Touring on titanium frame?
08-03-18, 11:10 AM
#51
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Location: Madison, WI
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Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
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When I bought my Backroad frame, Lynskey wanted over $300 for their fork that was fitted for disc brakes. I had an old LHT fork in the basement for rim brakes. The axle to crown length and the fork rake (or offset) was close to the same, so I decided to use the LHT fork. Handles well. I painted the fork black after stripping off the decals.
I also tried a Soma fork (also rim brake), and it worked fine too. I could not tell the difference between the Soma fork and the LHT fork. This is the fork I tried.
https://www.treefortbikes.com/Soma-F...oss-Fork-Canti
The Soma fork had low rider rack mounts on the outside of the fork blades, but not on the inside. For most things that is not a problem but if you wanted to use a rack like a Tubus Duo, the Soma fork would not work.
All of the photos above were with the LHT fork. The LHT forks have changed over the years, mine was a 2004 vintage.
I also tried a Soma fork (also rim brake), and it worked fine too. I could not tell the difference between the Soma fork and the LHT fork. This is the fork I tried.
https://www.treefortbikes.com/Soma-F...oss-Fork-Canti
The Soma fork had low rider rack mounts on the outside of the fork blades, but not on the inside. For most things that is not a problem but if you wanted to use a rack like a Tubus Duo, the Soma fork would not work.
All of the photos above were with the LHT fork. The LHT forks have changed over the years, mine was a 2004 vintage.
08-03-18, 02:39 PM
#52
Junior Member
Well its not a Linksys, but here is my new Titanium frame Motobecane. I have been commuting with it for the last couple weeks and I really like it. It rides a bit stiffer but at the same time a little softer than my steel frame bike, if that makes any sense. I am planning a little 360 mile ride first of next week. I have no doubt it will make a decent touring bicycle.
I have a Axiom road bike rack mounted to the bike and it is rock solid. I used a mounting arm from another rack to attach the rack to one of the seat stay braze ons. I did not use the metal strip supplied with the rack that is suppose to attach the rack to the brake caliper on a rim brake road bike.
This bike has hydraulic disc brakes with briffters. I love hydraulic disc brakes, had them on one of my other bicycles- no comparison to rim brakes. It also has an 11 speed Ultegra cassette and derailleur.
I have a Axiom road bike rack mounted to the bike and it is rock solid. I used a mounting arm from another rack to attach the rack to one of the seat stay braze ons. I did not use the metal strip supplied with the rack that is suppose to attach the rack to the brake caliper on a rim brake road bike.
This bike has hydraulic disc brakes with briffters. I love hydraulic disc brakes, had them on one of my other bicycles- no comparison to rim brakes. It also has an 11 speed Ultegra cassette and derailleur.
08-03-18, 03:18 PM
#53
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08-03-18, 03:22 PM
#54
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Last edited by seeker333; 08-03-18 at 03:29 PM.
08-18-18, 07:01 AM
#55
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I am very happy with my Lynskey Backroad.
But, I will be the first to admit that a Titanium loaded touring bike makes little sense and is not very cost effective. Having a Titanium frame knocks maybe two pounds off the weight of the frame, but it still is a bike designed to carry a load. For example, my Backroad frame (not counting the fork) weighs less than the rear wheel with a tire on it because it still needs a set of wheels that are robust enough to handle a touring load. Once loaded down with camping gear, cutting a couple pounds off the frame weight is not really that noticeable.
I am glad I built it up, but I got a fantastic price on the frame. I would not have bought the frame at the manufacturer price.
But, I will be the first to admit that a Titanium loaded touring bike makes little sense and is not very cost effective. Having a Titanium frame knocks maybe two pounds off the weight of the frame, but it still is a bike designed to carry a load. For example, my Backroad frame (not counting the fork) weighs less than the rear wheel with a tire on it because it still needs a set of wheels that are robust enough to handle a touring load. Once loaded down with camping gear, cutting a couple pounds off the frame weight is not really that noticeable.
I am glad I built it up, but I got a fantastic price on the frame. I would not have bought the frame at the manufacturer price.
08-18-18, 08:28 AM
#56
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Bikes: 1961 Ideor, 1966 Perfekt 3 Speed AB Hub, 1994 Bridgestone MB-6, 2006 Airnimal Joey, 2009 Thorn Sherpa, 2013 Thorn Nomad MkII, 2015 VO Pass Hunter, 2017 Lynskey Backroad, 2017 Raleigh Gran Prix, 1980s Bianchi Mixte on a trainer. Others are now gone.
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Square taper crank (Campy Race Triple, changed two chainrings so it is 46/42/24) set up for half step plus granny gearing, bottom bracket is an Origin8 that has the Campy taper but Shimano tools work on it, quarter inch steel ball bearings in the rear hub (XT M756A), an older XT rear derailler that has worked well even thought it is from the 90s (M739), Sram 11/32 eight speed cassette, KMC eight speed chain, bar end shifters, don't recall what the front derailleur is, Dyad rims front and back (36 spoke rear, 32 front), Wheelsmith DB14 spokes and Sapim nipples, SP PV8 front hub with Luxos U headlamp and USB charger, Planet Bike 45mm wide fenders, for touring a Tara front rack and RackTime AddIt rear rack, 35 or 37 mm tires (Schwalbe or Hutchinson). Front fork is a 2004 LHT 700c with V brakes on it. Pedals, A530 that take SPD cleats on one side, platform on the other.
The Lynskey is the only bike I have with a disc brake, only the rear is disc, it is a TRP Spyre 160mm. Uses a commonly available Shimano pad.
Some of the above parts are up to 20 years old, but if it is as good as the new stuff, I see no reason to avoid the old stuff.
Originally I had a Brooks Pro saddle with suspension seatpost but now have a Brooks Conquest with generic seatpost, I wanted to put the Pro on a different bike and bought a new Conquest for the Lynskey.
For simplicity most of my bikes use an eight speed chain with the same quick links and most of my derailleur bikes use the same Sram 11/32 cassette. Makes it a lot easier when you have lots of bikes to try to standardize on expendable supplies.
I leave town Monday for several weeks, so if any other questions are asked they might not get answered promptly. Will not have any cell or wifi access.
08-22-18, 10:47 PM
#58
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Bikes: Trek 520 total custom build, Cannondale Mountain Tandem, Oryx Mountain Bike
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We had a guy tour across Canada on Ti. He loved it and I was jealous. Stupid light and I was on a 520. No comparison. If I could start all over, I'd buy his bike!
