Ultimate Bike Thread....

[CurtEgerer]

Thanks. I was wondering if it was in fact chrome (can Ti even be chromed?) or polished Ti.

[look 171]

I missed the Ti craze back in the mid 90s due to lack of funds. Plus, I raced on a Cannondale with the team discount it was 400 bucks. Ti frames were 1700-2000. One crash means packing it in and wait it out until I get pay again. to chase that dream, I bought an Merlin Extra Light last summer. Nice riding bikes, but they don't ride anything like a modern carbon ones which I like. They have the snappy feel about them. I take it on my training rides a few times.

[CurtEgerer]

Same here - didn't have the cash during the Ti craze. I did buy a very early LeMond Ti frame a few years ago but not sure I'll ever build it now (time & money to do it right!). There is a lot of controversy over who built these with many assuming it was Litespeed or Merlin. But on one forum, an ex-employee of Clark Kent stated that he personally prepared 100s of Ti frames for shipment to LeMond in the early days.

This may be some sort of Team frame but I haven't yet spent the time to measure it and see if it has non-production dimensions.

[look 171]

That's a nice frame. I think they also supplied the Mercury team with their Ti frames. I really thing there were a hand full of guys that were capable of welding them back in those days. Are you thinking about doing a period correct build? I would be afraid that Gitane with that much effort put into it.

[look 171]

I also wonder if your LeMond isn't a Litespeed? They usually have none round tubes to aide ride quality. I know most of the Merlins are straight tubes. There are smaller builders like Holland, Serotta, and Seven (later to the game) and Independent. Remember those Independent steel frames from the 90s? They were pretty.

[CurtEgerer]

There's so much conflicting info out there regarding the Ti frames that I'm really not sure who built it. If I build it up, it would be 100% period - so after building the Gitane I know exactly what that entails Probably 1-2 years just to find all the parts. And the Delta brakes right off the bat would do a good job of draining the budget ... might wind up as a wall-hanger.

[CurtEgerer]

Something really odd on these bikes is the frame pump mount on the back of the head tube. They were on both the Team bikes and the production bikes. This pic is of a verified LeMond-ridden team bike. Why would a team bike need a pump mount?

[look 171]

I question that being a "Real" team bike due to the pump peg. Who knows, they may be the real deal? Ian not sure bout' the Delta brakes? I never like them, side pulls are easy to service, and can be had all day long. I like Dura Ace 9 speed. if its a wall hanger, then Campy with those funky Deltas should be used. I have my Stuper Record group on my old Castai I raced on. I was able to source them over the years. Due to being dirt poor as a kid, I am only able to afford Suntour. Club discount, so I raced on that. Durable as heck too.

[look 171]

[look 171]

Another pic but not very sharp. its looks to be polished Ti with LeMond stickers (I assume)

[look 171]

After a more detail look, they sure look like Litespeeds due to what looks likes larger diameter near the bottom of the downtube

[CurtEgerer]

It is a verified Lemond-ridden team bike. Verified serial number by Tom Kellog and Merlin who built the first 16 team bikes. They all had the peg

[look 171]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

It is a verified Lemond-ridden team bike. Verified serial number by Tom Kellog and Merlin who built the first 16 team bikes. They all had the peg

Goddamn touring bike

[CurtEgerer]

Yup.

Here's a pic of the race frames at Merlin. Tough to see, but you can definitely see the air pump tab on the second frame. First frame is really small and can't tell. Very strange. Would they have carried pumps on training rides when there weren't support vehicles following them? This is back when they probably didn't really have separate race and training bikes - only 16 bikes for the entire team.

[look 171]

Just thinking about it, those LeMond in the pic must be early ones, early 90s based on the Z team. The Early Merlins has that stupid none-standard tiny BB. Does yours have the standard BB? I really like the Mercury team bikes.

I remember seeing Litespeeds rebadged as Peugeot ridden by Richard Rirenque and as Look on Alex Zellu.

I bet Ti frames was a welcoming sign for the pros who had to ride those alum. jobs day in and day out on those rough Belgium roads.

[look 171]

Curt, not sure if you have seen this yet. A little bit on the LeMond. Steel bike, but I see no frame peg in this one, only number tag brazed on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO2NrbEApIU

I have never been in this shop. He been there for, maybe 6-7 years? Now shop owner. I go by this place on my ride every Saturday, but have never been in it. its 10 min from my house. If you need me to check anything out for you, I am happy to go by and see it.

[CurtEgerer]

Nice video! That bike is a 1992 and is steel. The original Merlin Ti bikes were 1991. I'm not an expert in these by any means and have only begun some research.

[jwasbury]

Originally Posted by CurtEgerer

There's so much confl[IMG][/IMG]icting info out there regarding the Ti frames that I'm really not sure who built it. If I build it up, it would be 100% period - so after building the Gitane I know exactly what that entails Probably 1-2 years just to find all the parts. And the Delta brakes right off the bat would do a good job of draining the budget ... might wind up as a wall-hanger.

If you're interested in vintage parts, I've got a full Croce D'Aune kit including wheels (avec Delta brakes) mounted up on my Vitus 979 that I'm considering selling to help offset the cost of a Moots I am having built.

[CurtEgerer]

Wow, beautiful and exactly what I would need. Still not sure if I'm going to do a build or sell it. I bought the frame at a swap meet on a whim. Offered the guy a ridiculously low price and he called my bluff and accepted!


Paris Roubaix 1939:

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by mepstein

But check out the woman who just rode her bike to 184 mph. Big balls!

Cyclist reaches 184mph, breaking world record | Road Bike News, Reviews, and Photos

Not sure what's crazier: riding at 184MPH or getting towed to 100MPH