Building a road bike

[Tom White]

Bad ideas: possibly, I have to totally rule this other one out first. Its 2-year old Titanium Raleigh (RSP, not sure of exact model no.) and while it might have been 700 quid brand new I can get it for alot less than £150Type of riding: I want to churn miles and miles and miles - distance. So something comfortable (hence why I was attracted to this titanium frame, for 'comfort'). Can you give me more details of that one your mate has? Web links? Suitable for my type of riding?CheersTom

[(not such) Bad Ideas]

here's his e-mail address Simonnever done a mailto link beofre so that probably hasn't worked.It's a large OCR which he got cheap (and is thus selling cheap) because he worked in a shop which has been built up but not ridden more than a handful of times.near London too i think.The thing about compact frames is that they're comfy because of the length of seatpost but stiff too.another mate has got the Raleigh titanium - he's 5'11 and has a 57 or a 58 - it's a shade too big for him but the top tube's the right length. He got it on warranty as the previous one cracked, as did the one before that and the one before that. This one (the one with the flames on) seems to have lasted ok though (2 years). It isn't the lightest titanium bike on the panet either."

[(not such) Bad Ideas]

try againsimon

[(not such) Bad Ideas]

sod itHTML help gratefully received)eccolafilosofiadelpedale@inwind.it

[Tom White]

Ideas: thanks for that. I will mail him some questions:-)Also, the weight of the frame; you're right I noticed it weighed about ten times what my MTB (Stumperjumper M4) weighs!Thanks all roundTom

[Todd Unctuous]

Tom, if you are after comfort don't use a straight carbon fork. Last year I rode on a Look HSC1 straight fork, and I usually got slightly numb hands. This year I got a frame with a Look HCS2 curved fork, result: No numbness !

[Todd Unctuous]

No, I was wrong:Last year was a Look HSC2 straight,This year is a Look HSC3 curved.Details at:http://www.lookcycle.com/english/catalogue/fourchesroute.htm

[Rich Stone]

Bikedock and Sheffield cycles are cheapest I've seen for groupsets. Ultegra less hubs £360

[DAVID WILSON]

As Marco advises, deffo get Cycling Weekly for the latest ads. You can then get your local bike shop to price match if necessary (an if they won't do it and are well-over-charging, walk out!). Re local bike shop, you mention east Midlands, so if you're near Leicester, there's Julies Cycles and Websters Cycles, both of which should have fairly standard groupsets ready to go I'd imagine, but I think Julies might be better stocked (emphasize 'might'). Loughborough has Pedal Power, Lutterworth has L'worth Cycle Centre. All these 'deal' with road bikes (as opposed to many shops that only seem to have £100 mountain bikes).Good luck.

[Pete Biggs]

Good dealers for road components include Parker International and Xpedia. See http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q3C221CB for big list (ignore sdeals.com - unless quick cos they're withdrawing their online service again at end of month).I'm getting a RSP ti road frame (hopefully next week - NOT from Sheffield Cycles who totally ignored my request for info). Better not bloody crack!!!! ...First I've heard of that problem with them. I think this must be a different model though (no flames", not painted)."