I’m looking to build a roadie with Rival parts. What would be a quality, inexpensive frame to stick 'em on? I’m not really up to speed with the small-time companies that produce rank frames.
For reference, if it will possibly help, I’m 6’1 ish, and ride a 55 Abici Time Machine right now. It’s a tri bike, and it’s set up extremely aggressively, with no spacers.
Thanks!
I’ve been putting in the miles this spring on a no-name carbon frame from ebay. No complaints so far. The finishing touches like cable stops and guides aren’t what I’d expect from a top brand, but you get what you pay for.
Other alternatives:
Pedal Force - similar frames but possibly a bit more support. I haven’t dealt with them.
PlanetX - Seems to deliver a good value and recently had some sales on the forum.
Price Point - SETTE line. Noting fancy, but they should get the job done.
Nashbar/Performance - Both have house brand frames that look like great values.
Kestrel Talons can be had pretty reasonably too. I guess it just depends what your looking for.
Not a small company frame, but you really can’t beat it.
Cannondale CAAD 9. Slap Rival on there, and smoke dudes on a Cervelo SLC-SL. You can also crash it and buy a new one without tapping a home equity loan.
I’m looking at their site now…
1? 4? 5? 6?
Would those numbers matter if I’m not buying a fully assembled bike, just the frame? I assume it’s something to do with the groupsets…
Can anyone (besides Spencer Smith) vouch for Planet X? Their superlight aluminum frame seems like a freakin’ steel at 375…
I’m looking at their site now…
1? 4? 5? 6?
Would those numbers matter if I’m not buying a fully assembled bike, just the frame? I assume it’s something to do with the groupsets…
You’re correct. They’re all the same frame, but with different builds hung on them. One thing to remember: I think all new CAAD9’s use BB30 instead of standard English threaded bottom brackets and not all cranksets are available in BB30.
Any generic aluminium frame with a generic carbon fork. Assemble, ride, enjoy.
Or, if you are happy to go second hand, the older Cannondales are well thought of. The ride is fairly frim though so 700/25 tyres are worth thinking about.
Here are a few of my recent budget builds:
a €66 Jan Ullrich frame in my size, set up here as a tri trainer bike. There is about €200 in this bike. It now has a full aerobar cockpit and rides very nicely indeed:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj158/simon_milan/March2009147.jpg
a €50 Fort aero road frame and a €50 Wolf fork. All in about €375 for this, but the wheelset (Felt TTR2) was €150 and I wanted the Halo seatpost from Blue:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj158/simon_milan/IMG_3376.jpg
I have just finished building up this Cannondale ´93 R800 into a flatbar commuter. Frame, fork, brakes, crankset and BB, pedals, headset, FD and RD (all 105/Ultegra 600) was €74. Crappy picture from the original eBay offer, sorry:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj158/simon_milan/cannondalepicture.jpg
My steel roadie is a Pug Comp 5oo with a generic carbon fork, running 9 speed now. Lovely ride, all in about €300 I think:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj158/simon_milan/008.jpg
Best of luck with the build. Lightly used second hand frame/fork in your size should be easy to come by and cheap.
I’ve been riding a CAAD9 4 (Rival with Force BB30 Cranks) since January and couldn’t think of a better bike for the money.
Depends on what you call cheap, but that new Planet X frame in the classifieds is on my short list for my next friend looking for an inexpansive build. Or like the others said, something second hand on eBay/ST Classifieds is usually the best route.
Yeah that’s definitely a beauty. And a gorgeous one at that. Unfortunately, I’m looking to spend only marginally more than that on the ENTIRE build, and not the frame alone. I’m only 19…maybe someday when I have a steady flow of cash 
so what happened, you found a bent seat post in the trash and couldn’t wait to take the picture? 
dig the peugeot, though. very classic look.
Nice one!
I actually prefer the Fast Forward seatpost for a TT/Tri application to the Aerus Halo one, as it seem you can get a bit steeper on the FF post.
But they are fantastically ugly things, those crooked posts. Spoil the look of any bike regardless of how effective they are.
Funnily enough I have just finished building up the Cannondale with bits of a bike I did find in the trash (or, at least, my neighbour did). Pictures to follow if anyone´s interested. It´s worked out into a really nice cross-town blaster type thing.
I built an 18lb Trek 1000SL with SRAM Force for under a $800. Got the frame off eBay for $125. There are deals to be had. It’s been a great bike and I tend to ride it more as I’m not worried about the rain and having to service the ceramic bearings in the bb. It got me back to just enjoying riding and not always training.
http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii192/nitrox73/Bikes/NewStufftoSortOut167.jpg