Since I've been having so much fun on my new single speed 29er I've been thinking I might like to extend the single speed experience to my road rides as well. (These are training rides consisting of short 15-20k intervals 3 or 4 times a week with a 50-60k medium paced jaunt on a Saturday morning). What I'm looking for is a nice chromoly frame & fork (it's got to be steel) that doesn't weigh a tonne, has braze-ons for brakes etc (and maybe an Alfine hub if I decide to go geared again one day), can be blinged up fixie style and doesn't have a suspicious past (so probably not 2nd hand).
Both of these are around the $700.00 mark just for the frame when I can get the SE Lager (http://www.sebikes.com/2008/bike-detail.asp?id=46) for around $600.00 for a complete bike. I'll probably upgrade various bits as I go like the wheels, crankset, seat etc but it seems like a pretty good starting point.
Has anyone had any experience with the Lager or SE bikes in general that can give me some feedback? Are there any other similar bikes I should also be looking at?
One question - you're not tempted by the SE Premium Brew for a few dollars more? (Actually quite a few dollars more - the Lager looks like much better value, but if you have money burning a hole in your pocket.......)
One question - you're not tempted by the SE Premium Brew for a few dollars more? (Actually quite a few dollars more - the Lager looks like much better value, but if you have money burning a hole in your pocket.......)
Seems to be a lot more money for not a great deal more. I like the understated-ness of the Lager (and the price), plus I'm keen to add a Brooke's saddle and Deep Vs so I may as well stay with the cheaper one.
Any other brands worth looking at? My GT Peace 29er SS has good quality bits and only set me back around $700.00 and I had 5 other contenders in the same price bracket from other manufacturers at the same time. It's hard to believe there's not lots of similarly specced & priced road bikes. SSing appears to be every bit as popular amongst roadies and it is amongst the MTB set.
I have a SS/Fixed Cross-check and it is possibly the funnest bike I own. Skinny tyres and a big chain ring and I'm off and rolling on the road. Fat tyres (for those that call 35-40mm fat) and a smaller chain ring up front and I'm off ripping up technical single track or the local cyclo-cross race. Off-road or on-road / fixed or free you'll love this bike.
Having said that, the Casseroll is probably a nicer frame, more suited for getting on a riding down the road all day, perhaps to that country pub that you like to visit occasionally. While a bit more understated than other Salsa frames (it looks better in person) you'll still get admiring looks from other riders on their $10,000 piece of Italian Plastic as well as the old blokes that used to ride when all bikes were made of steel.
Parbs - Ride & Smile (Surly Cross-Check and Salsa La Raza Rider)
While a bit more understated than other Salsa frames (it looks better in person) you'll still get admiring looks from other riders on their $10,000 piece of Italian Plastic as well as the old blokes that used to ride when all bikes were made of steel.
Oi!!!
Some of us are not 'old blokes'. Well I certainly don't feel that way 🙂 And we still do ride perfectly good bikes made of steel!
