in message <[email hidden]>, emma
middlebrook (') said:Hi
I bought my son a Raleigh Record Sprint in 1986. Can't remember how
much it cost, maybe £240? He's still riding it now after many, many,
new parts (!!!) but I thought, for a 30th birthday present, I'd
surprise him with the money for a more modern road/'Audax' bike (20
mile daily commute plus weekend 50 mile cycles).
Yup, I've got a Raleigh Record Sprint, I even did an audax on it this
year. Very reasonable bike.
Quoted message said:
Questions:
In today's money how much would £240 be? £700?
You can get pretty decent road bike in the sort of £700 range these
days. The Record Sprint wasn't a top range bike by any means even in
its day, so a modern £500 bike is probably in the same sort of market
niche - a lot better than [censored] but not excellent.
'[censored]' and 'Excellent' have shifted a long way in eighteen years. Even
the cheap bikes are better, and the really good ones are a huge amount
better. The brakes really work, which they never used to. You get many
more gears, and they change with much greater accuracy.
£700 would buy something a bit better - particularly at this time of
year when shops are clearing 2004 models to make way for 'next year'
bikes which are just coming in.
Quoted message said:Would you be able to show me examples of what he might be able to get
which is a similar style of bicycle? He loves his poor old 501 frame
but I guess they don't make these any longer and there must be some
better things around.
501 was the very bottom of Reynolds range even at the time. My Record
Sprint weighs 28 lbs without lights or luggage, which is more than 25%
heavier than my new road bike.
Models to look at around £700 include
Cannondale R500 - beautiful frame, mid-range components, 22lbs.
Aluminium frame and fork so possibly a little harsher ride than the
Record Sprint.
Dawes Audax - steel frame in Reynolds 631, which is pretty much a direct
descendent of 501, upper mid-range components. 26lbs. Nearer £800.
Specialized Allez Sport - reasonable aluminium frame, carbon fork,
mid-range components, 21lbs. Nearer £750. The carbon fork should make
the ride less harsh than aluminium, so more like a steel frame.
These are all big name brands you can get in many good shops around the
country.
HOWEVER
If you want to give a cyclist a really good present and have £700 to
spend, you might consider having a frame custom built for him. There
are a number of specialist custom builders around the country who will
build a frame to your son's measurements and painted in his choice of
colours. £700 will buy a custom frame; it won't buy the wheels, brakes,
gears, saddle etc which will add at least an extra three or four
hundred if of reasonable quality. But the frame could be built up
initially with cheap or second hand parts and then have these swapped
for better ones as they wear out.
Frame builders to consider include
Paul Hewitt, Leyland <URL:http://www.hewittbikefitting.co.uk/>
Terry Dolan, Liverpool <URL:http://www.bikes-dolan.uk.com/>
(my new bike has a Dolan all carbon fibre frame - it's gorgeous)
Robin Mather, Bath <URL:http://www.robinmathercycles.co.uk/>
There are plenty of others. If this idea appeals to you I'm sure other
people on the group could offer recommendations.
--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
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