Frame picking help please

I've thoroughly searched through all the forums, checked every post with frame reviews and recommendations and trawled through people's informed opinions about what's hot and what is quite often not. If this issue has already been tackled elsewhere then I am sorry in advance.

Anyway, I'm riding the 2007 Langster at the moment and it has served me well. During it's service have replaced the BB, the crankset, the brakes, the wheelset, pretty much everything. I'm finally keen to take the final step and replace the only remaining item: the frame.

I really want a lightweight, stiff, preferably steel bike with horizontal drop outs and what I understand to be classic geometry (essentially I don't want another compact frame). My budget is around £250 - not keen to spend much more.

Through recommendations and by checking everything LFGSS has to offer I have reduced my choice to three bikes:

On-One Lincolnshire Poacher (£259.99).
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOLIPO/on-one-lincolnshire-poacher-frame
Don't really dig the decals, quite like the colour, don't mind the lugs (don't particularly love them either). Very much like the shape but at 2.8kg it seems pretty heavy for the price.

On-One Pompino (£149.99)
http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FROOP/on-one-pompino-frame
Again, stinking decals and take or leave the colour. The shape isn't exactly what I was looking for but it only weighs 2.27kg and is a bargain price.

Genesis Flyer 520 2010
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/flyer-520-2010-road-bike-frame-set-ec021327?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle
Love this frame. Reynolds tubing, classic look, pretty dope. I gather from the forum ( http://www.lfgss.com/thread1175.html - I told you I researched), that it also weighs 2.27 kg.
Whilst this is more money that the Pompino the price does include forks, but then again I would still probably want to get an unpainted frame if pos and take it to Armourtex or somewhere...

So yeah, that's the deal. Which of those frames would your recommend or, for a similar ball park price, what might you recommend instead?

Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

K

buy something second hand! You'll get soemthign much nicer for that kinda money

i'd suggest you get a fit done, dial in your langster as closely as possible and then buy the best fitting frame when you have a bit more cash

On 0ne has a sale every now and again and pompino can be had for sub £100 and occasionally with steel forks too for that price.

I take it that the consensus is to not buy any of the above then?

@ Sammy. It's really hard finding a 54/54 frame man! I keep missing advertised items by bare minutes, my bidding is now getting reckless and I keep bagsying things that I don't even want just because I'm getting desperate to win something... anything! I agree with the principle but I want a frame within the next month and as I have already spent 6 weeks looking I don't fancy my chances.

@ DJ. Dude, I'm a novice. What do you mean by 'dial in'? Like get the Langster fit to me and save pennies til something presents itself? I have thought about that but tbh I really want to spank my tax rebate on something fun asap before real life eats it.

@ Lynx: thanks for the heads up man (but in your opinion is the Pompino worth getting then?)

Cheers all

PZ

Genesis flyer

You understood me

tbh there is probably little difference between the frames suggested

Long term fit will be more important to you

dial in as getting the bike to fit your body perfectly.

says, an extra 10cm or -10cm from your stem, layback seatpost or straight, crank length, bar width etc. play an important roles in your comfort.

it's also much cheaper to get a fit done than buying a frame not knowing exactly whether it'll fit you better or not.

contact Bike Whisperer, they'll do you a fit on your current bike and you'll leave feeling even more comfortable as if the bike is made for you.

Oh and the biggest weight difference would be the wheelset, get an Open Pro wheelset laced to System EX/SJS/Condor etc. hubs and you'll see it, the Langster frame is pretty light as it is.

I would recommend the pompino as that is a frame that I bought and one that I'll build one day. Also dealing with on one is always easy and the guys are really helpful.

Just bought a new wheelset: ambrosio evolution TQB clinchers ( http://www.ambrosio.co.uk/ambrosio_wheels.htm ). Set weighs around 2kg and pretty happy with the purchase.

It was mainly because of my pimping new wheels that I was keen to spend some of my tax back pennies on a new frame. Anyway, thanks for the help everyone - any more advice is massively well appreciated.

I would recommend the pompino as that is a frame that I bought and one that I'll build one day.

Sorry if I missed something?

£125 for bike fitting is a bit steep

langsters are great, lightweight frames, i wouldn't bother changing it for any of those,

£125 for bike fitting is a bit steep

Nice though.

£125 for bike fitting is a bit steep

Far from it, I highly recommend you to contact bike whisperer and get yourself fitted properly, it'll be the best investment you'll have.

especially considering how much CycleFit charge you.

actually I was thinking about going shop14 way and let them make a custom frame for me, not sure if it is affordable-ish

Sorry if I missed something?

What do you think you missed?

You'd need to pay more for a custom fitted frame, so it's pretty much similar to a fitting.

Stick with the langster and buy the best wheels you can afford. Job done.

What do you think you missed?

An actual reason for you suggesting he gets a Pompino, apart from the fact that you bought one so he might as well too...

An actual reason for you suggesting he gets a Pompino, apart from the fact that you bought one so he might as well too...

A acquaintance got one, I had a go on it and really found the frame nice to ride. Hence buying the frame and forks but never being able to decide what I want to do with it. Like the idea of having a pompino wet weather/cyclo cross geared bike and a pompino sunny day fixed/single speed.

i'd get a lightweight reynolds or columbus road frame off ebay for £100 and then spend £50 on getting track ends on it. I think you can figure out how well your bike fits for free. Just read a lot about it and ask people who know what they're talking about in good bike shops

Don't listen to them! Save a little more monies and buy this bad boy! http://www.lfgss.com/thread43452.html

what ever you choose will be the right choice.