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Anyone know why Dialled Bikes have switched steels and does it make any real difference to the performance or weight etc?
I think the 853 PAs were a limited edition and the 'standard' PA was 520 tubing, the next batch are 725 so in fact are an upgrade....
I thought the 853 was just a limited run, and was only about half a pound lighter than the then 520 pa steel frames, and certainly a lot heavier on the pocket. Much as I loved my 853 pa, I had the feeling it was slightly over built and didn't really have the spring that I've had with other 853 frames like my soul. This said, I think it would have survived a nuclear strike! I don't know why they now use 725 now, could be about meeting the CEN regs whilst still having a frame with some steel spring, a reasonable weight and coming in at a pretty good value price point? As stated the last bit is a guess, but if I wanted a steel frame'd do it all type hard tail for less than £300 quid, I'd be having a serious think about the current pa.
edit - crying daughter mid post makes me look pretty slow 😳 what hilldodger says!!!
Anyone know why Dialled Bikes have switched steels
the owner of dialled bikes probably knows. have you thought of mailing them to find out?
I have mailed and sometimes I think Mike crops up on here. Mike? are you there? Its no biggie I have pre ordered a new PA, and was curious if anyone knew the reason. I am sure he'll reply. Cheers.
he goes on a steam train working holiday in the cotswolds this time of year so he may not be getting emails while busy helping refit a boiler to a B1 class great northern locomotive.
Stream train holiday in the Cotswolds was proper bo! But does anyone know whether washing coal dust covered overalls is bad for my washing machine? Mrs says it is, I say it isn't. 😉
Traditionally, Prince Alberts have always been Reynolds 520, apart from that one batch of 853 frames. So the shift to Reynolds 725 tubing is actually an upgrade which drops the frame weight closer to 5lbs and also meets CEN compliance (not that the Reynolds 520 version wasn't compliant - just that it was never tested for such).
Mate of mine (JPCapel on here) is currently riding a proto of the new frames, having swapped it from his 1yr old PA. He's loving the new frame - it's lighter, more springy, and generally an all-round more involving ride.
I've had a quick blast on it back-to-back with my Ti 456 and agree it's a very nice bike.
JPCapel must be Head-For-The-Hills Roger's mate. Glad to hear he likes the new Prince Albert.
Mike - yes one and the same! He's loving it. I'll try and get him on here to post more detailed thoughts.
Be interested to know how he new one compares
Afternoon all,
Sorry to say work got in the way of contributing to this thread!
Mike - thanks again, loved my original PA and can't stop riding the new version.
Thoughts - having literally swapped the frame back to back with same build kit, the new PA is lighter by some margin, the tube diameter appears thinner (Mike correct me if wrong), know doubt adding to lighter weight and making the frame feel more "twangy" in a steel type characteristic way. Its not a massive difference from the original, but enough to make me think I can feel the changes made to the design.
Aesthetically I like the new frame the bridges between seat and chain stays, gives a more interesting look to the frame. I have had Windridge spray it white and it wears the colour well. (something to consider Mike as future colour option perhaps....)
It remains more often my fav. bike to ride (have a Turner 5spot DW link and a SX trial play-bike) the PA is the bike I take out most of the time, I jump it, ride decent size drops, and it covers Xc duties happily. I am running a 50mm stem and a set of pikes and the bike feels like a rocket on singletrack decents, yet climbs superbly too.
Can't say enough good things about it, price remains excellent value for money IMHO too. Any questions please shout, as happy to offer any further opinions on the bike.
Good stuff, thanks for the honest review. I was going to swap my mk1 PA for an alpine, but now I am not so sure, might have to go for a new PA.
Oh balls.
freeridenick
I've ridden an Alpine - for me, the PA seems just as bomb proof - so for a lighter build the PA made more sense.
If your local to Surrey/Dorking welcome to try mine on a ride. it really is "class" !
Why oh why did I read this thread?
I'm so happy with my 520 PA but now find myself yearning for a new one.
JP, yes am a Dorking native! you make a good point that it seems just as bombproof and a bonus being lighter. what size do you ride? I am on a small...
I was only in HFTH yesterday talking to Dan about this very issue!
Thanks for the feedback, JP.
People who have pre-ordered a frame already will get them around 18th March and those are all allocated now (apart from 1 x 19" orange one I think).
I'm still taking pre-orders, but the main batch of frames won't arrive until mid-April.
[i]People who have pre-ordered a frame already will get them around 18th March [/i]
😀 😀 😀