I was casting my eye over the Orange website earlier and decided that one day I will probably own a P7. It just looks lovely and sounds like the sort of thing I’d really enjoy riding. I’ve got an Inbred (DN6, slot dropout, red one) at the moment and do love it dearly. It feels great. The only problem I have with it is that it sometimes feels a bit twitchy on mildly technical downhill sections. Other than that I can’t fault it. Might consider the 456 one day.

Who else makes a nice steel hardtail frames (stubborn content) suitable for XC/mild abuse? Any other Brit manufacturers I might not have heard of/know of?

Cheers,
jon

Sanderson make some lovely, clean looking steel frames. Thinking of one of them to replace my mk1 PA as that’s probably over qualified for what I need.

one of these?

bootiful. how does it ride?

very well. have ridden it for a year in the alps with almost the set-up seen above – had wider rims and fatter tyres on – without any worries.

climbs nicely without any trouble. compared to the Alpine it flies up hill. able to keep up with the bigger bikes. very stable at speed and that is when the steel comes ‘alive’.
i’d usually wind the fork out a little to 120-130mm on descents; although the frame is designed for 100mm.

as a out and out XC frame it excels. have ridden 3-4ft drops to flat and everything held together.

the finishing on the frame is top class. only niggle would be you can’t get anything larger than 160mm rotor on the rear. wasn’t ever really a problem despite 2000m descents last year. so not really a niggle then.

If you’ve got the budget, for XC and mild abuse then look at a Soul… I’m out of the honeymoon with mine and still loving it.

Some of the P7 full builds look good value but the frame alone is too expensive IMO.

Jebus, that DeKerf is one ugly mofo and no mistake..

Thanks alpin, sounds ace. I’d be sticking some Pike 454 U-Turns (110 – 140mm) on it, so could run them lower for most riding. Cheers.

not as ugly as the older ones!

sandersons definitely look nice though!

i’d say with 20mm hub/fork it’s be great but would run it at more than 120ish.

at 100mm travel it’s nice and nippy and climbs great.

+1 for Sanderson

P7 is ansum, tho i prefure the older 1s designed for less travel, only reason im selling is i cant afford a p7 + clockwork and wanting to buy a 29er

Here is my Sanderson

I love it. It never seems to want to fall down and sprints the moment you touch the pedals.

Curtis

Those Sandersons look fantastic and sound ideal. Might have to try one out one day.
Funds would have to be generously available to consider the Curtis. If i was going down the custom route then I think I’d try to get on a frame building course and do it myself 🙂
Not really a fan of the Dekerfs.

Didn’t anybody say Prince Albert yet?

Sounds like just what you need – and they look much tastier than P7s to me.

i had a P7 not long back, didn’t like it at all, felt far too harsh

Alpin – are you referring to your pic of the Sanderson or the PA ?

That’s a Alpine not a PA.

Pipedream Sirrus (are they still in business?)
Cove Handjob
Cotic Soul
Genesis Altitude
Roberts Dogs Bollox

Are a few to choose from.

the Sanderson.

the Alpine is a completely different bike to ride. doesn’t go up with the same amount of ease as the Sanderson and on the flat it is hard work. it excels on the downs, mind.

Demon Frameworks

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/demon-frameworks-new-frames-first-look