Hi, I am having thoughts of buying a Van Nicholas Mistral road bike but I am unable to find a nearby dealer to view one, although a local shop would order one for me. Has anyone out there ever seen, purchased or rode one. I would like to know what your opinions are, and does anyone know if the titanium frame on the Mistral is the same quality as some of the more expensive Van Nicholas frames? Kind Regards Ian.
Van Nicholas
- Thread starter 1954ianj
- Start date
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accountantpete
Brexiteer
Take a look at the Lightspeed blurb on Ti frames
http://www.litespeed.com/current/tech_shape.aspx
and the VN site
http://vannicholas.com/WbmContent.aspx?ContentID=8
http://www.litespeed.com/current/tech_shape.aspx
and the VN site
http://vannicholas.com/WbmContent.aspx?ContentID=8
craigwend
Grimpeur des terrains plats
Hi I've got a euros, next model up, can't recomend them enough,
review of the mistral in C-plus - rated very highly.
Your getting a superb frame Your most important component, with good reliable parts at a 'bargain' price.
Ti looks great and rides better
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/mistral-10-35377
I'm sure any dealer will let you do a test ride, just take a good deposit for your test ride
problem will be you will buy it there and then
review of the mistral in C-plus - rated very highly.
Your getting a superb frame Your most important component, with good reliable parts at a 'bargain' price.
Ti looks great and rides better
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/road/product/mistral-10-35377
I'm sure any dealer will let you do a test ride, just take a good deposit for your test ride
problem will be you will buy it there and then
I also ride a Euros and absolutely love it. It's the most comfortable bike I've ever owned and I've done 3000+ miles on it this year, including a solo 8 day John O'Groats to Lands End.
It's a stunning bike, fantastic ride and since I've owned it, I've not looked at another bike and thought, hmm, nice.
On top of everything else, it'a also nice to ride something a bit different to what everyone else has...... carbon.
I'm not sure where you are located but I bought mine from Corridori near Epsom. I spent a couple of hours with them, with them advising me on spec and sizing etc, hence arriving at a bike where every part had been chosen by me.
Very nice, I can't fault it in any way!
Unfortunately I have no experience of the Mistral.
It's a stunning bike, fantastic ride and since I've owned it, I've not looked at another bike and thought, hmm, nice.
On top of everything else, it'a also nice to ride something a bit different to what everyone else has...... carbon.
I'm not sure where you are located but I bought mine from Corridori near Epsom. I spent a couple of hours with them, with them advising me on spec and sizing etc, hence arriving at a bike where every part had been chosen by me.
Very nice, I can't fault it in any way!
Unfortunately I have no experience of the Mistral.
Randochap
Senior hunter
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
A friend has a Yukon and loves it -- uses it for brevets (audax). The construction is pretty decent from what I can see. It will be featured on a new page on VeloWeb in the new year.
1954ianj said:
I've been on the cusp of buying a VN Yukon for a while - key delay was size : 58 or 60???
Spotted a 58 in a LBS and went for a trial ride - fantastic ride, floated over traffic calming road humps like they were not there!
The mistral is cheaper as it comes in standard form without the kit options of the rest of the range (or so i read the blurb....) in terms of build quality it is VN standard - they would nt risk their reputation in that way
Randochap
Senior hunter
- Location
- British Columbia, Canada
Note that Mistral lacks braze-ons for racks & mudguards and has much tighter clearances. Depends what you are looking for.
Paul_Smith SRCC
www.plsmith.co.uk
- Location
- Surrey UK
As others have mentioned the Mistral is in effect a budget version of the Euros, the frame has a slightly cheaper construction with straighter slimmer stays and a head tube transfer instead of the badge; they do share the same geometry so the riding experience will be very similar.
Another way they keep the price as low as they can is unlike the other models the spec’ has also been made to a price point, a mix of Shimano 105, FSA, Easton and Van Nicholas; mixing components in this was is something that most manufacturers will do when making a bike to meet a price point.
As the riding experience is by design intended to offer a similar riding experience to the Euros some Van Nicholas stores will only stock the Euros to effectively showcase both, this is what we do, as the Euros for us is still far more popular, although I don’t expect it will be as popular with a Shimano 105 set up now that the Mistral has been introduced.
Note that delivery times will be about the same, for although the Mistral is a set spec' stem lengths and bars widths can be chosen, so in effect they are still built to order.
Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
Another way they keep the price as low as they can is unlike the other models the spec’ has also been made to a price point, a mix of Shimano 105, FSA, Easton and Van Nicholas; mixing components in this was is something that most manufacturers will do when making a bike to meet a price point.
As the riding experience is by design intended to offer a similar riding experience to the Euros some Van Nicholas stores will only stock the Euros to effectively showcase both, this is what we do, as the Euros for us is still far more popular, although I don’t expect it will be as popular with a Shimano 105 set up now that the Mistral has been introduced.
Note that delivery times will be about the same, for although the Mistral is a set spec' stem lengths and bars widths can be chosen, so in effect they are still built to order.
Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
e-rider
crappy member
- Location
- South West
Paul_Smith SRCC
www.plsmith.co.uk
- Location
- Surrey UK
tundragumski said:
Halfords were I believe one of the first to stock them, going back when Van Nicholas were still under the 'Airborne' name.
The Halfords/BikeHut stores local to us seemed to sell complete bikes only; however the majority of customers want advice before ordering one to their own spec', even in the case of the 'Mistral' model which comes as a standard spec', many still want advice before making their decision. When such a customer visited Halfords they would often send them to a more specialist store; although I note that Halfords/BikeHut are no longer listed on the Van Nicholas UK Dealer locator
Paul_Smith
www.corridori.co.uk
