Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Just passing a few quiet moments (AT) work and remembering some headset noises on the current ICAN Gravel bike that is now 99% used for Road/Commuting duties.

EDIT : Commuting duties are 17.8km ea way minimum, and often stretch out to 30+km if weather and body agree.

The bike itself is still going well and now doing 210+km weeks as part of more commuting and TdU ride training. I think there is a bit of headset looseness in the top bearing (carbon cup worn) which doesn't surprise me as the frame was S/H to be albeit pretty new and it's seen some rather rocky gravel/MTB with a fat sod on it.

Given that I like to be prepared (yes, I was a scout), I'm wanting to start building up a list of a decent replacement framesets (preferable) such that when the inevitable happens, I have a short list to shop with. I only have a few requirements, and the rest are pretty much determined by the cost.

Pretty much rock-solid requirements :
- Disc brake
- Room for up to 36mm road tyres
- Mountings to fit 'proper' mudguards
- <$2k for F&F
- Threaded BB

Highly desirable :
- Steel or Ti Frame
- Prefer a decently light bike, but doesn't have to be a WW frame, but conversely don't want a water pipe frame either.
- Room for up to 40mm road tyres (to use the Pirelli Race TLR in 40mm)
- BB is either T47 external or BSA


Other than that, open to all sorts. Happy to potentially look at a new bike (depending on cost) but preference is to transfer running gear from current frame to new one.

Great looking Ti frame for a bit more than $2k ....

https://www.fixnrideau.com/product-page ... nium-frame

Retrobyte wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 12:34 pm

Great looking Ti frame for a bit more than $2k ....

https://www.fixnrideau.com/product-page ... nium-frame

Indeed it is, $3,299 for a GAR in Large for a Frame Fork & Headset.

Be interesting to know where it comes from (suspect either China or Russia) and a frame size chart would be handy.

Great start though !!!

MichaelB wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 1:24 pm

Retrobyte wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 12:34 pm

Great looking Ti frame for a bit more than $2k ....

https://www.fixnrideau.com/product-page ... nium-frame

Indeed it is, $3,299 for a GAR in Large for a Frame Fork & Headset.

Be interesting to know where it comes from (suspect either China or Russia) and a frame size chart would be handy.

Great start though !!!

In his blurb he does say China - a manufacturer who makes "thousands every month"

I was seriously considering a fix n ride GAR before I bought my new bike. Rheicel used to post on here & has always had a keen interest in ti bikes. I could have sworn his webiste had a frame size chart but can't find it now. Send him an email & I'm sure he will help

Hannibal Lecter has a thread on WW. "Fully internal Waltly Ti endurance bike". Not sure if you've seen it?
It is all made in China but it would seem your price specification ensures it will be from Asia somewhere.
Seems pretty good in any case.

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 3:46 pm

Hannibal Lecter has a thread on WW. "Fully internal Waltly Ti endurance bike". Not sure if you've seen it?
It is all made in China but it would seem your price specification ensures it will be from Asia somewhere.
Seems pretty good in any case.

Yeah, I have seen that thread, and also dabbled a bit with a Chinese Ti bike when I was looking for the MonsterCross option before I bought the GT frame.

It seems like the most likely option, as closest options are $3k or more.

Some Kenisis options (alloy) from the UK that came close, but they don't ship here

No real hurry, but just need to think about it ..

Reynolds 725 steel frame
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/product/ ... /GN11210LG

blkmcs wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 4:44 pm

Reynolds 725 steel frame
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/product/ ... /GN11210LG

Interesting option, but can’t get it outside UK. Bugger.

Since Brexit/Covid, many UK places do not ship outside UK.

Waltly would be high on my list to look at. Also maybe a Ritchey Outback, it's in your price but is kind of heavy and is a gravel bike

https://www.dirtworksb2b.com.au/frameset-gravel

blizzard wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:26 pm

Waltly would be high on my list to look at. Also maybe a Ritchey Outback, it's in your price but is kind of heavy and is a gravel bike

https://www.dirtworksb2b.com.au/frameset-gravel

Oh, fancy and do like my ritchey, are they heavy? not so much for a commuter/ roadie could be for some if more a roadie/ commuter, but again depends on the frame size as weights get lost when sizes go up and I ride xl frames ((and EDIT the ride quality is more important to me than weights, and ritchey do deliver /give a proper ride))- have bought a frameset direct from dirtworks direct during one of these sales ( and then two other via bike shops) so can *recommend for a hassle free transaction and speedy transport

But wow, the breakaways have had a big jump up in price.

* DW - send my normal commission to the usual number two bank account in the Bahamas...

blizzard wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 10:26 pm

Waltly would be high on my list to look at. Also maybe a Ritchey Outback, it's in your price but is kind of heavy and is a gravel bike

https://www.dirtworksb2b.com.au/frameset-gravel

Yes, it looks like a good fit, but the Ritchey Montebello (Radonneur) is probably the best option from them, but at $2,974, breaks that criteria. But still something to consider.

One that may work is the Norco Search XR Steel (and some Carbon options) - some framesets available under $2k (Reynolds 725 tubing) ....

Others that will have worked but broke the budget option were :
Argon18 Dark Matter - over $3k
Mason Resolution 3 but at $3.5k before shipping rules it right out, but T47 BB

ooooh, but still over the $2k mark

Cervelo Aspero in 56cm, but pickup only ....

MichaelB wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 9:34 pm

blkmcs wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 4:44 pm

Reynolds 725 steel frame
https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/product/ ... /GN11210LG

Interesting option, but can’t get it outside UK. Bugger.

Since Brexit/Covid, many UK places do not ship outside UK.

BMCR in Adelaide sell Genesis bikes, looks like they have a CDF 40 in stock https://bmcr.com.au/bikes/genesis/croix-de-fer-40/
260 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
Telephone: (08) 8410 9499

MichaelB wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 1:24 pm

Retrobyte wrote: ↑

Tue Jan 14, 2025 12:34 pm

Great looking Ti frame for a bit more than $2k ....

https://www.fixnrideau.com/product-page ... nium-frame

Indeed it is, $3,299 for a GAR in Large for a Frame Fork & Headset.

Be interesting to know where it comes from (suspect either China or Russia) and a frame size chart would be handy.

Great start though !!!

If I see him on the weekend I can ask him for you, I usually see him most weekends when I get coffee.

The Cervelo Aspero looks great, I'd do the click-and-collect, even if it's interstate. That bike is a nice colour too.

Just be aware I think that Aspero frame is the discontinued model - so pressfit BB versus T47 threaded and narrower tyre clearance (40mm as opposed to 45mm).

Mind you, you'll pay $3700 for the current one and the geometry and weight are essentially the same so if these things aren't important to you it's still definitely a bargain.

There's also a private seller with a Curve Kevin Titanium frame in Victoria about your size for $2500. Looks decent!

https://www.shop.bikeexchange.com.au/a/ ... /119543120

So, following the exhortations from Warty, I contacted Waltly and based on some basic geometry and key requirements, the quote came back as ;

Frame - USD$930
Carbon Fork (int routing) - USD$140
Shipping - USD $300
Total - USD$1,370
Paypal Fee - USD$85
Deposit (50%) - USD$685


Or in Aussie Peso's ..... (with rate at 0.619)

Frame - A$1,502
Carbon Fork (int routing) - A$226
Shipping - A$484
Total - A$2,351 (incl paypal fee)
Paypal Fee - A$138
Deposit (50%) - A$1,107

When you compare that to the Aspero frameset (AT) $2,495, as much as I'd like the Ti one, I'd be taking a drive to Victoria. But the 56cm is Black, whilst the 58cm is the Champagne, and the 56cm would be my size

Still early days yet though ....

blkmcs wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2025 10:41 am

BMCR in Adelaide sell Genesis bikes, looks like they have a CDF 40 in stock https://bmcr.com.au/bikes/genesis/croix-de-fer-40/
260 Waymouth Street, Adelaide
Telephone: (08) 8410 9499

The complete bike is $3,500 which is a good deal, but think that the CdF is more of a Touring bike vs Road bike that can take fat tyres.

Mr Purple wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2025 2:13 pm

Just be aware I think that Aspero frame is the discontinued model - so pressfit BB versus T47 threaded and narrower tyre clearance (40mm as opposed to 45mm).

Mind you, you'll pay $3700 for the current one and the geometry and weight are essentially the same so if these things aren't important to you it's still definitely a bargain.

There's also a private seller with a Curve Kevin Titanium frame in Victoria about your size for $2500. Looks decent!

https://www.shop.bikeexchange.com.au/a/ ... /119543120

The pressfit BB I could live with, and being discontinued doesn't worry me.

The Curve Kevin looks like a good deal (& right size) , but again, like the Aspero above the $2k mark and the iCAN isn't dead yet ....

It sounds like you could just get a wheelsmfg bottom bracket or BBinfinite for the Aspero:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Cervelo/commen ... _brackets/

And then don't worry about noisy foul-mouthed Youtube content creators who depend on controversy to make money on their Youtube channel.

My S5 from 2020 has the original press fit bottom bracket and it is still running perfectly fine with huge amounts of real world kilometres in all sorts of weather conditions, it has never been changed. Still silent and smooth running. I have a new one in the cupboard ready to go, but it's not needed so far.

g-boaf wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2025 2:32 pm

It sounds like you could just get a wheelsmfg bottom bracket or BBinfinite for the Aspero:
...

Yep, and the world won't end if that's what happens.

It seems, atm, that frameset bargains are few and far between, especially for the size and some of the key criteria that I'd like.

I have a Token ninja thread together bb on my S5. Done 25+k km on it I reckon. Been fine.

The shipping on that Waltly was ridiculous.

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2025 3:08 pm

I have a Token ninja thread together bb on my S5. Done 25+k km on it I reckon. Been fine.

The shipping on that Waltly was ridiculous.

The shipping on many things are crazy. Kinesis wanted $836 for a F+F from UK ....

More expensive than you want, but satisfaction remains after price is forgotten.

Prob too exxy though

https://www.bikemag.com/news/stinner-fr ... gio-select

Dunno about 1x personally but I guess you can get a seat tube clamp for the FD?

warthog1 wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 15, 2025 4:58 pm

More expensive than you want, but satisfaction remains after price is forgotten.

Prob too exxy though

https://www.bikemag.com/news/stinner-fr ... gio-select

Dunno about 1x personally but I guess you can get a seat tube clamp for the FD?

Yeah, I looked at them too, but I already have a "proper steel" roadie, and these were well over $3k for F&F before delivery.

It seems that anything coming from OS is stupid shipping cost.