Also known as the sub $1000 carbon fiber frame.

I have been searching for some time for a carbon fiber frame. Not that difficult, you might think, but I was looking to do it on the cheap. The occasional deal would pop up on eBay, but rarely in the time frame that would give me adequate time to research, find reviews and see if I was getting a good deal.

I was just about to give up and focus on my drivetrain upgrade and building a bike for my wife, when I decided to do a little more research. That’s when I came across Pedal Force. Their goal is simple:

…we sell direct and we don’t incur huge costs in brand building campaigns. We only reach out to the real cyclists who know what they want. Our typical customer is a cycling enthusiast with good knowledge of bike riding and technology, knows a good product when he sees one, and found out about us through research or from their cycling network. By minimizing our cost of product promotion to a wider market audience, we aim to make the best cycling technology affordable to people who will truly enjoy it.

Sounds good to me.

They offer a selection of carbon fiber and, in one case, carbon/titanium frames for well under $1000. Their products have been well reviewed by major publications and have an ardent fan following on the web.

They occasionally offer group buys for new products, and that’s what I ended up participating in. I will be getting their new RS2 frame for $450.

Some have compared this frame to recent offerings from Fondriest. I think it also shares some similarities to the Specialized Tarmac and Roubaix frames as well as the De Rosa Idol.

I think that this frame is, visually, undeniably attractive and when you factor in the weight (about a kilogram) and the price, makes it a nearly impossible deal to pass up.

Given the parameters of the group purchase, I probably won’t be getting my hands on this until April or May.

This is going to be hard to wait for….