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I want to go discs on a dream bike that has to last the next 10 years. Main criteria are:
Discs
Thru axles
Racing geometry not endurance/gravel bike
Suitable for a 60kg short arse
Fast club riding week to week but no issues doing 200k
So do I go for:
Custom steel (stainless I think)
[img]
[/img]
Or off the peg:
What options am I missing?
What would you go for?
Custom vs of the peg?
Stainless vs carbon? (Or convince me on ti)
Ritte Snob. Stunning. My lbs has one built up for 4k.
http://shop.cyclewise.co.uk/13055/products/ritte-stainless-snob-custom-build.aspx?origin=pla&kwd=¤cy=GBP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIruTmlpuW1gIVhbztCh3kRgHfEAkYASABEgLk7_D_BwE
[url= http://www.bmc-switzerland.com/int-en/bikes/road/altitude-teammachine-slr01_disc-team/ ]BMC Teammachine SLR01 Disc[/url]
What's the budget?
That ritte is lovely have a look at it whenever I'm in there
Is there a budget for dream bikes?
@ Karnali, my drool is starting to dull the paint 😆
English.
/thread
Easy. Custom titanium. Burls did exactly this for me (wife). I basically said "build a titanium bike that handles like a small giant TCR and that has di2/discs and room for mudguards.
Not as expensive as you might think (obviously that is relative but it worked out cheaper than a equivalent spec S works).
So good that I rode it then sold my TT bike, winter bike and summer bike and am having a similar one built. (Obviously kept my MTBs!). Justin Burl is a lovely bloke too.
Thread closed. EDIT to add winky face 😉
Based on your weight, I'd say light as possible. Is there anything apart from your size that says you need custom geometry?
Personally, I'd say English. But they aren't exactly easy to get hold of.
I like titanium, but think stainless steel is probably the best metal choice now. But to be honest, carbon would now be my choice (as a Defy SL owner).
As I own a Colnago C60, and it being the best riding bike I've ever tried I'd not look far past a C60 disc.
I'd get carbon as discs will add weight anyway and it sounds like you're a climber in terms of physique.
Are you confident of standards being settled enough for a current disc bike to last 10 years?
Full custom, would be awesome (I'd imagine) if done correctly. I'd expect the bike to handle like an extension of your body. However, which UK builders would you trust to get it right? There are alot of new builders in the UK, but I'd want someone with loads of experience to be translating your fit into a bike that rides as well as it could do. It could be complete bollocks though.
Also, ten years is ages to keep a bike.
The only material I would discount is Stainless Steel as I think it has all the disadvantages of Titanium (i.e. hard to work with, prone to breaking) and it's also wafer thin so I'd not expect it to last long. Ti would be a better choice as it'd stand up to knocks better, plus you're light and wouldn't need the extra stiffness that OS steel brings.
If you really plan on keeping it ten years then get something with a good warranty. I mean who're Ritte bikes? Will they even be about in 10 years? Enigma seem to do loads of Ti bikes and they've been around for a while.
Other thing is mudguards; the whole point of discs is for wet weather riding so you may aswell get something that clears them i.e. no 400mm chainstays.
I'd probs get a CAAD disc with 10 speed mechanical Campag (which coincidentally is what I ahve) 😀 Dream big.
Lots of really nice bikes! What about a Canyon? Maybe not up there with the more boutique offerings but it is nice.
ULTIMATE CF SLX DISC 9.0 AERO
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Zipp wheels and Sram Red ETap. Aero and light,
https://www.canyon.com/en-gb/road/ultimate/ultimate-cf-slx-disc-9-0-aero.html
Give these guys a call, Parlee and Cipollini dealers
https://www.pushcartel.co.uk/shop/?category=Framesets
Really wish you wouldn't have linked to that site...
If I was going down the custom route imo i'd go for an Enigma Ti
Carbon; custom Filament
Ti: Firefly ti or ti/carbon
Steel: English, feather
mainly as they will all understand your brief.
Custom Ti builder of your choice
Mudguard and 30mm (minimum) tyre clearance. Tyres are getting phatter, and if you're buying a bike "forever" it may as be one you can ride "whenever". No point having a Sunday Best Garage Queen. If it's filthy outside, get outside and ride!
Carbon bars/post
Saddle au choix
Di2
Skinwalls
That is all.
I had a Reilly RS7 stainless road bike built earlier this year - fantastic ride - if I had unlimited cash, I'd get another built but go discs this time (callipers on the one I've got)
(this is it on the day it was built - slightly different now and the steerer has been cut down!)
If I was buying a bike to last 10 years I'd not go carbon. Imagine how dated it will look when it's that old. At least with a metal bike looking old can be described as classic.
English./thread
This. Gorgeous frames.
Ritte just sell frames from the Far East surely? Nice enough, but why not go straight to source? FWIW I've got 2 Deng Fu frames (including a disc one) and like them very much.
Custom Sarto Seta disk.
Thanks all, Lots to think about
Tang, I see from the thread a couple of months ago you know your onions - thanks
I just can get excited about English for the very reason they aren't English
And much as I'd love Enigma, every one of their frames pictured has a massive 'sportive friendly' length head tube that I just hate ( yes I know it's custom and I could change it but just worries me, would they get it?)
I also take on board being a lighter guy, carbon might be nice to keep the weight in check.
Current favourite is a call to filament and see how I get on there. Oh and work out where the money is gonna come from, anyone want a Cotic simple 26er? 🙂
I just can get excited about English for the very reason they aren't English
Assume you mean "can't get excited"? You know Rob English is English though? Just moved to Oregon because that's where the handbuilt 'scene' is.
I am in the same predicament
Thinking a bit more practical though with full mudguard fitment and a 1000 price for
frameset.
Current frames in the running are Mason Definition and Fairlight Strael.
If my budget could stretch maybe a Bowmans Layman's disc?
Max
Or Cervelo S3 disc, with Enve wheels:
Stunning; a bike of a future. In ten years time everyone else will have only just caught up.
I hope that Cervelo is custom geo... 😯
I'd get a Field. I know sod all about road bikes, but they look pretty.
Or a Speedvagen. They look nice too.
I have an s3 disc. Should have gone with the 3t strada.
Also have an s3 rim brake 1x11 - wicked bike.
I've spent the last few weeks test riding the 2018 Cervelo R5 Etap. Very, very nice, and significantly different to my older R5.
Feels stiffer, but still comfortable, lots of aero design features but still looks like a classic bike shape, pretty light (although the Zipp wheels are a bit porky). I've got the rim brake but thru axle disc is an option.
I'm sure other brands make similar bikes, but I was impressed with the improvements in just 3 generations of frame between it and mine.
This:
[b]GCN Handbuilt Bike[/b]
But with 2 x11 and closer tyre tolerances.
I have an appointment with Tom Sturdy next weekend to get one made for me. The design principles meet all my criteria, except the occasional off-road ability (I don't care about that - got enough Cross and MTB's already - mine will strictly be for tearing up the road!)
Can't wait!
I wonder if ten years time you will still want the same kind of bike. Even if ideas about bikes don't change, your body is going to be ten years older, stiffer, heavier, slower.
well my thread has been rather messed up by the forum move and it has taken me a while but im nearly there....

Custom carbon by Filament is on the way 🙂
I’m looking for something similar and keep coming back to this- http://www.donhoubicycles.com/signature-steel/dss1/
although I am going to look at Casati Espresso RS.
Yeah saw your thread, i also considered steel but my thought process was considerably influenced by the bike weight calcs i did.
once you add a steel frame, disc groupset and mildly sensible parts you might be disspointed how much that might weigh.
Put it this way, ive thrown a lot of money at my build (dura ace mech/hydro, hunt wheels, some berk/extralite parts) and im probably still gonna be over 7kg by the time im finished.
Thats an estimated 900g frame weight, you can double that for a mainstream steel frame therefore 8kg is very likely.
i knew id be disappointed by that, whether you will be only you know 🙂

Careful of the joys of disc and axle standards too, 12mm thru and flat mount seems to be the modern standard (for now) and opens up new duraace/ultegra brakes
Supersix HiMod Disc for me please
Prepare to drool, a lot. If you need to ask how much you probably can't afford it 😉










