Making my Ti bike a "trophy bike", deep cleaning, long-term storage, lessons learned
05-29-20, 11:33 AM
#51
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I mean, it is your bike and you should do what you want with it.
But if it were me, I'd put it up on a wall and take it out for casual coffee rides and such. In fact, I plan to do exactly that with a Colnago Master X Light frameset next year (am going to sell my current Lynskey for that).
But if it were me, I'd put it up on a wall and take it out for casual coffee rides and such. In fact, I plan to do exactly that with a Colnago Master X Light frameset next year (am going to sell my current Lynskey for that).
I don't think I will ever afford to get such a nice bike again, so I want to keep it pristine.
05-29-20, 11:35 AM
#52
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Sweet bike!
I rode a Merlin MTB around 1990 and knew from that half mile ride that titanium in a custom road frame was it for me. 2007 I landed the job and could afford it. Lived in Portland, OR and a local ti builder had been making me custom stems, I'd gotten to know a shop owner that dealt his frames and saw them around. Ordered up that custom. I still love it! Ordered another, rather different fix gear from the same builder several years later.
Yup, ti is the the ride! Both of mine have steel forks as did that MTB Merlin I rode. I feel like steel there is a sweet mach to the ti frame. Kept having doubts as the bike was being built but first ride confirmed that the steel fork was right.
Ben
I rode a Merlin MTB around 1990 and knew from that half mile ride that titanium in a custom road frame was it for me. 2007 I landed the job and could afford it. Lived in Portland, OR and a local ti builder had been making me custom stems, I'd gotten to know a shop owner that dealt his frames and saw them around. Ordered up that custom. I still love it! Ordered another, rather different fix gear from the same builder several years later.
Yup, ti is the the ride! Both of mine have steel forks as did that MTB Merlin I rode. I feel like steel there is a sweet mach to the ti frame. Kept having doubts as the bike was being built but first ride confirmed that the steel fork was right.
Ben
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05-29-20, 11:47 AM
#55
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I don't fully get where you are going with mothballing the bike. Keep it out, ride it. Sure, get a new bike better suited to your current situation but why put it away???? I ride my 2000 Merlin Ti bike that looks very very similar to your Seven all of the time. I have 15 years ago put on a compact crank when I moved from Michigan to Utah and now here in Central Europe (Czech Republic) it works super fine with the big hills. It is more comfy than my lighter Orbea Orca, not as light weight, but a real honey to ride, and I do. In this day and age, riding up next to someone while you are on a Ti bike, American made with lots of American parts and Italian drive train really is fun, in this world of carbon bikes with Shimano. People here (in Europe) ask me where the hell I came from. I could not imagine retiring the bike, just making upgrades to parts as they wear out, which they really don;t other than tires, chain, cassettes, brake pads, bar tape.
RIDE THAT DAMN BIKE!
RIDE THAT DAMN BIKE!
05-29-20, 11:55 AM
#56
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Well, because beautiful paintings are usually hung on walls for people to look at - the painting is being "used" as it's supposed to be used. But all that being said - your bike, your plan. I hope your cycling situation improves so you can break it out again - that'll be some unwrapping!
05-29-20, 11:55 AM
#57
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I have a trophy bike. It's the Cervelo S1 that was... not my first road bike, but the first one that "stuck", and is the one I rode for most of my tri career.
Right now it's being rebuilt into a dedicated trainer-only bike so that it never, ever has to retire and can be part of my cycling career for the foreseeable future.
Right now it's being rebuilt into a dedicated trainer-only bike so that it never, ever has to retire and can be part of my cycling career for the foreseeable future.
05-29-20, 11:58 AM
#58
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Neat that you want to save your favorite bike.
It makes totally sense why you want a new bike, even if this is your favorite of all time. While a drivetrain can be changed to match the terrain, a tire size can't always be changed. 25mm tires on stone paths and gravel isn't ideal, so retire this and buy new. Makes sense.
...entombing your favorite bike is the confusing part. Why not clean then and hang it on a wall for you to see and enjoy? Placing it in a coffin just seems to defeat the purposes of a bike(to be ridden or admired).
But its your world, man.
It makes totally sense why you want a new bike, even if this is your favorite of all time. While a drivetrain can be changed to match the terrain, a tire size can't always be changed. 25mm tires on stone paths and gravel isn't ideal, so retire this and buy new. Makes sense.
...entombing your favorite bike is the confusing part. Why not clean then and hang it on a wall for you to see and enjoy? Placing it in a coffin just seems to defeat the purposes of a bike(to be ridden or admired).
But its your world, man.
05-29-20, 12:01 PM
#59
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Wow! I'm quite compulsive about keeping my bikes clean and nice, and have several that are seldom ridden, but I've never considered doing this. But I don't have anything near this fancy, and understand everyone is different. I personally would want to at least be able to see any retired bike I'm keeping.
Your bike certainly is now clean and well protected for the future, whatever it may hold. Well done.
Your bike certainly is now clean and well protected for the future, whatever it may hold. Well done.
I would have let it sit fully assembled, but I put it in a box in case I need to move again. That way it has a nice safe home and I can just roll away with the box.
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05-29-20, 12:15 PM
#61
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Your bike, so do what you want, but I don't get it at all. It's like the guy that buys a sports car and never drives it, it just sits in the garage.
Ride it, enjoy it, replace things when they wear out. I'm thinking about getting a ti bike, just for the fact that I can ride the hell out of it and worry less about it than I do with the beautiful paint jobs on my carbon bikes.
Ride it, enjoy it, replace things when they wear out. I'm thinking about getting a ti bike, just for the fact that I can ride the hell out of it and worry less about it than I do with the beautiful paint jobs on my carbon bikes.
05-29-20, 12:19 PM
#62
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Your bike, so do what you want, but I don't get it at all. It's like the guy that buys a sports car and never drives it, it just sits in the garage.
Ride it, enjoy it, replace things when they wear out. I'm thinking about getting a ti bike, just for the fact that I can ride the hell out of it and worry less about it than I do with the beautiful paint jobs on my carbon bikes.
Ride it, enjoy it, replace things when they wear out. I'm thinking about getting a ti bike, just for the fact that I can ride the hell out of it and worry less about it than I do with the beautiful paint jobs on my carbon bikes.
05-29-20, 12:23 PM
#63
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05-29-20, 12:28 PM
#64
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LOL, This "basic" bike frame was, and still is, the best Ti frame that money can buy. Care to explain what is "basic" about it, and what you consider as "really special"?
05-29-20, 12:32 PM
#66
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There is no damage. I rode it on a long loop just before cleaning and packing it up. That's because I didn't ride it in bad weather to begin with.
05-29-20, 12:34 PM
#67
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If it's YOUR painting you can do what you want with it, of course. Just saying that most of us don't "get" the point of stashing it away.
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05-29-20, 12:39 PM
#68
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What you should do, to indulge your new-found appreciation for bike building, is strip the bike down to the frame (you already dismantled the cockpit, so you've made a start), mothball the complete "fair weather" component set and re-equip the frame with a whole new set - beefier wheels, lower gearing, suspension seat post if you like that sort of thing - maybe not quite as fancy as your current kit, 'cos it's going to get worn - and ride it. It's custom - you love it etc, but it's bare Ti, nothing's going to happen to it. If/whenever your cycling conditions improve, buff out any scratches, apply a new decal set and put all the good stuff back on - presto! your trophy bike again! I did something similar to my 20-year-old, >50,000-mile not-babied Ti frame - cleaned it up, added new decals, and it looks like it just left the showroom. In this instance, you really can have your cake and eat it.
But, also the frame cannot take tires/wheels bigger than 25mm. And also, it doesn't sound right to put less fancy component set on a custom Ti frame. And since I can't afford a new fancy groupset, I would rather get a cheaper frame with cheaper components and ride it.
05-29-20, 12:40 PM
#69
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Bad analogy. That's like taking a beautiful painting and instead of hanging it on the wall, putting it in a box and hiding it in the attic.
If it's YOUR painting you can do what you want with it, of course. Just saying that most of us don't "get" the point of stashing it away.
If it's YOUR painting you can do what you want with it, of course. Just saying that most of us don't "get" the point of stashing it away.
I get that most people don't get why I'm doing this. It's just my way of safeguarding the most expensive thing I have, out of emotional attachment. I don't have a fancy car or fancy clothes. This is the one fancy thing I have, and I'm just over-protective of it.
05-29-20, 12:51 PM
#70
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Even if you don't want to ride the bike, I wouldn't box it up where you never even have the enjoyment of looking at it.
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05-29-20, 12:56 PM
#71
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Taking a trip and/or shipping the bike and having some BF fun while he's at it.
Tell me....Is my bike protected and boxed up because I am putting it away in storage forever or because I flew to Italy with it?
BTW...Any idea what that BuxumBox retails for these days? Pretty pricey "tomb."
Tell me....Is my bike protected and boxed up because I am putting it away in storage forever or because I flew to Italy with it?
BTW...Any idea what that BuxumBox retails for these days? Pretty pricey "tomb."
But, yeah, the reason I packed it so carefully is because it's good and ready if I need to move. It serves the double purpose of keeping the bike safe and ready for moving if needed.
05-29-20, 01:09 PM
#72
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I've spent hours in bike shops looking at welds, and none of the mass manufacturers care about the welds. Even other Ti frames have ugly welds, either all smoothed out or big lumps. So I would say all in all, Seven frames are pretty special.
05-29-20, 01:23 PM
#73
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I guess your definition of "basic" and "special" are different. Seven only makes custom bikes, so unless you and I are exactly matched up in body dimensions and riding preferences, mine is a unique bike and so will yours. But also, if you've observed Seven's welds, you would know why they are so special. Those welds are so perfect, no extra material, perfectly shaped beautiful crescent moons overlapping.
I've spent hours in bike shops looking at welds, and none of the mass manufacturers care about the welds. Even other Ti frames have ugly welds, either all smoothed out or big lumps. So I would say all in all, Seven frames are pretty special.
I've spent hours in bike shops looking at welds, and none of the mass manufacturers care about the welds. Even other Ti frames have ugly welds, either all smoothed out or big lumps. So I would say all in all, Seven frames are pretty special.
05-29-20, 01:26 PM
#74
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05-29-20, 01:31 PM
#75
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Now what I just don't ever understand, and never will, is painting titanium.
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