[Gman59c]

Due to a few upgrades I’ve done this year I’ve got a few reasonable components lying about gathering dust. I was thinking I could put together a cheapish winter bike. I had been look at the Kinesis TK2, however I’ve been looking around and saw that the Dolan Preffissio is well priced which would allow me to upgrade from tiagra to 105 for the group set. The Ribble 7005 Ultralite seems ok too.

So the question is, does anybody have any experience of either of these framesets? Or are there any other good framesets out there at a similar price point?

Topic

[Cycle_Jim]

My mate went for a dolan
My mate went for a dolan prefissio and was pretty pleased with it!

[arrieredupeleton]

Gman59c wrote:Already scoured

Gman59c wrote:

Already scoured eBay couldnt find anything.

Think I’m leaning towards the Kinesis, with 105 groupset. just need to raise some funds on eBay myself now.

BTW is the carbon fork worth the extra??

Speaking from experience – yes. It rides like a slightly heavy carbon bike in terms of comfort. They’ve done a good job with the rear triangle too. With some reasonably wide tyres it’s a very comfortable ride.

[spongebob]

Pro-Lite Bella £220 down from
Pro-Lite Bella £220 down from £500 on Chain Reaction http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=28790

[Raleigh]

Like literally.
Just.
Like literally.

Just.

[Raleigh]

Cervelo S1
Cervelo S1

[Gman59c]

Already scoured eBay couldnt
Already scoured eBay couldnt find anything.

Think I’m leaning towards the Kinesis, with 105 groupset. just need to raise some funds on eBay myself now.

BTW is the carbon fork worth the extra??

[keef66]

I have a Tk which is now 6
I have a Tk which is now 6 years old. Closest I’ve ever found to a year round road bike which is still an engaging ride. 105 triple chainset, 25mm Conti 4 Seasons, Shimano long drop brakes and full SKS Chromoplstic mudguards. It has upper rack mounts on the seatstays too, so it would do for light touring. See if you can find someone selling one on Ebay??

[robert.brady]

arrieredupeleton wrote:I had

arrieredupeleton wrote:

I had a similar dilemma but rules out the preffisio on the basis is was too racey as I wanted to do some light touring on it to. Not sure it has rear rack mounts.

I got the T2 last winter (discounted 2012 model) and I am really impressed with it. So much so that the summer bike stayed in the garage longer than intended this spring. I was also impressed with the newer Tiagra groupset.

For me, that sums up what I like so much about my Preffisio; it is racy but that means it doesn’t give much away to my carbon good bike other than a bit more weight. It’s truly a bike you can use year round.

It does have rack mounts, by the way.

Rob

[arrieredupeleton]

I had a similar dilemma but
I had a similar dilemma but rules out the preffisio on the basis is was too racey as I wanted to do some light touring on it to. Not sure it has rear rack mounts.

I got the T2 last winter (discounted 2012 model) and I am really impressed with it. So much so that the summer bike stayed in the garage longer than intended this spring. I was also impressed with the newer Tiagra groupset.

[robert.brady]

I have a Preffisio built up
I have a Preffisio built up as my winter bike and I have to say that if I had to give up all but one of my bikes, the Preffisio would be the keeper. Rides nicely for a “cheap” aluminium frame and handles brilliantly.

Only (possible) downsides are it is quite racy with a short head tube and a long top tube, and it can only take 23mm tyres with mudgaurds and 25mm without. That does mean you don’t need long drop brake calipers, though.

As far as I know, the Ribble Audax is the same frame but cheaper still.

I’d love to Try a TK2 or TK3 as Kinesis make great bikes and they’re a little less compromising.

Rob

[Gman59c]

Yeah, I looked at the TK3,
Yeah, I looked at the TK3, its a bit out of my price range though.

[therevokid]

TK3 … lovely ride, well
TK3 … lovely ride, well made – love mine to bits 🙂

[Al'76]

A friend built up a Planet X
A friend built up a Planet X Team Alu frame when he cracked his carbon winter bike. From a weight perspective, it came out pretty light though he had an Ultegra groupset and an RS80 C24 wheelset.
He’s a powerful rider and hasn’t reported any undue flex, reckons it’s fairly comfortable and, all round, seems fairly happy with it…can’t speak first hand though.

[Author]

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