Matte Grey, Beautiful Welds, Lightweight: My Litespeed At a Glance
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Matte Grey, Beautiful Welds, Lightweight: My Litespeed At a Glance
While BF was inconveniently down I took receipt of my Litespeed Firenze. I was at first taken aback by the total weight of the complete package (box, filler, and bike). According to UPS the package weighed 28 pounds. When I opened the box I was even more surprised by how it was packed. Packing peanuts, millions of them, covered the bike. The only thing I could see not protected by peanuts was the top of the seat tube which had been covered in bubble wrap. As you can imagine, removing the bike was a chore since I didn't want to get the filler all over my house. After about 5 minutes I safely extricated the bike and was immediately floored by how light it was. I mean I was expecting it to be lighter than my previous steel rides but it blew the doors off my CAAD7 Cannondale, too. Total weight came to 17 pounds.
Putting the bike together was easy. The guys at Colorado Cyclist did their job extremely well and all I had to attach were the front brake caliper, handlebar, seatpost, and seat. I'm taping the bars tonight. My Look Sprint pedals are at the Post Office waiting for me to pick them up. Once that's done I'll be able to get the bike out for a test ride.
All in all I'm very pleased with the workmanship on the build itself as well as the craftsmanship of the frame. It's not true artisan work like you'd find on a lugged steel frame but it is very well executed. I've seen welds on frames like Moots and Dean and thought I'd be really envious when receiving the Firenze. That hasn't been the case at all. I'm really blown away by the quality of the welds, the uniformity of the beads, and how, even on this 'low end' frame extra care was taken in making it great. I've also grown to really like the matte grey finish. I wasn't keen on the pictures I've seen on the Litespeed or Colorado Cyclist websites or, for that matter, the picture in the C.C. catalog. However, in person the effect is excellent. The blasted finish looks very nice, subtle, but stands out when compared to the polished titanium that's more common.
I will post pics as soon as the bike is completely put together.
Putting the bike together was easy. The guys at Colorado Cyclist did their job extremely well and all I had to attach were the front brake caliper, handlebar, seatpost, and seat. I'm taping the bars tonight. My Look Sprint pedals are at the Post Office waiting for me to pick them up. Once that's done I'll be able to get the bike out for a test ride.
All in all I'm very pleased with the workmanship on the build itself as well as the craftsmanship of the frame. It's not true artisan work like you'd find on a lugged steel frame but it is very well executed. I've seen welds on frames like Moots and Dean and thought I'd be really envious when receiving the Firenze. That hasn't been the case at all. I'm really blown away by the quality of the welds, the uniformity of the beads, and how, even on this 'low end' frame extra care was taken in making it great. I've also grown to really like the matte grey finish. I wasn't keen on the pictures I've seen on the Litespeed or Colorado Cyclist websites or, for that matter, the picture in the C.C. catalog. However, in person the effect is excellent. The blasted finish looks very nice, subtle, but stands out when compared to the polished titanium that's more common.
I will post pics as soon as the bike is completely put together.
Last edited by 14max; 06-21-06 at 12:08 PM.
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Congrats! Pics needed of course!
Hopefully this is THE ONE - you'll keep for at least a decade. You bought a 59cm 2005 - is that compact or traditional geometry?
I've bought from Colorado Cyclist before, they've built/packed bikes well.
Hopefully this is THE ONE - you'll keep for at least a decade. You bought a 59cm 2005 - is that compact or traditional geometry?
I've bought from Colorado Cyclist before, they've built/packed bikes well.
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Last edited by rufvelo; 06-21-06 at 10:39 AM.
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Congrats man, now we can officially welcome you to the club!
You don't have to treat her well, she can take a beating... the bike I mean.
Hope this satisfies the urge for at least a while.
You don't have to treat her well, she can take a beating... the bike I mean.
Hope this satisfies the urge for at least a while.
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Originally Posted by rufvelo
Hopefully this is THE ONE - you'll keep for at least a decade. You bought a 59cm 2005 - is that compact or traditional geometry?
I've bought from Colorado Cyclist before, they've built/packed bikes well.
I've bought from Colorado Cyclist before, they've built/packed bikes well.
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Originally Posted by kgatwork
How come you have to tape the bars? When I got my 04 Litespeed Classic from CC it had the bars taped. Just wondering!
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Originally Posted by HAMMER MAN
yep lets see some pictures!
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Originally Posted by slvoid
Congrats man, now we can officially welcome you to the club!
You don't have to treat her well, she can take a beating... the bike I mean.
Hope this satisfies the urge for at least a while.
You don't have to treat her well, she can take a beating... the bike I mean.
Hope this satisfies the urge for at least a while.
This should satisfy the bike urge for a long, long time.
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Congrats!
I beg to differ, Lugs are not really artisan for the fact that they are filed clean and then painted over. One lugged bike can look like another lugged bike, ornate cut outs aside.
On the other hand, welds are like the builders signature, in that no 2 frames will be welded a like, and the quality is in the finished product, with no paint to hide flaws. Each will have it's own characteristics, look and personal detail in the final weld. In this regard, welds will show the personality and the soul of the builder more than any filed and painted lug ever will.
However that is just my slant on it
Enjoy!
Originally Posted by 14max
All in all I'm very pleased with the workmanship on the build itself as well as the craftsmanship of the frame. It's not true artisan work like you'd find on a lugged steel frame but it is very well executed.
On the other hand, welds are like the builders signature, in that no 2 frames will be welded a like, and the quality is in the finished product, with no paint to hide flaws. Each will have it's own characteristics, look and personal detail in the final weld. In this regard, welds will show the personality and the soul of the builder more than any filed and painted lug ever will.
However that is just my slant on it
Enjoy!
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By the time you're done, it'll be closer to 22-23 lbs with a seat pack and water bottles.
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Originally Posted by slvoid
By the time you're done, it'll be closer to 22-23 lbs with a seat pack and water bottles.
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Originally Posted by ViperZ
I beg to differ, Lugs are not really artisan for the fact that they are filed clean and then painted over. One lugged bike can look like another lugged bike, ornate cut outs aside.
On the other hand, welds are like the builders signature, in that no 2 frames will be welded a like, and the quality is in the finished product, with no paint to hide flaws. Each will have it's own characteristics, look and personal detail in the final weld. In this regard, welds will show the personality and the soul of the builder more than any filed and painted lug ever will.
On the other hand, welds are like the builders signature, in that no 2 frames will be welded a like, and the quality is in the finished product, with no paint to hide flaws. Each will have it's own characteristics, look and personal detail in the final weld. In this regard, welds will show the personality and the soul of the builder more than any filed and painted lug ever will.
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I really like the look of the 2005 and older Firenze. That dull gray Titanium looks really utilitarian. The bike is a real sleeper, kind of the opposite of the high bling Carbon frame. I wish Litespeed had left it as is for 2006, 105 gruppo and all.
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I really like the dull gray finish too. Once you burn all the decals off and have it all dull gray, it's a very nice sleeper.
Now that your bike lust is over with, let the wheel lusting begin! May I recommend a pair of american classics at around 1350 grams? You can probably drop a good pound from the wheels you have now, not to mention less rotational weight.
Now that your bike lust is over with, let the wheel lusting begin! May I recommend a pair of american classics at around 1350 grams? You can probably drop a good pound from the wheels you have now, not to mention less rotational weight.
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Originally Posted by slvoid
I really like the dull gray finish too. Once you burn all the decals off and have it all dull gray, it's a very nice sleeper.
Now that your bike lust is over with, let the wheel lusting begin! May I recommend a pair of american classics at around 1350 grams? You can probably drop a good pound from the wheels you have now, not to mention less rotational weight.
Now that your bike lust is over with, let the wheel lusting begin! May I recommend a pair of american classics at around 1350 grams? You can probably drop a good pound from the wheels you have now, not to mention less rotational weight.
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Rolf prima vigor's look pretty good. Light, deep dish aero rim, very very few spokes. FAAAST.
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Originally Posted by 14max
I agree with you there. The artisan comment really comes from the viewpoint of what can be done to the lugs to make them stand out from one another. Really good filework goes a long way in this regard. Welds are different and one can really discern a good weld from a great weld, especially if left unpainted. I've seen, and now own, a frame that has great welds. The craftspeople at places like Merlin Litespeed, Dean, Spectrum, Moots, and Indy Fab should be very proud of what they produce...
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My lil' sis was all ready top order a Firenze with Ultegra group from CC, but then i found a 10 speed record equipped NOS Classic on eBay for $1,500 and, well, she'll be whipping me up the hills next week on her new Ti Classic !!!
I am mostly a classic lugged guy and lust over vintage steel (my #1 ride is a new Mercian built with 531) but in looking at the Litespeeds for her, I have been impressed. And you can get them for reasonable prices. They seem to be an excellent product - maybe the best value out there.
I am mostly a classic lugged guy and lust over vintage steel (my #1 ride is a new Mercian built with 531) but in looking at the Litespeeds for her, I have been impressed. And you can get them for reasonable prices. They seem to be an excellent product - maybe the best value out there.
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Wow, look how close the rear tire is to the seat tube. I'm going to have to get a Ti bike one of these days. Nice bike 14max.
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Yeah mine's pretty close too, you can't fit a pinky in there.
Those are great pics, but it looks like a dent at the top of the downtube...
Those are great pics, but it looks like a dent at the top of the downtube...
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Originally Posted by slvoid
Yeah mine's pretty close too, you can't fit a pinky in there.
Those are great pics, but it looks like a dent at the top of the downtube...
Those are great pics, but it looks like a dent at the top of the downtube...