Reilly Gradient alternatives

Fair enough dude. And a Bokeh ti is out of my price range too. Good luck with the search.

Avoid Ribble? And then gives a link to show what a great experience using that model is. 

I suspect the link was intended to take you to one of the numerous comments below the main photo (specifically the one from Alex Brynner) - although several of the other comments are also fairly critical of Ribble's customer service.

I'm assuming you are right and I tried again but I cannot scroll down to the comments. I guess that is because I am not on FB.

Dingaling wrote:

I'm assuming you are right and I tried again but I cannot scroll down to the comments. I guess that is because I am not on FB.

Huh, I was able to view the comments without being logged in (you need to click "comments" rather than just scroll down). But in any case I've grabbed a screenshot.

For what it's worth I have no connection to Alex nor any personal experience of Ribble, just trying to help!

Have you looked at Tom Sturdy's stuff? It cost more than off the peg but you get exactly what you want, it's unique and Tom's an absolute genius. Love mine...

Sorry matthewn5 but your statement cannot go unchallenged.  The 9xx Reynolds are certainly extremely strong but to make any sense you need to specify what titanium alloy you are referrring to.   Pure titanium can't even hold a candle to Reynolds 531.   Ti-3Al-2.5V is the most popular alloy for bikes (and indeed most other uses of titanium tube and is pretty damn strong.  Ti-6Al-4V will knock any steel you care to mention into a cocked hat. AFAIK only Enigma have ever really offered a frame made from that - but there may be others in the USA.

Hello PpPete. Afraid to say you are well wide of the mark regarding your comparison of Ti-6Al-4V with alloy steels. Ti-6Al-4V is generally stated to have a yield strength of around 850 - 900 MPa and UTS of around 950 - 1000 MPa. Reynolds state that 953 has a UTS of 1750 - 2000 MPa. Though I am unable to find figures for yield strength, the UTS suggests it will be at least 1500 MPa. Coupled with a 'stiffness' that is almost twice that of ANY titanium alloy, this makes 953 a good choice, in respect of mechanical properties, when compared with titanium.

I believe Litespeed used to make a frame in Ti-6Al-4V, but, like yourself, I am not sure who does so now.

I wonder whether yield strength and ultimate tensile strength are useful measures when you're comparing bike-frame materials: the shape of the tubing adds stiffness and spring / shock absorbsion where appropriate - absolute measures don't mean much (unless you're comparing Ti or high-grade steel to plasticine, obviously).

Hello Chris. I think you may have missed the point. PpPete suggested that Ti-6Al-4V is stronger than any steel and I was merely pointing out that it isn't - not remotely in fact!! I think yield strength particularly can be a useful measure, for the simple reason that the stronger a material, the less is required. These comparisons often seem to end up being a bit iffy. You are correct in saying that the shape of the tube affects the properties of the structure, but what is applicable to one material is equally applicable to another (assuming both can be similarly shaped), hence, when comparing like with like, a steel tube (and therefore frame) will always be significantly stiffer than a titamium one. The titanium version will, of course, be lighter (once again, like for like).

Sure, I should have said 'don't overlook stainless' if you're looking at titanium. But as for tube shaping, most of these bikes use round tubes, there's not much shaping going on with these very high strength steels and titanium alloys. The tuning comes from playing with the butting, tube diameters, geometry, and so on.

I have a Litespeed Vortex made of Ti-6Al-4V.  They come up on eBay from time-to-time, but are getting rarer.  Expensive bikes: I think the frame was in the £3000 range in 2003....have to say, the engineering on it is breathtaking: curved eliptical rearstays. diamond shaped tubing, and incredible welding. Great machine.  I would say that it was years ahead of its time... but they don't make bikes like this anymore...

I've owned a Gradient for about a year. Can't recommend it highly enough, it is just good at everything. I got it for winter club runs and light touring, now I'm riding it through the summer in preference to my Domane.

I get that, I really want a Ti bike next.  I'm thinking of a year round commuter that can do some mild off roading.  I want to like the Ribble, I love all that customisation you can do on their site, but the back end just looks...wrong to me.