Ultimate Bike Thread....

[wayner]

Originally Posted by gatotom

My youngest son's Italian stallion

That's a hot bike.

Here is another rod my rest mods (after this pic I added carbon forks). Campy seems exotic so that what I used

(...but to Look's point, whatever I am using now is better than the lever shifters that these old bikes used to wear. I'm afraid to try something even better )

[jyl]

Hey - tell me about cheap but good Chinese carbon framesets.

How much are they; where do you get them; how do you know it is a good one?

[intakexhaust]

Originally Posted by jyl

Hey - tell me about cheap but good Chinese carbon framesets.

How much are they; where do you get them; how do you know it is a good one?

Good question's. I see many on fleabay and attractively priced. But then again, I wouldn't trust my life on one of the 'mystery' unlabeled China frames. There's quite a few good pics posted of simple fractured to full cutaway examples showing major issues. I don't know if rejects are sold out the back door or what the deal is but curious. With carbon fiber and regardless of where made, I'd rather spend the extra and go with a proven and quality inspected brand name.

[look 171]

John, for a little more money you can get a carbon frame from a reputable co. on sale for around 700 bucks. Its maybe 2010, or 2012 model instead of 2014. Big deal? Different stickers or color scheme? I see my Ridley on sale for 7-800 bucks on some adds, but I paid over 2k for it when it came out and sold through small local shops.

I am not sure if I trust a knock off plastic frame? They might have fallen off the back of a truck or left the factory before painting, who knows? I am sure they are great frames because a friend still race on one of them and it has held up fine for the past three years. I just get a little carry away when it comes to some of our training rides. Coming down the hills at full tilt, taking those turns at speed and coming off the saddle tweaking that frame just after the apex beating on it just scares me if it should break. I like to go to work the next with a little sore in my legs but not lose my teeth on a ride. I have been in some pretty good and bloody ones over the years and I don't need em' no more.

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by jyl

Hey - tell me about cheap but good Chinese carbon framesets.

How much are they; where do you get them; how do you know it is a good one?

There are more than 160 pages on RoadBikeReview's forums-google "Chinese Carbon Thread".

I know from my experience that HongFu does an excellent job. Dengfu also has a great rep. Stay away from vendors doing obvious knockoffs, they're not bad necessarily but you never know.

For wheels, Xiamen Farsports and Lightbicycle are good, there are others as well...

[CurtEgerer]

It's not always easy (and I was debating on whether to ride in a little rain today )

[look 171]

Hey I remember that picture in Winning. Taken after Roubaix.

Hey john, here's one for you. I think is fluffed up (or down)a little on the weight.

16.2 Pound 1980 Raleigh TI Team 753 - Fair Wheel Bikes

[look 171]

I really don't think they can shave 4 lbs off that bike in those years. Two lbs, maybe. that thing looks like a 57-58 cm, so it ain't no lil' bike.

[jyl]

Mine currently weighs 19.5 lb with all Super Record, Fiamme Ergal rims, tubulars, Brooks saddle with Ti rails, hollow pin steel chain.

One could:
- swap for a 200 g saddle (-250 g, all rough estimates or guesses here)
- all-alloy freewheel (-150 g)
- lightest tubulars (-100 g)
- thin butted spokes and alloy nipples (-160 g)
- lightest period bar and stem (-50 g guess)
- Ti skewers (-50 g guess)
- Ti and Al bolts everywhere (-100 g guess)
- cut post and stem short (-50 g guess)
- titanium chain (-80 g guess)

That's about 2.2 lb. Still 17.3 lb, rough estimate.

Maybe there are a few other things possible, like CLB aluminum cable housings or finding the rare Super Record hubs with Ti axles.

But I don't see how to reach 16.2 lb without replacing some of the Super Record components, or serious drilling and milling. Maybe he started with a 753 time trial frame which is a bit lighter than the 753 road race frame. Filled the tires and frame with helium. Dunno but I'd love to have the money and time to try it.

[greglepore]

I have a 19 lb Colnago and a 17 lbs custom steel bike. They both ride better than my 15lb carbon open mold, but in a different way. Horses for courses.

[CurtEgerer]

LeMond on a Raleigh Team Pro in 1979 ....

[jyl]

He rode Team Pros as a junior. There are some other pics of that. Which is interesting because it is never mentioned in the histories. From reading, you'd think he rode Della Santas until he went to Gitanes.

[jyl]

I think he said "it never gets easier, you just go faster".

It's not always easy (and I was debating on whether to ride in a little rain today )

[look 171]

Originally Posted by jyl

Mine currently weighs 19.5 lb with all Super Record, Fiamme Ergal rims, tubulars, Brooks saddle with Ti rails, hollow pin steel chain.

One could:
- swap for a 200 g saddle (-250 g, all rough estimates or guesses here)
- all-alloy freewheel (-150 g)
- lightest tubulars (-100 g)
- thin butted spokes and alloy nipples (-160 g)
- lightest period bar and stem (-50 g guess)
- Ti skewers (-50 g guess)
- Ti and Al bolts everywhere (-100 g guess)
- cut post and stem short (-50 g guess)
- titanium chain (-80 g guess)

That's about 2.2 lb. Still 17.3 lb, rough estimate.

Maybe there are a few other things possible, like CLB aluminum cable housings or finding the rare Super Record hubs with Ti axles.

But I don't see how to reach 16.2 lb without replacing some of the Super Record components, or serious drilling and milling. Maybe he started with a 753 time trial frame which is a bit lighter than the 753 road race frame. Filled the tires and frame with helium. Dunno but I'd love to have the money and time to try it.

Oh man, I tried to get my SL frame with the lightest parts possible within reason in the late 80s. I managed to get it down to 18 lbs. Any lighter its becomes unreliable or down right dangerous. Many pros rather finish a race then to have broken down equip only to have to chase back and waste lot-o- energy.

[CurtEgerer]

I had a custom frame built in 1979 with Columbus KL, pretty much Columbus' version of 753. It was one of the first 5 sets of KL in the US. Had the same frame sticker as regular Columbus back then. The bike was all Super Record with titanium BB axle, alloy freewheel, some drillium stuff, probably a few other minor lightweight items. That came in at 19lbs. The titanium BB and freewheel both lasted all of about 1 season. Don't think I could have made the bike lighter without really sacrificing reliability.

Originally Posted by jyl

I think he said "it never gets easier, you just go faster".

He did. That's my own take on that pic. And this one too

[CurtEgerer]

I have one piece left of that custom bike

[wayner]

Originally Posted by greglepore

I have a 19 lb Colnago and a 17 lbs custom steel bike. They both ride better than my 15lb carbon open mold, but in a different way. Horses for courses.

Thats exactly why I went and dug that blue velosport chromoly bike out of my brother in law's shed and built it up with modern campy components and wheels. (a few post earlier.

I'm old. What little flex it has feels good

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by jyl

Pictures don't do this bike justice. Went on a ride this AM with John, and I'm a little jealous, not only about the bike, but also because of his knowledge of C&V bikes in general. He's a true believer.

Thanks for the ride, John!

[jyl]

Well, becoming C&V myself makes it sort of inevitable. Fun ride, Mike! Hope you continued on to rack up miles (I bailed halfway through).

[look 171]

John, that is a really beautifully set up Raleigh. Stem almost slammed so you can get aero when pushing the wind, and also be comfortable for the many, many miles on the road. Is that a TTT or Cinelli stem? Oh, love the Benotto tape also.