Road Bike Frame Advice

S

Stuart Truman

Lifer
 The Cotswolds
Biking peeps, some while back I accidentally acquired (for which read, bailed son out of an eBay transaction he couldn't afford) a Bianchi Mega Pro L frame incl bottom bracket.

I've just seen this identical one on eBay. Is it really worth that much? (I didn't pay anything like that, but I can't find another one online to benchmark against)

From research it appears to be a hand made frame, has carbon fibre forks and isn't in bad condition at all. A few minor stone chips etc. Seriously wondering whether to build it up, or just buy a new road bike as part of the fitness plan...
 
No way is that frame worth that. It's 7005 aluminium tubing and I would query whether the forks are carbon fibre. Most carbon forks are straight nowadays although as that frame was produced in 2002 it may be carbon. Read the description at the bottom which relates to the Marco Pantani XL Corsa frame not the same as this frame which is a mass produced cheap copy. My value for that frame is £150 tops and would be only fit as a winter training hack.
 
I would add that a aluminium frame like this would be harsh and unforgiving compared to a modern carbon frame.
Only worth building up if you can get some decent second hand Shimano or Campag groupset fittings and some second hand wheels. Hardly worth buying new cheap items. A fully built up bike wouldn't be worth more than £450-500.
 
Cheers chaps. I paid less than your valuation too hence my surprise at the price on eBay. Son wants to build it up as a single speed bike. The forks are deffo carbon

Son can have it then, I'll buy a new ready to go bike
 
Stuart Truman said:
Cheers chaps. I paid less than your valuation too hence my surprise at the price on eBay. Son wants to build it up as a single speed bike. The forks are deffo carbon
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My son had a Trek carbon frame made in 2002 and that had curved forks although in 2003 most manufacturers went for the straight fork design that I have on my Trek and Look bikes.
Best of luck with the bike build.
 
Lillywhite said:
I would add that a aluminium frame like this would be harsh and unforgiving compared to a modern carbon frame.
Only worth building up if you can get some decent second hand Shimano or Campag groupset fittings and some second hand wheels. Hardly worth buying new cheap items. A fully built up bike wouldn't be worth more than £450-500.
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i have a trek 8500 (mountain bike frame) that i replaced a while ago, i kept it to build into a hack bike, and to be honest, 2nd hand bike parts are ridiculous, to build it into a bike is not viable, even though i have quite a few bits in the garage already.

particularly if you want a slightly 'retro' feel...

what p!sses me off even more; a few years ago i had a clear out and sold a mint specialized m2 (the original one like ned overend had) for £350...it had deore xt thumbies on as well...one of my life's big regrets!

sorry...o/t slightly.
 
Can you cycle safely in your area? I would be knocked off my bike I think in about 5 minutes ...

I did buy another bike (used to cycle about 10k km a year whilst in NL), but the cycling here scares me due to the car drivers not being experienced with dealing with bikes on the road.
 
I know what you mean, pvr. The culture in the Netherlands is different, I understand, with regard to the motorist/cyclist issue and quite frankly I now never ride on any A roads on in any cities preferring to cycle on country routes. Maybe when one of our cyclists wins the Tour de France attitudes towards cyclists on this small island may change. :wink:
 
Lillywhite said:
I know what you mean, pvr. The culture in the Netherlands is different, I understand, with regard to the motorist/cyclist issue and quite frankly I now never ride on any A roads on in any cities preferring to cycle on country routes. Maybe when one of our cyclists wins the Tour de France attitudes towards cyclists on this small island may change. :wink:
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No chance, Bradley got knocked off outside a petrol station...
 
Stuart Truman, joking apart, make sure you get kitted out for safety before you ride.
 
JaEdBa said:
No chance, Bradley got knocked off outside a petrol station...
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That's my point. The road was a busy A road. It was at a time when the home rush hour was in full force and despite being in a convoy with team vehicles White Van Man (or in this case woman) wasn't paying attention. However, I blame it on the Team Sky Black kit.
It was a case of 'sorry I didn't see you mate' or more correctly 'I was an a**e and didn't look'.

Rant over! :wink:
 
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