Well, I'm planning a brush with the darkside....
Given that I live in Oz, and bikes and parts tend to cost anything between 50-250% extra compared to the UK, plus I don't have to pay VAT (so an extra 20% off), I'm looking to buy mail order from one of the usual big guys (CRC, Wiggle or Merlin). I know little about road frames, but am looking to build up a bike that would be worth £1500 or so. The frames I've seen on CRC that have caught my eyes so far are:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=34134
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=57660
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=45912
I currently have a Salsa Casserole for commuting, and this is a bit hefty really (and spends most of its time with panniers etc on). I do have an old Pinarello Treviso of 1980s vintage that I have mused about rebuilding (bought for £50 5 years ago), but despite it appearing quite a nice frame, I think road bike design has moved on a bit since then...
What are peoples' experience with frames such as these from CRC, and which of those would you consider? Or, what others would you suggest?
The de rosa, I've always wanted one. The kinesis is meant to be very nice too.
Although at that price I'd always be looking at ribble/planet x/canyon.
What about a Chinarello?
I got a plain black one from ebay last month for £255 delivered, but im now also considering getting a fully painted one for around £300-£350 delivered, like this ~
[img] 
[/img]
[url= http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?p=3231865 ]Lots of chat over here about them, this is the latest of 5 full threads about them. Bargins to be had![/url]
I've not ridden any of them, but the Milanino is a beautiful, beautiful frameset in the flesh. It has copious amounts of Thing.
Cheers for the advice so far guys - the advantage of never really paying much attention to the darkisde until now is that i'm not that hung up on brands etc. I guess my questions are how different is a cheap CF frame compared to a decent alu frame at the same price, and what makes a £5k frame so much better than a £500 frame?
I'd go for the Kinesis - if only because it's designed in the UK by someone who is enhtusiastic and really cares about what they're doing.
The kinesis is a fast audax style bike (a colleague has one). He's very happy with it, but the front end does look quite odd where the top and down tubes meet the head tube.
You have chosen 3 very different types of bike to choose from.
The de rosa, I've always wanted one. The kinesis is meant to be very nice too.Although at that price I'd always be looking at ribble/planet x/canyon.
That de rosa looks awesome, although you could get a planet x nano light hi mod thingy for the same price I think.
You have chosen 3 very different types of bike to choose from.
Hmmmm. As I doubt I'll ever be doing much in the way of competition, just using it when I don't have the time for an MTB ride, what would be a good 'all-road' bike?
Hmmmm. As I doubt I'll ever be doing much in the way of competition, just using it when I don't have the time for an MTB ride, what would be a good 'all-road' bike?
It depends how supple you are, if you have the flexibility to ride almost flat backed for long periods of time, then race frame can be ridden for hours, if not then you wan to go for frames that are designed for sportives, these generally have a longer head tube and give a slightly more upright , relaxed position.
Well, I guess that rules out something like the BeOne then - looks like it's the DeRosa or the Kinesis