Frame finish options
Posted: 14 Mar 2016 11:33
As much as I love my Rourkie frame, the urge for a more durable frame is making me contemplate some other possible options.
It’s been four years since I last had it resprayed due to accidently damage (long story) but after the weekends audax on some pretty shitty lanes, the frame has taken on board even more nasty stone chips. Plus, I have also noticed that since going to an 11sp group set, the cable entry point for the front mech is now much closer to the frame. Therefore the cable is constantly rubbing/fretting against the bottom bracket shell even though there are cable guides brazed underneath the frame, they are not long enough to match the cable angle at the exit point. So this will need to be addressed sooner rather than later, ideally it needs a twin plastic cable guide screwing under the bb shell to space the cable out, but this isn’t possible with the brazed tubular cable guides that are already there.
So with that in mind, I see that I have three options:
Option one: have the rear triangle chromed on my 853, then a more basic colour scheme on the remainder of the frame, plus a modification to improve the gear cable routing under the bottom bracket.
Option two: partial self-colour 953 Rourkie frame, then paint work as above.
Option three: an off the shelf Ti frame such as the Engima Evoke
With options two and three it then opens up other questions, should I then opt for hydraulic discs and even go down the Di2 as well? This could to be a very expensive option to say the least!! Of course option one is the cheapest option, as I guesstimate that £500 would cover the cost of everything that I want doing.
BUT, going forward I think that a self-colour Ti frame would undoubtingly be more durable long term and not have to worry about getting the paintwork damaged with stone chips and café damage etc.
It’s been four years since I last had it resprayed due to accidently damage (long story) but after the weekends audax on some pretty shitty lanes, the frame has taken on board even more nasty stone chips. Plus, I have also noticed that since going to an 11sp group set, the cable entry point for the front mech is now much closer to the frame. Therefore the cable is constantly rubbing/fretting against the bottom bracket shell even though there are cable guides brazed underneath the frame, they are not long enough to match the cable angle at the exit point. So this will need to be addressed sooner rather than later, ideally it needs a twin plastic cable guide screwing under the bb shell to space the cable out, but this isn’t possible with the brazed tubular cable guides that are already there.
So with that in mind, I see that I have three options:
Option one: have the rear triangle chromed on my 853, then a more basic colour scheme on the remainder of the frame, plus a modification to improve the gear cable routing under the bottom bracket.
Option two: partial self-colour 953 Rourkie frame, then paint work as above.
Option three: an off the shelf Ti frame such as the Engima Evoke
With options two and three it then opens up other questions, should I then opt for hydraulic discs and even go down the Di2 as well? This could to be a very expensive option to say the least!! Of course option one is the cheapest option, as I guesstimate that £500 would cover the cost of everything that I want doing.
BUT, going forward I think that a self-colour Ti frame would undoubtingly be more durable long term and not have to worry about getting the paintwork damaged with stone chips and café damage etc.