People notice a titanium frame because they know you spent a lot of money on it. That doesn't mean they want one. Middle aged guys who are serious cyclists but not that fast like them because they last a long time, and they can build them with a comfortable geometry, and S&S couplers. At least that's why I have one.
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Originally Posted by JohnDThompson
(Post 21078618)
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 indyfabz
(Post 21078533)
Same here. I am wearing shorts in the office.
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Originally Posted by datlas
(Post 21078711)
Shorts, not bibs?? :innocent:
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Originally Posted by Banzai
(Post 21078667)
lust for a new steel roadie
It feels really weird. -Tim- |
Originally Posted by noodle soup
(Post 21078397)
Many of those pros had them painted to look like the steel frameset from their team's sponser, but they were usually made by Merlin or Litespeed.
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Originally Posted by kingston
(Post 21078691)
People notice a titanium frame because they know you spent a lot of money on it. Middle aged guys who are serious cyclists but not that fast like them because they last a long time, and they can build them with a comfortable geometry, and S&S couplers. At least that's why I have one.
I opted for titanium with no paint to chip. My titanium frame still looks better after 22 years than my last steel frame did 8. |
I am the odd guy out. I am not a pro rider or ever were even close. I am not a doctor, dentist, or even a lawyer but wow I like my titanium Habanero. It weighs about 1 pound more than my Wilier but I could swap wheels and it would be close. It rides smoother and livelier than the CF and much, much quieter. That is the real thing I notice. My Ti makes no sound at all and CF bikes tend to make much more racket over bumps and bumpy roads.
I think it is the cleric in me...…….we deacons might need to preach a bit so noise gets in the way during a ride. But on the serious side Ti can be had at a really good price now I think, look at Lynskey. |
Originally Posted by deacon mark
(Post 21078822)
I am the odd guy out. I am not a pro rider or ever were even close. I am not a doctor, dentist, or even a lawyer but wow I like my titanium Habanero. It weighs about 1 pound more than my Wilier but I could swap wheels and it would be close. It rides smoother and livelier than the CF and much, much quieter. That is the real thing I notice. My Ti makes no sound at all and CF bikes tend to make much more racket over bumps and bumpy roads.
I think it is the cleric in me...…….we deacons might need to preach a bit so noise gets in the way during a ride. But on the serious side Ti can be had at a really good price now I think, look at Lynskey. |
Does this mean that Ti bikes do not have buzzy rear hubs. People keep talking about how quiet they are.
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Originally Posted by seypat
(Post 21079081)
Does this mean that Ti bikes do not have buzzy rear hubs. People keep talking about how quiet they are.
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Simple answer is in this question: When did pros get to choose what they ride.
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Originally Posted by ksryder
(Post 21078560)
None of them are Cervelos, however, so I think they're going to yank his license.
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
(Post 21078533)
Same here. I am wearing shorts in the office.
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Met an intramural Branch Chief from the National Cancer Institute on my ride this morning. Yep...
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I ride a Merlin from about 2001. Massachusetts Merlin before Litespeed bought them. 18 years later it looks as good as it did new. Very comfortable and no, I am not a doctor or lawyer. You can buy a new Lynskey for a lot less than a better carbon frame. I also own and ride a carbon Orbea Orca. The Orca is a little bit lighter and feels a little bit stiffer but on the same 35 mile course, both will give me about the same ride time. I am not racing them. You don't have to spend the money on a Moots to have a nice titanium frameset.
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Originally Posted by Fox Farm
(Post 21080352)
I ride a Merlin from about 2001. Massachusetts Merlin before Litespeed bought them.
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Originally Posted by MyTi
(Post 21079456)
Simple answer is in this question: When did pros get to choose what they ride.
The only exception would be when a rider has a custom frame built up, and then painted in his team colors to make it look like the bikes frames the rest of the team rides. But you'll never see that rider making a big deal of the fact, fans aren't supposed to notice things like that. |
Ti starts out expensive...
Top Titanium Producing Countries in order: 1. China 2. Russia 3. Japan 4. Kazakhstan 5. Ukraine 6. India |
Originally Posted by brianmcg123
(Post 21078530)
Plus, it’s not a good business model to make bikes that “last forever”, as titanium seems to do.
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Originally Posted by seypat
(Post 21079081)
Does this mean that Ti bikes do not have buzzy rear hubs. People keep talking about how quiet they are.
Originally Posted by znomit
(Post 21079212)
They have to be quiet because the sonic waves from a noisy hub will crack the titanium welds. The solution is to always keep pedalling of course. The numerous reports of Ti failures are due to the lazy riders freewheeling.
When I say a quiet ride what I am referring to is more of the plush, muted ride that titanium frames offer. I never mentioned anything about a noisy freehub. I ride old school Dura Ace 7700 hubs on my titanium Veritas and they have a pretty silent freewheeling ratchet sound. But again, I was referring to a ride characteristic of a titanium frame in contrast to, say - a very stiff oversized aluminum frame. |
The riders at the very top do have a choice on what they ride. The rest just have to follow along. Specialized openly stated that would do whatever it takes ($$) to keep Sagan riding their bikes after Saxo Bank folded. I have also heard that the Trek frames in Lance’s size were a bit oddball because they were designed to fit Lance. I remember an interview with Michael Jordan where he was asked if he really liked Air Jordans. He said that Nike designs them to his exact specifications, so what’s not to like?
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Originally Posted by Sy Reene
(Post 21080444)
FYI.. 2001 Merlins were the first model year from the Chattanooga-relocated company that bought them (done in 2000 by American Bicycle Group, nee JHK Investments). Same parent company owner of Litespeed. fwiw, from 1998-2000, Merlin was owned by Saucony (the running shoe company).
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Originally Posted by MyTi
(Post 21079456)
When did pros get to choose what they ride.
Now the pros ride off the shelf frames from their sponsor. |
Originally Posted by Seattle Forrest
(Post 21079551)
You have to be a dev at Microsoft to own a Cervelo.
Originally Posted by brianmcg123
(Post 21078530)
Plus, it’s not a good business model to make bikes that “last forever”, as titanium seems to do.
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