15,871 Replies to “The Bikes”

1. @Chris

   @Deakus

   all three mainstream, good but lacking that Je ne said quoi)

   There’s only a certain amount of the old je ne sais quoi that come with a bike, after all even the most unenlightened is limited only by budget. My view is that the rest of it, the true patina of character, we add ourselves through the rides we share with the bike, in our devotion to it’s proper maintenance and it’s evolution from stock form to an extension of our own identity. As always, though, it’s a topic of differing views.

   A-Merckx. Well said. Rule #6 doesn’t judge the bike beneath you. And you might even stand a more imminent chance of remaining Rule #12 compliant in the future.

2. @the-farmer

   What’s the feelings on aluminium v carbon. Domane 2.3 with largely 105 is £1200, domane 4.0 with

   Largely tiagra is £1500 but the cool look 4.3 with 105 is £1800. Would the step up to the 4.0 be worth it?

   And yes I know. Started off lusting after a bianchi but LBS would sell me one but didn’t recommend it and trek seem like an ok bike and the local guy stocks them, he also stocks look but I don’t think so Tim!

   I would go with the 105 over tiagra if at all possible.  Unless things have changed, the front derailleur adjustment mechanisms are different and I found that tiagra needs tweaking very often where the 105 is more bombproof.

3. @Chris

   @Deakus

   all three mainstream, good but lacking that Je ne said quoi)

   There’s only a certain amount of the old je ne sais quoi that come with a bike, after all even the most unenlightened is limited only by budget. My view is that the rest of it, the true patina of character, we add ourselves through the rides we share with the bike, in our devotion to it’s proper maintenance and it’s evolution from stock form to an extension of our own identity. As always, though, it’s a topic of differing views.

   Good use of french, btw, reminds me of the great Derek Trotter:

   Del: One of my favourite French dishes is duck à l’orange. […] How do they say “duck” in French?
   Rodney: It’s “canard”.
   Del: You can say that again, bruv.

   Indeed!

4. So, I’m wanting to make a frame for myself with a stainless steel rear end so I can polish it up and give it the old-school chrome stays look.  In my research on using SS I have come across cautions from other builders talking about the difficulty in working with SS.  Anyway, the following is just for the nerdy bike geeks out there:

   I have a friend that is a metallurgist that graduated from MIT.  Most of his professional career he has worked for the INL (Idaho National Laboratory) which is where the first nuclear breeder reactor was developed and most of the Navy’s nuke sub technology comes from.  In other words, he’s really smart.  So I run questions by him all the time and I was asking him about brazing SS and the like and here is his response (remember this is just to geek out on but I think it’s pretty cool that I have access to this kind of knowledge):

   @Peter Nagata

   The only hint I have of KVA MS2’s composition is in the following passage from the html you sent:

   MS2â„¢ is an air-hardenable, martensitic stainless steel with amazing tensile strength > 200 ksi (1400 Mpa) which means it’s twice as strong as titanium with a frame weight comparable to high-end aluminum. The tubing has excellent corrosion-resistance, with elongation > 14% and a hardness ~ 38-42 HRC.

   The difficulty is finding a martensitic stainless steel that is air hardening.  I know of no martensitic stainless steel that is air hardening that has a tensile strength “> 200 ksi.”  The only air hardening stainless steel I know of is UNS 41500 (UNS is the Unified Numbering System for alloys used in the US).  UNS 41500 is described in specification ASTM A 182.  However, UNS 41500 has a yield strength of 75 ksi and a tensile strength of 95 ksi, far below 200 ksi.  Data for UNS 41500 can be found at website http://www.howcogroup.com/materials/stainless-duplex-aluminum/grade-f6nm.

   The problem with the term “stainless steel” is that, technically, it applies to alloys with at least 11% chromium (Cr).  It is this 11% Cr requirement that is so puzzling.  At levels about 11%, Cr interacts with other alloying elements so that it is not hardenable by air cooling.  The tensile strength of 200 ksi can be attained by AISI 420 stainless steel, but it is not an air-cooling grade, though AWS ER420 is described as such on page 113 of Stainless Steels by J. R. Davis.  AWS ER420 is the weld rod for AISI 420 stainless steel.  According to most books on stainless steels, AISI 420 must be heated to a high temperature, quenched, and then tempered to the desired strength. I have never seen AISI 420 referred to as an air hardening grade (learn something all the time).  All my books consider AISI 420 a quench-and-temper steel, not an air-hardening steel.

   About a year ago (February 2012), I wrote you a note about air hardening tool steels.  These contain about 5% Cr, but they do not qualify as stainless steels because of their low Cr content.

   In reading my February 2012 to you, I noted that the brazing temperature cannot exceed 1200F because doing so will cause tensile strength to decrease.  You may wish to review that note. If you no longer have it, I can resend it to you.

   If KVA MS2 is actually an air hardening martensitic tool steel like A2, it is magnetic and its coefficient of thermal expansion is like that of carbon steel.  The Cr content will help form a chromium oxide layer that I discussed with you yesterday.  The new problem is that brazing temperatures, as mentioned above, should not exceed 1200F, lest the steel lose tensile strength.

   One last thing:  if you successfully braze the KVA MS2 and get the 200 ksi strength, you must keep in mind that the impact strength of the brazed metal is quite low.  Impact strength is a measure of the ability to absorb mechanical shock and stay in one piece.  Things with low impact strength are glass and bakelite plastics.  Things with high impact strength include low carbon steel (e.g., nails) and high density polyethylene (plastic bottles).

   CONCLUSIONS:

   There is no stainless steel that I know of that is an air-hardening grade with 200 ksi tensile strength.

   The only steels that are air hardening with 200 ksi tensile strength are tool steels, but these have lower Cr contents (abaout 5%) than those steels  that qualify as stainless steels (>11% Cr).

   If KVA MS2 is a martensitic stainless steel, it is magnetic and its coefficient of thermal expansion is about that of carbon steel.  Brazing temperatures above 1200F will cause the brazed metal to have a lower tensile strength that 200 ksi.

   KVA MS2 with high tensile strength will have a lower impact strength than, say, a carbon steel nail.

   –Peter

5. @Cyclops Shit I almost understood that!  The question then is, what is more important?  The high tensile strength or the impact strength.  If the frame is only as strong as its weakest part do you really need the 200ksi (if the brazing is significantly weaker)….or are you just after the Chrome look in which case surely the Chromium content is the more important factor (providing minimum strength requirements are met)?

6. @Deakus

   @tessar

   I’m quite partial to remaining on the metal side of things when it comes to my road-biikes. I ride a somewhat aged Trek 1.2, now shod with a mix of Ultegra and old Dura-Ace, and I’m quite pleased with it. Post-graduation plans are either an all-Magnesium Segal (my family owns three already and they’re great frames), or a titanium steed, half-brushed half-painted with JPS Lotus accents – black and golden. The Segals in particular have that industrial look to them with the welding, the bracing and reinforcements all visible.

   On a somewhat different note, my other bike, the Felt, carried me to victory in a local TT this weekend. 22 Kilometres, out-and-back, all-out to the paincave. 34 minutes and 19 seconds of wasp-inhaling, front-hub-staring madness. Boom.

   

   Congratulations…oh yes I forgot FELT in my list…they from the US?

   As an ex-TT man, chapeau on the ride and double chapeau on looking pro! What was the course like? Flat, hilly, lumpy? How was the wind? Traffic?

7. @Nate

   @eightzero It’s all about more sales. Joe Mamil has 2012 Red, will want the upgrade including the wet brakes, and guess what? He’ll need a new frame to run the hydro lines and mount the disks. And new wheels, because 11s Groupsan/SRAM doesn’t play nice with 10s freehubs. So he might as well buy the Zipps. An interesting note in all this is SRAM couldn’t go to 11 till Shimano did because of the freehub issue.

   Somewhere in the last week I read that SRAM isn’t going electric because Shimano and Campagnolo hold the key patents. No idea if this is true but would be ironic if the US company got beat at the patent portfolio game by the scrappy Italian family run outfit.

   It is all about sales. Concur.

   I’m sorta waiting for somone to make a electric shift actuators for existing cable actuated derailleurs. Have to be some real engineering to them, including a self contained battery on each. Attach them to the derailleurs directly. But make them BT actuated, and (here’s the kicker) have them with a iOS or android setup system to calibrate the position of the each gear. Then you can put the actuator buttons in some custom hood covers, and go back to plain old brake levers.

   Sell them for a reasonable price. Make a killing. My $.02.

8. @Deakus

   Congratulations…oh yes I forgot FELT in my list…they from the US?

   Yeah they are based in California, but manufacture in Taiwan. Maybe their really high-end ($10,000) bikes are made here, but I kind of doubt it.

9. @eightzero

   @Nate

   @eightzero It’s all about more sales. Joe Mamil has 2012 Red, will want the upgrade including the wet brakes, and guess what? He’ll need a new frame to run the hydro lines and mount the disks. And new wheels, because 11s Groupsan/SRAM doesn’t play nice with 10s freehubs. So he might as well buy the Zipps. An interesting note in all this is SRAM couldn’t go to 11 till Shimano did because of the freehub issue.

   Somewhere in the last week I read that SRAM isn’t going electric because Shimano and Campagnolo hold the key patents. No idea if this is true but would be ironic if the US company got beat at the patent portfolio game by the scrappy Italian family run outfit.

   It is all about sales. Concur.

   I’m sorta waiting for somone to make a electric shift actuators for existing cable actuated derailleurs. Have to be some real engineering to them, including a self contained battery on each. Attach them to the derailleurs directly. But make them BT actuated, and (here’s the kicker) have them with a iOS or android setup system to calibrate the position of the each gear. Then you can put the actuator buttons in some custom hood covers, and go back to plain old brake levers.

   Sell them for a reasonable price. Make a killing. My $.02.

   This:

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z_Qqnq8pI8

10. @Deakus This is the way I look at it.  Let’s see a show of hands of anybody out there in V-Land that has seen a lugged frame fail at a lug/tube junction.  I’ve never seen one.  Now let’s see a show of hands of those that have seen frames (or components) crack at a TIG weld.  I’ve seen plenty.  I figure as long as I follow basic guidelines and use proper technique and acceptable practices I shouldn’t have any problems with the SS.

11. @mcsqueak

    @Deakus

    Congratulations…oh yes I forgot FELT in my list…they from the US?

    Yeah they are based in California, but manufacture in Taiwan. Maybe their really high-end ($10,000) bikes are made here, but I kind of doubt it.

    I think there are an awful lot of so called “premium” brands that have their carbon laid down in Taiwan or even China these days….having said that the bikes are still good so the Taiwanese must be fairly good at it…I am not sure who really lays down their own carbon weave these days….BMC?  I know Parlee do…

12. @itburns

    @the-farmer

    What’s the feelings on aluminium v carbon. Domane 2.3 with largely 105 is £1200, domane 4.0 with

    Largely tiagra is £1500 but the cool look 4.3 with 105 is £1800. Would the step up to the 4.0 be worth it?

    And yes I know. Started off lusting after a bianchi but LBS would sell me one but didn’t recommend it and trek seem like an ok bike and the local guy stocks them, he also stocks look but I don’t think so Tim!

    I would go with the 105 over tiagra if at all possible. Unless things have changed, the front derailleur adjustment mechanisms are different and I found that tiagra needs tweaking very often where the 105 is more bombproof.

    I have a 105 group that I bought in the early 90’s which still functions perfectly and finds itself gracing a commuter bike. Can’t go wrong with that stuff. This, to me, is Shimano’s best-functioning grouppo, albiet a bit heavy.

13. @Cyclops What tubeset are you looking at, 953? XCr?  Those seem to be the standard stainless tubesets.  Or is it the MS2 referred to?  And, I have not seen a failed lug, but my starter pistols have trashed a tig weld before.  Moreover, if the lug fails, there is a good chance it can be re-brazed, no?

14. @Cyclops

    @Deakus This is the way I look at it. Let’s see a show of hands of anybody out there in V-Land that has seen a lugged frame fail at a lug/tube junction. I’ve never seen one. Now let’s see a show of hands of those that have seen frames (or components) crack at a TIG weld. I’ve seen plenty. I figure as long as I follow basic guidelines and use proper technique and acceptable practices I shouldn’t have any problems with the SS.

    Lead on McDuff..I look forward to seeing the results!

15. @tessar NIce front brake!

    @Deakus I have read some pretty mediocre reviews of price-point Italian bikes from the likes of Colnago and Pinarello.

    @the-farmer I would advise the following priorities: (1) a bike that fits properly (2) quality of the frame (3) quality of the groupset, so long as it’s at least 105 (if you are looking at Shimano).  I suspect you can get better value for aluminum than carbon, and in your price range, I would not think that carbon is really better.

16. Did Paris to Ancaster on the Fango this weekend.

    

17. @Nate

    I’m looking at using KVA SS stays and Jenry James SS drop outs.

18. @Cyclops Cool and good luck.  I hear polishing stainless is a labor of love!

19. @Cyclops Use the KVA, it can be brazed if you want.

    @freddy Outstanding! (I’m a Marinoni dealer…)

    @tessar Well done! Chapeau.

    @Deakus Here are my additions…Disclaimer, for those that do not know, I own Cafe Roubaix

    Australia – Apollo

    Italian – Bottecchia (in the process of a relaunch now that Bottecchia USA (BD) has been finally killed), Sarto, Strada Dedacciai
    Germany – Stevens

    Spanish – BH
    USA – Deacon!, Veloforma
    Canadian – Marinoni, Davinci
    Belgium – Zannata
    France – Time
    UK – ?
    Taiwan – Trigon

    My suggestion, find something interesting. It can be done on your budget.

    105 is a great group-san for the money. I try to build nothing “less.”

20. @frank

    @itburns

    @the-farmer

    What’s the feelings on aluminium v carbon. Domane 2.3 with largely 105 is £1200, domane 4.0 with

    Largely tiagra is £1500 but the cool look 4.3 with 105 is £1800. Would the step up to the 4.0 be worth it?

    And yes I know. Started off lusting after a bianchi but LBS would sell me one but didn’t recommend it and trek seem like an ok bike and the local guy stocks them, he also stocks look but I don’t think so Tim!

    I would go with the 105 over tiagra if at all possible. Unless things have changed, the front derailleur adjustment mechanisms are different and I found that tiagra needs tweaking very often where the 105 is more bombproof.

    I have a 105 group that I bought in the early 90″²s which still functions perfectly and finds itself gracing a commuter bike. Can’t go wrong with that stuff. This, to me, is Shimano’s best-functioning grouppo, albiet a bit heavy.

    Absolutely.  I would not purchase a grouppo-san that was not at least 105.  A Cannondale frame with 105 Grouppo is a solid, great bike that should serve your needs.  The next question would be the wheelset but for your price range, Cannondale with 105 is perfect and awesome.  It’s what I started out on in the late ’80’s and it is still a GREAT set to be on etoday.  My Bike #3 has a 105 grouppo on it.  Bomb proof.

21. Oh, adn for those that are not familiar with Marinoni, they have a strong line-up of steel. And a steel frame set can run you as little as $1200-1400 CND with a good selection of colours to your own taste. They built my carbon road frame and my custom alum track bike long before I went pro in the industry.

    Used – you can get great deals with a used bike or frame set, just caveat emptor.

    And I realized that I forgot to change the Belgium Zannata to Dutch. Opps. Dutch Monkey no return.

22. @Buck Rogers What Buck said. If you are going to go with one of the major companies, I like working on ‘Dales.

23. @Steampunk

    @the-farmer

    I would also jump belatedly on the Cannondale train here. If you’re a Velominatus Budgetatus, I think you’ll be hard-pressed to find better quality and value than something in the CAAD line.

    Actually, it’s got company: Canyon’s new aluminium bike is quite amazing, as is the new Specialized Allez Race. Both feature nearly the same weights (1100g-1300g depending on size and finish). Giant recently launched a new Alu race frame with similar specs.

    If I were to buy a new frame here and now, it’d be one of those. For the money, they’re as light as the mid-range carbon and yet will come with better components.

24. @wiscot

    As an ex-TT man, chapeau on the ride and double chapeau on looking pro! What was the course like? Flat, hilly, lumpy? How was the wind? Traffic?

    Lumpy, but nothing significant. Strong winds, though – apparently the course record is nearly 3 minutes faster. I went at least 15km/h faster on the way back. One truck interfered with my run, and I passed a tractor on the ascent to the finish-line. Boy, what a sight it must’ve been for him – passed by a bike going 50km/h.

25. @Nate Cheers, I couldn’t resist that piece of bling on my bike. I may be a budgetatus, but it’s such a cool piece I couldn’t resist. I was pleasantly surprised that the Omega actually doe it’s job (mainly, braking) rather well, since I bought it with the line, “Brake less, go faster” in mind – a TT bike, after all. But once I figured out the installation quirks, it’s been great.

26. @frank

    I feel like the 105 brakes I had in the late 80s were more effective than the current ones. I’ve had both the black and salmon Kool Stops on the new ones, and I still have to squeeze harder than I used to.  Maybe it’s just ’cause I’m fatter and more scared and have the first little happy twinkles of arthritis in my hands…

27. @freddy

    Did Paris to Ancaster on the Fango this weekend.

    Re post-race Marinoni Fango pic–Columbus Zona frame is pretty awesome!

28. @PeakInTwoYears

    @frank

    I feel like the 105 brakes I had in the late 80s were more effective than the current ones. I’ve had both the black and salmon Kool Stops on the new ones, and I still have to squeeze harder than I used to. Maybe it’s just ’cause I’m fatter and more scared and have the first little happy twinkles of arthritis in my hands…

    I have new 105 shifters and brakes on my Trek, with stock 105 pads, and I cannot imagine ever needing more stopping power.

29. @Dan_R

    @Cyclops Use the KVA, it can be brazed if you want.

    @freddy Outstanding! (I’m a Marinoni dealer…)

    @tessar Well done! Chapeau.

    @Deakus Here are my additions…Disclaimer, for those that do not know, I own Cafe Roubaix

    Australia – Apollo

    Italian – Bottecchia (in the process of a relaunch now that Bottecchia USA (BD) has been finally killed), Sarto, Strada Dedacciai
    Germany – Stevens

    Spanish – BH
    USA – Deacon!, Veloforma
    Canadian – Marinoni, Davinci
    Belgium – Zannata
    France – Time
    UK – ?
    Taiwan – Trigon

    My suggestion, find something interesting. It can be done on your budget.

    105 is a great Group-san for the money. I try to build nothing “less.”

    FUCK I forgot DEACON!!! My grovelling apologies….

30. @razmaspaz

    I don’t feel like I’m needing more stopping power. Just that my old hands have to squeeze a bit harder, when on the hoods, than I remember them ever having to with the old ones. I think there was a run of really good 105 brakes back in the day, and I was one of the lucky ones.

    All you youngsters shoulda been there…I’m tellin’ ya…

31. 10 pence worth on the whole european boutique vs. maintstream satan’s bottom discussion.

    Last year some may recall I test rode a brace of stupid carbon: from wilier cento 1 to cannondale supersix evo, bianchi oltre ( and sempre) to trek 5.9; from specialised SL3 to focus izalco team. all with either red, super record 11 or DA 7900. yeah – alot of fun, swooning, dreaming ….

    I was the evangelist for all things euro and boutique. No way was I going mainstream (despite the fact the best bike I test rode was the Trek….).

    I bought the bianchi sempre ( with  super record 11 ), second hand from my LBS. sweet bike, sweet price. I rode it hard, every day. I loved it, cared for it and suffered on it – til the day the driveside chainstay cracked. No reason – just an inconspicuous event. Too much V being laid down obviously – anyway, no replacement guarantee and the LBS let me down ( offered a compromised solution ).

    I now ride this – and it is fucking magnificent. Before anyone asks,  I am swapping out the stem and saddle, getting the steerer cut and have plans for new wheels. But as a stock off the floor ride away machine – it’s a flawless ride.

    

    I can safely say this equal to and in some instances twice the bike at a half to one third the price of all those I tested.

    And DA 9000? Best mech group ever made.  My opinion – but campy are having their asses handed to them by shimano about now on groupset front – and in the wheels department.

    I love Gianni and his wood fired kiln as much as the next guy – but when it comes to carbon, there are multiple compelling reasons they all outsource and contract manufacture to the Taiwanese. I want the assurance, value and quality that the mainstream Taiwanese operations offer – and for that, you cannot get past Trek and Giant ( IMO ).

    there you go. It’s like turning to the dark side. But  with the dark side being this good; making me That Happy; and costing a fraction of the competition ( still alot, I know… ) – embrace it, I say.

    I still have my no.2 for soul:

    

32. And nobody mentions CINELLI?!

    Mine goes on Campy Veloce. Sweet ride.

33. @wiscot

    @Deakus

    @tessar

    I’m quite partial to remaining on the metal side of things when it comes to my road-biikes. I ride a somewhat aged Trek 1.2, now shod with a mix of Ultegra and old Dura-Ace, and I’m quite pleased with it. Post-graduation plans are either an all-Magnesium Segal (my family owns three already and they’re great frames), or a titanium steed, half-brushed half-painted with JPS Lotus accents – black and golden. The Segals in particular have that industrial look to them with the welding, the bracing and reinforcements all visible.

    On a somewhat different note, my other bike, the Felt, carried me to victory in a local TT this weekend. 22 Kilometres, out-and-back, all-out to the paincave. 34 minutes and 19 seconds of wasp-inhaling, front-hub-staring madness. Boom.

    

    Congratulations…oh yes I forgot FELT in my list…they from the US?

    As an ex-TT man, chapeau on the ride and double chapeau on looking pro! What was the course like? Flat, hilly, lumpy? How was the wind? Traffic?

    Missed out on a used bargain when I was looking for a good bike for my budget conscious nephew. The beautiful titanium LaPierre that Brad McGee ride to his Olympic gold medal. Half paint (blue),half polished metal. Fully restored, with new  gears 105), bar, saddle, wheels and tyres, et, etc. would you believe $A900. Sold by a friend two hours before I knew about it. Perfect size for nephew, too big for me.

34. @DocBrian you have mentioned this bike before. It could not have been the one that McGee rode to Olympic Gold. Like all the Aussie distance team, he would have been riding a carbon BT. He medalled (Silver and Gold that year) on the track FFS.

    The Lapierres FDJ rode that year (they were shit IMO) were carbon. The bike you are looking at may have been some sort of re-branded Ti beauty that McGee may have ridden – but I doubt it was made by Lapierre (probably a good thing) and I doubt it was ridden anywhere near a real race…

35. To clarify, not the shitty US BT brand, the fantastic Australian Bike Technologies brand!

    

36. @DocBrian 3 more minutes on google led me to this – must be the bike you speak of. So it was used in TTs on the road – in 2003 – I apologise. But it wouldnt have won him an medal in Athens but it appears it was the one that won him a Tour prologue (thanks for the chain drop Millar!)! 

    And I would bet my left one (COTHO said this once) that it was made by someone other than Lapierre.

    

37. His 2004 TT bike.

    
    My fave McGee photo – originally in Fyxo or Cyclingtips – cant remember which. Dont try this at home kids.

    

38. @Dan_R

    Used – you can get great deals with a used bike or frame set, just caveat emptor.

    @the-farmer for your budget this is the way to go, my first road bike when I got back into riding 4 years ago was a GT Series 2R 105, less than half retail but so few kms on it that the little rubber “storks” ? on the tyres had not even worn off! Not only that but his wife who was selling his bike also threw in his shoes, shorts, pump, multi-tool, bidons, gloves and helmet. I had to apologise to him when I picked up the shoes from him at work!

    There are loads of these deals lying around in basements just waiting for the “Boss” to get sick of tripping over them!

39. And sorry to go on (I am a bit of a tragic about McGee – incidentally, his inability to make the full progression to GC rider is another reason to be sus on Wiggins…) but note the 2004 unbranded carbon TT bike – am guessing that was made by Teschner…

40. @Marcus

    And sorry to go on (I am a bit of a tragic about McGee – incidentally, his inability to make the full progression to GC rider is another reason to be sus on Wiggins…) but note the 2004 unbranded carbon TT bike – am guessing that was made by Teschner…

    Marcus, I’ll check with his brothers, Craig and Rod, who run our LBS, on Brad’s bike, also with Jake Byrne who sold the bike.nBrian

41. @Marcus

    To clarify, not the shitty US BT brand, the fantastic Australian Bike Technologies brand!

    

    Brad’s BT was on display in McGees some months ago. If I can I’ll get a photo of it.

42. @Winelli

    And nobody mentions CINELLI?!

    Mine goes on Campy Veloce. Sweet ride.

    I totally meant to say Cinelli too. I have 6 frame sets and two complete bikes (Zydeco CX with 105, and Seatta RC with Ultegra) in the show room. The paint scheme on the WYSIWYG is sweet, and the Strada Wired is waiting for someone with Super Record EPS monies…

43. @Deakus No grovelling required. Just reps of V

44. @DocBrian
    cool – Tour prologue > Olympic track gold anyway IMO.

    So I know what i would be putting on the sales spiel.

    If it was the frame that won him the 03 prologue I would buy that muthafucka for a lot more than $900 just to hang it on the wall.

45. @smithers By all means go for the bike that rids best but failures happen to mainstream bikes too – just because they come from Taiwan they don’t keep all the best carbon for themselves.

    This is the bike of a friend of mine. First he had a minor crash and they repaired the seatpost then he took it on a plane and this happened. In my view it’s a design flaw – the heavy slope of the top tube and the big integrated seatpost are not compatible.

    

    Both mainstream and boutique have their merits but they all have problems as well.

46. Speaking of carbon failure, my team mates BMC after a dust up last weekend.

    

47. 

    So, I pulled the trigger, yesterday. Still has to go back to the LBS to get the bars switched and the cables trimmed up. Not in love with the lime green, but apparently, they aren’t moving, so I was able to drive a pretty hard bargain. Coming off of a 2.1 that I had lightened considerably with carbon bars and the Mavic wheels you see here. Rode 100K on it on Sunday. This thing climbs like a spider monkey. VMH has been an incredible sport, but if she sees a charge from the LBS anytime soon, I’m pretty sure I’ll be sleeping in the garage with the bikes.

48. @Spun Up What if you managed to put a polished alloy crank on there, instead of that anodized monstrosity?  It would work a lot better with the lime green, I reckon.

49. @Nate

    @Spun Up What if you managed to put a polished alloy crank on there, instead of that anodized monstrosity? It would work a lot better with the lime green, I reckon.

    I’m with you, and I think it would hide wear better, too. I’m thinking that this finish is going to show every little scratch. Was wondering about a white seat mast, as well.

    I’d better be able to switch them out for free or just live with them for a while because I really am pushing the limit with the VMH, “We could go to Belize for a long weekend for what you just paid for that bike…”

50. @Marcus

    @DocBrian
    cool – Tour prologue > Olympic track gold anyway IMO.

    So I know what i would be putting on the sales spiel.

    If it was the frame that won him the 03 prologue I would buy that muthafucka for a lot more than $900 just to hang it on the wall.

    Marcus, the titanium framed bike I missed out on was the one Brad won the seventh stage of the Tour on. Brian

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