If you know your high end aluminium road frames you’ll know that Danish company Principia was widely regarded as the best with their frames winning races and bike tests long after carbon had taken over for flagship models.
The Ellipse SX was the second highest model in the 2004 Principia Hierarchy, just below the slightly lighter Revolution. There is an excellent and very favourable review on Pez Cycling news, published on 30 June 2004 that is well worth reading.
This particular example is in near-immaculate condition with s few light marks here and there. It’s black anodised finish is near perfect with a small mark in the centre of the top tube (as seen in photo 14) as are the original decals. And just check out the bottom bracket threads!
The frame is incredibly light at 1305g on my digital scales. The Principia branded Mizuno carbon fork is a bit more weighty at 525g and would be a good area for a weight saving upgrade. The headset is a beautiful Chris King inspired Principia unit with silky smooth bearings.
The one thing to bear in mind is that racing bikes of this period used very narrow tyres, with close frame clearances. You’d just get a pair of 25’s in the frame (fork clearance is fine), but a set of 23’s would be better. A modern set of tubeless 23mm tyres still ride brilliantly and as you can read in the review, this is pretty comfy for an aluminium racing frame. Photo 21 shows a set of 28mm tyres and you can see there is around 1mm of clearance to the chainstays.
It’s a size 52cm / small with the following actual dimensions:
- Top tube effective horizontal centre to centre: 52cm (the top tube slopes down by about 7cm from front to back)
- Seat tube centre to centre: 41cm
- Seat tube centre to top: 46cm
- Head tube end to end not Inc headset cups: 9.5cm
- Head tube end to end Inc headset cups: 13cm
- Fork steerer length: 18.5cm which allows for 25mm of spacers above or below the stem
- Headset diameter: 1 1/8”
- Seatpost diameter: 31.6mm
- Front mech clamp diameter: 34.9mm
- Front axle spacing: 100mm
- Rear axle spacing: 130mm
- Bottom Bracket thread: British
- Max tyre width: 25mm (23’s would be better)
- Frame mass: 1305g
- Fork mass: 525g
I sold a Principia Rex for £595 earlier this year and I think this one is even better. The frame will be wrapped with new foam pipe lagging and packed in a sturdy box and dispatched insured to value with Parcel Force. Overseas shipping is via eBay GSP which I have found to be a very reliable and cost effective solution once import duties Etc are considered. However I will investigate direct shipping overseas so please feel free to ask.
I can supply this with a brand new Ultegra R8000 groupset and other quality parts sourced from the UK importer for a competitive price.
If you are thinking of a bike fit, why not contact me using the details shown on the last photo. I’m offering a 10% discount on bike fits booked in December. Winter is the perfect time for a bike fit to get you prepared for longer and more joyous rides and races of spring and summer.
Amy questions, please ask. Thanks, Matt