Strong Frames Custom Road Frame

Price Paid:  $1900.00 at Carl Strong

Favorite Ride:
Bear Mtn. via 7 Lakes Drive

Bike Setup:
All with full Dura Ace 10, FSA cockpits on two, Easton cockpit and fork on the steel Strong, ceramic bb's and Ksyriums with ceramic bearings

Summary:
I am on my 4th Carl Strong in 4 years and enjoy them all for their intended purposes. My first ti Strong is as comfortable as can be on centuries which led me to get a steel Strong(my favorite) built with identical geometry to replace a ti Seven I rode for a season and disliked.I then tried an aluminum Strong he was blowing out and gave me a great deal on. He told me it would be stiff because it was designed for a crit racer & he was not joking! Amazing climber though. He now made me a stiff ti road frame that I use like the aluminum one I sold. It is considerably stiffer than my first ti frame just as I wanted it. A stiff frame that is more comfortable than aluminum. So now I have long distance bike and a fast flatland/ big ring bike! They handle on the fast side (74/73) as I requested with a lowish bottom bracket to rail around downhill corners with ease.

Strengths:
FIT is outstanding. I can't ride off the shelf geometry. He literally builds you what he say's he will. No- nonsense bikes that are understatedly elegant. My last one has no decals,(I'm trying to darken the ti a bit more) and people have looked at it and say how well made it appears. No fluff. Pure stealth performance. Matte Grey Beadblasted dirty ti for that fighter jet look w/ carbon forks, seatposts, bars and light weight quality wheels on all the bikes. What else do you need?!

Weaknesses:
None with Carl's bikes.

Similar Products Used:
Gios(3), Seven

Price Paid:  $1500.00 at Strong Web Site

Favorite Ride:
Shawnee to Lawrence

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Chorus 10 speed group, Ksyrium Wheels,

Summary:
This is the second Strong Frame I have owned and have loved both of them. The first frame I bought was made from Columbus Max tubing and was great. Unfortunately, the seat tube developed a hairline crack at the junction with the top tube. I sent it to Carl to see if it could be fixed and the answer was no - but a whole new frame was covered under warranty. I had a couple of changes made to the original frame, but overall it is identical. The new frame is made from Columbus Spirit and True Temper OX Platinum tubing and is lighter and feels quicker than the old frame. I cannot say enough about how this bike handles.

Strengths:
Truly custom fit, stiffness and service

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Serotta, Medici,Cannondale, Paramount

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Strong Frames

Favorite Ride:
Bridger Canyon

Bike Setup:
Road - Record 10, FSA crank, Carbon muscle fork, and rear triangle, Zipp 303's, 3T stem, Chris King Head Set, FSA carbon bars.
TT bike, Dura ace 9, no front derailluer, FSA bars, Syntace stem, Zipp 808 front, disc rear. MTB, XT group, XTR crank, Easton EC70 carbon bars, Mavic Cross Max wheels

Summary:
Each of my Strong Frames Custom Bicycles excell at their intended purpose. My Scandium Road Bike with Record 10 and FSA cranks weighs in at 15.8 Lbs, pedals and water bottle holders included. It is quick and fast. My aluminum TT bike is the perfect fit for my position with amazing seat tube to rear wheel minimum clearance, very aero, check out the picture on Carl's website in the gallery. My Foco tubing MTB is a climbing machine, great balance, was immediately comfortable in difficult terrain and conditions.

Strengths:
My bikes fit perfectly the first time, awesome welds and finishes

Weaknesses:
Can't think of any

Similar Products Used:
Kalispell Titanium, Dura Ace group, Specialized Epic Comp, carbon fiber, Specialized Stump Jumper Comp

Price Paid:  $1340.00 at Strongs Original Sho

Favorite Ride:
Manhattan Loop

Bike Setup:
Sexy ultegra, thompson seat post, wound up fork(I LOVE THIS), and teh worst frame in my life, Carl Sucks Frame.

Summary:
I have been racing road bikes for over 10 years. I have riden some of the nicest treks around, 5500 carbon, and a few other top end bike builders. You see that my knowledge is there to know a good bike and a good fit when i see it. The Strong Racing frame that i had did have a good fit, and road well. It was the easton aluminum built frame. What was frustraiting from the begining of ownership is that I always had a creak in the bottom bracket. So annoying that my riding partners always complained, and the local shop,(Round House) worked on it for years trying to make it go away, we greased it, taped the threads, kissed it, prayed for it, replaced the BB, and nothing could get rid of the noise. Oh well...So I have not been racing in the last three years, just slow group rides for fun these days. And my last group ride a guy is riding behind me and see my whole bike flex from side to side at the bottom braket. Come to find out the weld broke at the bottom braket. HUH, i thought back to the years of noise and figured the weld was weak and probably a hairline fracture that was not noticeable do to it being under the clear coated paint. I called Carl to ask for it to be fixed, you know warranty like work. His response was "Justin, this bike is older than 5 years, you can't possibly think it would last that long, Aluminum has a shorter life span than cromolly and so i can't and wont fix it!" I was amazed a custom builer who wouldn't stand behind his own welds. Why would i buy custom ever again i thought? To my knowledge he has had a few bikes brake at the bottom braket and i know he is always a pain in the rear to fix that stuff!!! That is NOT WHAT CUSTOM IS ABOUT!!!!!

Strengths:
Good Ideas, BUT POOR FOLLOW THROUGH.

Weaknesses:
-JERK TO DEAL WITH
-NO WARRANTY WORK FOR (LIFETIME)
-RUDE WHEN YOU ASK TO LOOK AT PROBLEM
-ARROGANT ABOUT HIS WORK
-MEAN AND UNWILLING TO TRY AND FIND A SOLUTION THAT IS BENIFITIAL TO ALL!!!!
-ONLY COOL TO YOU IF YOU LIVE THERE AND KISS HIS TUSH
-WHAT HE FORGETS IS I SUGGESTED 4 PEOPLE TO BUY HIS BIKE AND ALL FOUR PEOPLE DID THAT YEAR (2002)

Similar Products Used:
I have never used a product with as poor workmanship as this product. And with as poor personal service as with Carl Strong Racing(want a be) frames.

View Comments (4)

Would you like to Comment?
Join RoadbikeReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Price Paid:  $1.00 at Strong

Favorite Ride:
Any day I am breathing

Bike Setup:
Very nice.

Summary:
I purchased the custom Ti frame from Carl Strong of Strong frames based on reputation. I had worn out my Davidson Ti and was looking for a replacement.

The bike is extremely well balanced. Very stiff in the bottom bracket. The frame is used for training and road racing. Handling is spot on. It has been raced in everything from 50 to 200 milers.

This is a custom frame from an established frame builder. It is excellent. You just ride it, there is no wishing it did something a bit better.

I have had many high end frames including four other customs. After the last custom in 1986 I vowed to never buy another one. It was terrible and so was the one before. It took 20 years but Carl Strong changed that opinion.

Strengths:
Carl Strong knows how to build an excellent frame. He listened to my requirements and then made his suggestions. I got exactly what I wanted. This is the highest compliment that you can pay a frame builder.

Weaknesses:
Makes you blow off things you really should be doing.

Similar Products Used:
Many high end frames including Teledyne Titan.