Tips on Choosing the right Bike for YOU!!!!!

Some Information on buying a frame!

Frameset Materials and Frame Compounds

Frames are made from aluminium, steel, carbon fibre, titanium and other metallic mixtures. Frames sometimes come with added parts that you may or ma not require. Either way they've got to be the right size for you so check with your bike shop or cycle store what size and type of parts come with the frame if any.

All About Frame Sizing

The size of a bike is governed by its frame size and this is measured from the seat tube to the center of the bottom bracket. The seat tube is the most verticle tube on your bike that holds the seat. Confusingly but perhaps not surprisingly (cos it seems to be the way will all bike products!) - different frame and bike manufacturers measure their bikes slightly differently so a 17" Cannondale may be nothing like the same size look or feel to a Giant 17" bike. Only two ways of buying the right frame size for you - a) test ride the frame (you'll need some wheels;) or, ask your local bike shop or cycle store dealer what size frame he thinks you need. Check your inside leg measurement too as thios will come in handy. Some people of course have longer bodies in relation to their legs than other (me included) and therfore perhaps need a longer reach. Again - all frames are different and although some things like reach can be catered for by changing components, buying a frame that is too 'tall' is not something you can remedy without bringing the seat right down. You want to make sure than when you stand over the top tube of the bike - there is around 1 inch - half inch minimum clear between you and the bike.

Reach and Top Tube Length

As mentioned above, reach can be fixed by playing with adjustments and the actual components. Some stems are long - others are short and they can vary both horizontally and vertically. Too long or short a reach will affect your handling of the bike so try to get someone - either a bike shop or a friend to check you're on the right track. A good tip is to quickly jump on a load of bikes in the shop and then test ride the 2 or 3 that feel the best. It's the only real way to asses body shape against frame and bike design since its somewhat pot luck with different bike manufacturers as no bike is designed for a 'specific body type' as all bodies are different. Try before you buy:)

Carbon fibre Frames & Framesets

Nearly all road racers will use bikes with frames made from carbon fibre and other composite materials. It's super light and super-stiff though it can snap pretty severely when twisted in the wrong direction. It is of course as you'd expect - super expensive too! Test ride one just for the hell of it - carbon frames feel amaziing!

Titanium Frames & Framesets

Titanium is used on rockets, super sonic aeroplanes and other aircraft. Need we say more?.. Titanium frames are extremely strong being made of a specially treated metal mix and heat treated. The frames often use amazingly thin tubing that look like it wouldn't hold up! Merlin and others make Titanium frames. Call us if you want some advice or already know the Titanium frame you want to get hold of and we'll give you a great price.

Steel Frames & Framesets

Steel is more often than not cheap snd gives you a pretty good ride overall but obvioulsy there is added weight when compairing to more expensive frame componds. Some steel bikes however use spacially treated frames tubing that combines different thicknesses of steel at different points on the frame allowing it be light where possible ad thicker and stronger where necessary. Steel is also not as stiff as carbon fibre framessets and it's debateable if aluminium gives a stiffer more efficient ride than steel.

Aluminium Frames & Framesets

Some people will say that aluminium gives a stiffer more efficient ride than steel but aluminium is a softer material - ie not stiffer - and it is therfore totally depandent on the frame design, thickness and welding that will determine a good riding aluminium against a good riding steel frame. Talk to your bike shop and other riders who understand frame geometry and frame materials. As a result you will find cheap bikes made of aluminium as well as expensive ones. Early aluminium designs (some cannondales) would occassionaly snap dues to the metal being too thin in the wrong place but now aluminium frame design has moved on and is much better than ten years ago. Aluminium frames are of course very very light.

Buying Road Frames & Framesets

Is your bike for road riding, off-road or commuting? First work out exactly what you want to do on your bike and then set to thinking about how much you can afford to spend on a frame. Like most things in life our advice with custom bikes and bike builds is always to buy the best frame you can afford. As far as components go - if you have to - save money on those, unless of course money is no object!

Different Types of Road Frames & Framesets

Road race frames can be bought in various designs and materials but the lastest design difference is that some of the new road frames - like off-road bikes, come with a shortened seat tube for greater manouverability and control of the bicycle. The traditional road bike uses the familiar long seat tube and doesn't allow the bike rider to move about so easily but is nevertheless as popular as ever since you are likely to spend most of the time in the saddle.