that you can buy in store in UK. (Ok @amey, rear rotor is 140mm but its Di2 compatible and maybe he could even get some sponsoring from them to get a fully built bike for even less)

PS: Why alloy? Well Billy Rice broke his carbon frame at the BB in the TransAm that Mike Hall won...

Has this been resolved yet?

I already ride Kinesis and quite like their stuff. Not sure why I didn't really look at their options. Guess I was heading more for gravel bike tyre clearances and when I saw the price of their Ti Athein I didn't bother.

Not sure about the fat seatpost or the "up to 28mm" but might add this one to the list.

No.

I already ride Kinesis and quite like totally love their stuff

Get your agent to give them a call.

I've just caught up on eight pages of this and have now forgotten what I came in here for...

Bike chit chat.

Thread needs renaming.
#hippieslifedecision

Also needs a rolling poll, so we can just make the decisions for you.

Each time I make a decision some fucker removes the choice I've made.

I'm tiding myself over for now by buying a Zipp disc...

I already ride Kinesis and quite like their stuff. Not sure why I didn't really look at their options. Guess I was heading more for gravel bike tyre clearances and when I saw the price of their Ti Athein I didn't bother.
Not sure about the fat seatpost or the "up to 28mm" but might add this one to the list.

I suppose you're talking about the price of the GF Ti Disc.

The Aithein 28mm limit should be enough for TransAm, and maybe for TCR if they get some gravel back in to next years course, where you considering 32mm?

You always got the Racelight 4S Disc 55cm S/R = 566.3/394.4
Tarmac 56cm S/R = 564/395
Kinesis Aithein Disc 56cm S/R = 565.8/397

It has clearance up to 32mm, 27.2 seatpost and still under 2kg frameset, Di2 compatible, but 140mm rear rotor. Plus has a hole in the fork that lets you mount the dynamo light (Aithein has no hole there). My Conti GP 4000SII 28mm get 0,5cm clearance on each side of the fork, 1cm on the seatstays and 0,5cm on the chainstays.

I've many pics an info on my project thread, but can take more if you need

Halfords, most gears you can get for £300. Done

I run 28mm now on the Kinesis 4S and I would like to go bigger. 2 weeks of smashing into potholes takes its toll on undercarriage AND sanity so I'm quite prepared to sacrifice some speed for comfort.

I can't find a weight for the Racelight 4S Disc - do you know how it compares with the Aiethien? What's the £100 price difference get you on the Aithein? Lighter?

I guess the tyre limiter on my 4S is actually the brake calipers, not the frame. I never tried >28s as they were already pretty damn close to the fork. Get a bit more clearance with discs.

Good call.
I might have a word with Bike Whisperer since they sorted my last two Kinesis frames out. Dunno if they're still in contact with the dealer(s) though.

Done!

^ No chance of 'Shermer's Neck' with that one.

Shermer's Basket.

Hippy's Basket.

I can't find a weight for the Racelight 4S Disc - do you know how it compares with the Aiethien? What's the £100 price difference get you on the Aithein? Lighter?

If you visit its website and choose the "Geometry" tab, at the bottom of each size there is the frame weight, the fork is 450gr in their site, but mine weights 440gr uncuted. My 63cm frame is 1,790kg "naked", although the chart claims 1,72kg.

My actual build is about 9,3kg with mid-range components

For what I know comparing Aithein to 4S, they advertise the first more for racing because of geometry and lightweight, and the 4S has more comfort in the rear triangle. Or at least that's what their seatstays claim:

The Aithein is also cleaner (no mudguard/rack mounts in the frame or fork), but as I said it has no hole in the fork to put the Supernova Triple where the rim brake caliper whould go (I assume you will be using some kind of handlebar bag, I'm not but don't like to have a hot light near my garmin). The 4S Disc is pretty good for just 757€ (£487), more money to get wheels and gears.

I don't have 32mm tyres to test it on my frame, but I assume there is still enough room on both fork and chainstays (0,5mm with 28mm tyres).

PS: Kinesis UK usually answers my questions via direct message quite fast and effectively

So, there's only 150-200g difference in frame weight between the models at the ~53cm size. Not sure what that will equate to at my 56/57cm size but it won't be all that much. Mudguard eyes are useful back in the UK when it's not being raced so the 4S wins on that front. It also wins on tyre clearance.

The 4S has Flat Mount disc mounts vs. Post Mounts. That's not going to make any difference I don't think. The 4S is cheaper and I already own the rim brake version of the 4S so I'm happy enough with the design already :)

Looks like the 4S has #1 spot.

Question then is, what bits do I then need for it?

Are these BR-785 units (http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/shimano-ultegra-di2-6870-st-r785-hydraulic-electric-kit-internal-internal-401953) Flat Mount and suitable for this frame? "It is best recommended that you run a 140mm rear rotor." say Kinesis. Ok!

I'll have a chat with my partner in grime tonight and see what the go is with ordering one.

These are flat mount:

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;product=143255;menu=1000,4,320,322

I know you wrote off Mason, but the Ultegra Di2 Disc Resolution (£3.7k) should be back in stock next month according to their website. For something like the TransAm they might let you jump the queue.

I went back to have a look at their stuff when I saw frame-only options. I'm gonna see how tonight's Kinesis chat pans out. Since I already own a 4S and quite like it, getting another one suited to discs and Di2 is an easy way out of this bike choice palava.