Barrettscv 

Congrats on the new Ti bike.

I added a made-by-Lynskey Planet X Ti bike this winter and it has exceeded my expectations.

It rides as comfortably as my steel-framed bikes but offers great response to climbing and sprinting input. It really is a worthwhile upgrade.

Michael

deadly downtube

yah get a steel touring frame, if it breaks on a tour, any guy who can weld can repair it and get you back on the road!

akansaskid

Nice frame, Machka! I'm assuming it's not marketed as a touring frame, as I see no rack and fender eyelets and bosses. I'm wondering if there even are Ti touring-specific frames? Anyone know?

I know your bike meant a lot to you, but think of it as an opportunity for this gorgeous Ti bike! And, yes, pics of the build as it comes along.

Machka 

This titanium bicycle will not be a touring bicycle ... it will be a randonneuring/audax/long-distance bicycle.

And the more I think about it, the more I like the British Racing Green idea.

AngryScientist 

care to explain the general difference between a touring bike and a long-distance bike? i thought these terms were used pretty much synonymously?

Machka 

No ... long distance cycling is quite different from touring.

Touring is when you load up panniers full of travel gear onto a rear (and possibly front) rack, and set off on an adventure where you ride, generally, less than 100 km a day over a weekend or several days, weeks, or months. For touring you want a strong, comfortable bicycle with the capability to carry fairly heavy loads.

Long distance cycling (especially the randonneuring type of long distance cycling) is when you try to cover a very long distance in a relatively short period of time. For example, the 300 km brevet has a time limit of 20 hours, including all breaks ... the 600 km brevet has a time limit of 40 hours ... the 1200 km has a time limit of 90 hours. Long distance cycling is more about day events (i.e. a double century, a brevet, or a 24-hour race) or "all-at-once" events (i.e. 1200 km randonnee, Furnace Creeek 508, or RAAM). For long distance cycling you want a comfortable yet relatively light, fast bicycle.

I believe it was coasting who brought up the topic of "sportive" bicycles. "Sportive" bicycles are also known as "sports touring" bicycles, or "audax" bicycles. They have a geometry that is somewhere between that of a touring bicycle and a racing bicycle. They are designed for long distance cycling. And that's what Machak is ... and what I want my new bicycle to be.

I do both long distance cycling and touring ... although I tend to do more long distance cycling than I do touring.

AngryScientist 

ahh, thanks for the explanation. i get it. from my recent experience with a new Ti bike, it sounds like it is perfectly suited to your needs. cheers!

Machka 

I debating between silver and black rims. I took a look at the Post Your Titaniums thread (https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Your-Titaniums), and both look good.

AngryScientist 

what type of wheels are you considering?

Machka 

Mavic Open Pro ... most likely.

USAZorro

When life hands you lemons....

Got a name for this one yet?

Kahcam?

Drag

Very nice to see you're not letting the loss of your bike stop you from riding. All the best to you!

Machka 

I can't stop riding just like that ... I've been riding "seriously" (regularly, with purpose ... as opposed to occasionally and casually) for almost 20 years. In fact, I celebrate my 20 year anniversary on April 29th, the day I made the decision to start riding "seriously", and went out on the first of thousands of subsequent rides.


I have wanted a titanium bicycle for years, and it is kind of exciting to have Rowan build one with my input, etc. ....... but I'm having some trouble getting really enthusiastic. My heart isn't in it yet. It is probably a good thing we're building it slowly. So no, I haven't decided on a name, although Kahcam is an idea I will consider.

On the build front ... the brakes arrived today. Ultegra caliper road brakes.

So now I've got:
-- frame
-- bottle cages
-- pedals
-- brakes
-- seat post clamp
-- spacers

patentcad

I was unaware there was such a thing as 'serious' riding.

FreddyV

But on the other hand... It's only you who's not riding seriously...

Machka 

One thing we're having a bit of difficulty tracking down is a fork. I would like to go with steel, but steel forks seem to be rather rare. We have tracked some down from St. John Street Cycles.

I have my eye on this one, perhaps ... in dark green ...
https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-T...Fork-17674.htm

Tomorrow will be a shopping run. We're planning to head into Melbourne and have a look at several shops.

FreddyV

That's quite a nice fork. Are the eyelets for mounting front rack and fender?

Machka 

Yes ... and there are light mounts as well. I'm not sure that I'd run a front rack with this bicycle, but I do like front fenders.

AngryScientist 

kona makes a pretty nice one, we put one on a friends bike, its a well made piece and a great price.

https://store.comcycle-usa.com/Produc...spx?id=5860911

Machka 

Well ... on the shopping run tomorrow we'll have a look to see if there are any like that here in Australia. Shipping between NA and Australia is cost prohibitive ... it costs way too much to get anything from a US source.

But, that Kona fork looks pretty straight, not much of a curve (rake?) ... I think I'd want more of a curve.

FreddyV

A curved fork does create a bit more of a comfortable ride due to a little longer wheelbase (as the rake is normally a little longer) and a bit more shock absorbtion. A straight fork with less rake would make it more directly responding to steering and would take a bit of comfort away.

Basically, for a long distance bike I would want a bit more comfort and I would go with a curved fork instead of a straight one. For a short ride I'd go with a little less comfort and a straight fork.

Machka 

We took the train into Melbourne today on a shopping expedition where we visited a heap of bicycle shops. We now have a Dura-Ace cables for shifters and brakes, a SON dynohub for the front wheel, a front lamp, rear lights, a mirror, some tools (some of my tools and bits and pieces that I carry with me on long rides were also stolen), a couple pair of shorts (I have three that are wearing out badly just now, so I've now replaced them), and a rain jacket (my rain jacket was also stolen).

I had quite a few extra things stolen, aside from just Machak. My handlebar bag with a bunch of stuff, a stuff bag attached to my rear rack with a bunch of stuff, and an MEC waterproof breathable jacket were all stolen. Since we've got rides coming up, I've had to recollect a lot of this stuff.

And Rowan has just placed a rather large order with Chain Reaction Cycles for a lot of what we need to actually build the bicycle.


We are, however, still debating about a fork. Personally, I'd like steel, but there isn't much in the way of steel, and people (including Rowan) are trying to convince me that carbon would be a good choice.

patentcad

This from a guy who's name is Fred.

FreddyV

So true.

stedalus

This is pretty much wrong across the board. Straight blade forks can and do have just as much rake as curved blade forks. Even if they had less rake, this would increase the stability of the bike, possibly to the point of making it difficult to initiate turns. The difference in shock absorption or road feel between curved and straight blades is slight at best.