Why did Titanium not take off amongst Pros?
this thought just popped into my head recently.
It seems like Titanium frames are the hot ticket these days. even riders who are mainly riding modern carbon bikes drool over titanium it seems. and they sell for a significant premium over similar quality steel frames. so then why did titanium never (as far as I know) become popular among pro riders (during the pre-carbon years).? was there ever a pro team riding titanium frames? |
Ti is not the hot ticket these days. Carbon fiber can be made stronger, lighter and cheaper. Although today's top of the line carbon frames are pricey, frames that match the weight of a Ti frame are now relatively cheap.
I've only owned one Ti frame, a Litespeed Ultimate with a bladed down tube. I thought the ride was too stiff. I didn't keep it long. One other thing I noticed after coming back to cycling last year after an 8 year hiatus, is that what used to be the lightest frame from a big company like LOOK, was now the weight of a much cheaper frame, the 785 Huez. The pricey frame is quite a bit lighter - the 785 Huez RS. |
Many pros used Titanium in the 90s and early 00s. But it’s popularity was brief. The Carbon Fiber Wave took over.
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lol wut
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What, doctors and dentists aren't professionals?
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Titanium was never popular with the manufacturers that sponsor pro bike teams
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Originally Posted by cb400bill
(Post 21078192)
Many pros used Titanium in the 90s and early 00s. But it’s popularity was brief. The Carbon Fiber Wave took over.
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Too expensive to build, not many manufacturers could afford to help sponsor a team, plus the team sponsors had to paint the frames from XX manufacturer to look like steel manufacturer YY. Then carbon took off.
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Originally Posted by MoAlpha
(Post 21078210)
What, doctors and dentists aren't professionals?
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Anyone want to see a rare photo of my ti bike? :D
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 21078519)
You left out lawyers. Still, you win Bikeforums for today.
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It did in the 90s, before carbon came in. The big killer was when titanium prices skyrocketed. That made it a no brainer for bike companies to go to carbon. A lot cheaper to manufacture.
Plus, it’s not a good business model to make bikes that “last forever”, as titanium seems to do. |
Originally Posted by ksryder
(Post 21078525)
To be fair I'm frequently unprofessional.
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 21078533)
Same here. I am wearing shorts in the office.
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 21078519)
You left out lawyers. Still, you win Bikeforums for today.
We're 2 for 2 on the docs I'm aware of, but I haven't seen anyone here cop to being a dentist. |
Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 21078524)
Anyone want to see a rare photo of my ti bike? :D
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 21078524)
Anyone want to see a rare photo of my ti bike? :D
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Originally Posted by ksryder
(Post 21078535)
That's nothing, I'm wasting government time on some silly internet bike forum!
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Originally Posted by MoAlpha
(Post 21078537)
Sorry, I realized that the moment I saw your "like." Why don't you post a pic or something.
We're 2 for 2 on the docs I'm aware of, but I haven't seen anyone here cop to being a dentist. |
Originally Posted by MoAlpha
(Post 21078554)
I'm wasting government time and taking off my clothes in my office in preparation to ride home at 1500 hrs on my Ti doctor bike.
None of them are Cervelos, however, so I think they're going to yank his license. |
Originally Posted by MoAlpha
(Post 21078537)
We're 2 for 2 on the docs I'm aware of, but I haven't seen anyone here cop to being a dentist.
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Titanium is expensive and requires specialized skills to work with. Carbon fiber is a much cheaper, lighter, and more versatile material.
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Originally Posted by ksryder
(Post 21078560)
The dentist that I ride with just bought two new carbon bikes, one road, one gravel, so I guess he's not riding his Ti bike anymore.
None of them are Cervelos, however, so I think they're going to yank his license. |
Really? I kind of feel like Ti is pretty dead. Fewer offerings on the market, and not a lot of widespread “bike lust” for it.
I personally know more people with bike lust for a new steel roadie than for Ti. |
Originally Posted by Banzai
(Post 21078667)
Really? I kind of feel like Ti is pretty dead. Fewer offerings on the market, and not a lot of widespread “bike lust” for it.
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