[seansawyer]

I have some wheels sitting around, and I'm looking for a steel road frame to build up with them. Something kind of speedy but oriented towards long rides, ideally in the sub-$1200 range. I'd probably spring for the Salsa Colossal if it wasn't disc-only. I have a Long Haul trucker (which I love) and like the looks of the Pacer, but since I have a little more to spend and wouldn't mind getting the weight down a bit. The Gunnar Roadie looks pretty sweet, but I wish it cleared 28s. A carbon fork option or frame-only option would be nice. What other frames should I consider?

 

[Zeet]

I have some wheels sitting around, and I'm looking for a steel road frame to build up with them. Something kind of speedy but oriented towards long rides, ideally in the sub-$1200 range. I'd probably spring for the Salsa Colossal if it wasn't disc-only. I have a Long Haul trucker (which I love) and like the looks of the Pacer, but since I have a little more to spend and wouldn't mind getting the weight down a bit. The Gunnar Roadie looks pretty sweet, but I wish it cleared 28s. A carbon fork option or frame-only option would be nice. What other frames should I consider?

You've just got to checkout SOMA below:

Road Frames

Also, checkout their Touring frames:

Cyclo-Cross & Touring Frames

 

[Scooper]

SOMA now has the Smoothie SS (fillet brazed KVA MS2 stainless steel) if you can stretch your budget to $2k.

 

[Nater]

All City Mr Pink?

 

[tihsepa]

View attachment 278661 I have a Stanyan and absolutely love it. I run 27's and have room for fenders. Its not super light but it rides like a lighter bike than it is. If that makes sense.

Soma makes a great frameset.

Gunnar is very nice also.

Heres mine set up as a commuter.

 

[AtomicMoose]

SOMA now has the Smoothie SS (fillet brazed KVA MS2 stainless steel) if you can stretch your budget to $2k.

 

[seansawyer]

Ah, good calll! I don't know why I didn't think of Soma. You guys have made my day. Don't think I can spring for the stainless, but damn that's a beautiful frame.

 

[esldude]

Gunnar makes some nice frames. A Gunnar Sport will take 28 mm tires and fenders. Still a pretty racy design and you can get custom geometry, and still squeak inside your budget.

 

[tarwheel2]

Gunnar Sport
Soma Smoothie, ES or Stanyan

I have a Gunnar Sport. It will easily handle 28 mm tires and probably would fit 32s. You can buy it with a steel or carbon fork. Very versatile frame with mounts for fenders and racks, and clearance for larger tires and fenders. It is very similar to the Roadie except slightly longer chain stays, mounts for attachments, clearance for larger tires, and uses medium-reach brakes.

 

[xjbaylor]

The Traitor Exile could be pretty cool, though I agree with the recommendations of the Soma Smoothie or Gunnar Sport, in their respective price ranges.

The Salsa Vaya is a different beast (and disc only) but that is a very very fun bike considering what they can be purchased for used.

 

[mark4501]

+1 on the Gunnar Sport. one of the reasons I got it was I wanted to run 28mm tires. I like feeling comfortable on pavement or crushed rocks paths, depending on how the spirit moves me that day.

 

[DocRogers]

I have some wheels sitting around, and I'm looking for a steel road frame to build up with them. Something kind of speedy but oriented towards long rides, ideally in the sub-$1200 range. I'd probably spring for the Salsa Colossal if it wasn't disc-only. I have a Long Haul trucker (which I love) and like the looks of the Pacer, but since I have a little more to spend and wouldn't mind getting the weight down a bit. The Gunnar Roadie looks pretty sweet, but I wish it cleared 28s. A carbon fork option or frame-only option would be nice. What other frames should I consider?

You want to build up a new bike to use up your extra wheels? Careful, that's a slippery slope, been there myself a few times . . . "Hmmmm, I've still got that old derailleur, maybe I should build a new bike around it..."

Yup, I've been there!

 

[zoikz]

Rikalau

I've had a hankering for one of these. There is a US distributor but not a common bike. Boy do they look cool though. Guessing they would be in your price range if you could find one.
360GigaBikes-RIKULAU - 360GigaBikes

 

[jtompilot]

Volagi bikes look pretty good. I'm thinking about getting one.

 

[pmf]

Have you considered looking on ebay for a mid to late 1990's steel frame by a classic brand like Eddy Merckx, Colnago, or Pinarello? I did this with a Merckx frame I found and I've been really happy with it.

 

[Willow bean]

Just picked up a Breezer Venturi from Bikewagon.com for $599.

I have some wheels sitting around, and I'm looking for a steel road frame to build up with them. Something kind of speedy but oriented towards long rides, ideally in the sub-$1200 range. I'd probably spring for the Salsa Colossal if it wasn't disc-only. I have a Long Haul trucker (which I love) and like the looks of the Pacer, but since I have a little more to spend and wouldn't mind getting the weight down a bit. The Gunnar Roadie looks pretty sweet, but I wish it cleared 28s. A carbon fork option or frame-only option would be nice. What other frames should I consider?

I hear it the lightest production steel road frame!