Most comfortable frame material?

[mcshroom]

As a cheap (free) trick, try rotating your bars towards you a bit more. I've found that makes a significant difference to my comfort on my steel and carbon bikes.

Also try taking a bit of pressure out of the tyes.

I do agree that steel (at least in R520 and R501 forms that I have ridden) is more flexible than aluminium which does make the ride a bit smoother.

 

[vickster]

I might try the bars trick

I fear I may need to buy a 4th bike

 

[michaelcycle]

The biggest differences are going to be in contact points, like bars, saddle, tape, tyres, tyre pressures and even bike fit.

I think this is the key as well as finding a geometry that suits you and the riding you want to do. I think frame material is generally secondary when it comes to comfort.

Having said that in my experience a decent steel bike which fits well is exceeding comfortable.

 

[vickster]

Not really sure which way to turn right now. With my crappy joints and propensity for overuse injuries, I m not sure I'll ever find a bike that is comfortable and meets all my needs

 

[jefmcg]

Not really sure which way to turn right now. With my crappy joints and propensity for overuse injuries, I m not sure I'll ever find a bike that is comfortable and meets all my needs

There is one answer:

[QUOTE 2641481, member: 30090"]Recumbent[/quote]

 

[vickster]

Not me I'm afraid

 

[Dayvo]

Maybe the frame isn't the problem!

Have a look at this 'tractor'!

http://www.dirtragmag.com/webrag/review-surly-moonlander

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

As a matter of interest Thule have a range of racks which fit on carbon bikes and full suspension mountain bikes. It works really well a couple of my friends have them and I have one on order.

http://www.thule.com/en/gb/products...cks/thule-pack-n-pedalt-tour-rack-_-pp_100016

You can read more about the product from the company they purchased to get it.
http://www.freeload.co.nz

 

[forzagaribaldi]

I can heartily recommend a Condor Fratello. Been riding one since March and it is comfortable but still has decent handling and feels pretty fast. It also looks great. If you get a complete bike they do a full fitting. The frame plus carbon fork is £600.

I've not got a rack on mine yet but run 25mm with Chromoplastics and all seems good. Bear in mind the frame requires deep drop brakes which limits choice of caliper or may prevent you transferring an existing one over if you were to go frame only. Condor do a couple of calipers which I think are both rebadged Tektros. Hear bad things about the cheaper ones but the other ones are good enough.

 

[goody]

That looks like a nice ride there's a nice one going on ebay at the moment.

 

[vickster]

I am rather taken with the Genesis Equilibrium in the lovely orange colour. However, I would much rather have SRAM gearing over 105, also I would need to make a bunch of other amends to get the sizing and aesthetic right, stem, bar width, tape colour etc. All of this has got me thinking buy the frame, fork, all the bits online and get it built!

Really stupid question, what bits exactly are needed to build a bike? A groupset seems to come with most bits, then presumably seat post and clamp, stem, bars, tape, wheels, skewers, tyres, tubes

 

[vickster]

That looks like a nice ride there's a nice one going on ebay at the moment.

Looks very nice but too big for me

 

[themosquitoking]

I am rather taken with the Genesis Equilibrium in the lovely orange colour. However, I would much rather have SRAM gearing over 105, also I would need to make a bunch of other amends to get the sizing and aesthetic right, stem, bar width, tape colour etc. All of this has got me thinking buy the frame, fork, all the bits online and get it built!

Really stupid question, what bits exactly are needed to build a bike? A groupset seems to come with most bits, then presumably seat post and clamp, stem, bars, tape, wheels, skewers, tyres, tubes

Saddle, probably going to want one of those.

 

[vickster]

Got spare ones

 

[jefmcg]

Someone else thinking of building a Genesis http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/building-a-bike-advice.139609/