WouterO

A few months ago I bought this titanium Van Nicholas Rowtag (I am in NL). I had it built by a LBS out of components I specifically wanted - Campagnolo Ekar 38x9-42T, Fulcrum Rapid Red 3 wheels, Brooks Cambium saddle etc. I bought the Ti bike primarily for bikepacking and offroad days. After my carbon bike spectacularly broke into 3 pieces earlier in 2021 during an easy summer ride, I decided that the new bikepacking bike would not be carbon. This Ti bike will withstand everything I encounter while cycling offroad and bikepacking while it's still about 10 kg.

After about 1000 kilometers on the Ti bicycle I still couldn´t be happier. It's a buttersmooth ride, but that's probably more because of the nice 40mm tyres than because of the frame material. Ekar has all the range I need, it's simple and the clockwork-like shifting brings a smile on my face everytime I push that button or move that lever. This bike is not a fast racing machine, but I have another bike for that.


And yes, I did already replace the bottlecage with a pair of nice brushed metal ones.

Bassmanbob

I don't own a No.22 nor have I tried one. That was the brand I was going to purchase but I ruled them out based on some mixed reviews. I have seen excellent reviews of theirs and some not so great. If I remember correctly, it was about the bike seeming too flexible for a high-end road bike. This was at least five or six months ago that I read those couple of reviews.

My criteria for the Ti bike was: American made, good reviews, the ability to have no paint or decals on the bike and I could purchase the bike through my local bike shop. I considered going direct with Mosaic, but I feel an obligation to my LBS who have always been very good to me. If I am going to ask them to maintain the bike, I felt obligated to allow them to make a little money off the purchase of the bike too. That's just me-- no judgement to others who may buy direct.

whatshubdoc

wow this is beautiful.

What model is it, and what is the closest "production" model you can compare it to?

mihlbach

Litespeed Ultimate disk with custom wheels I built myself. Acquired 1 week ago. Happy so far, but there hasn't been enough time to develop an informed opinion.

genejockey 

Update from above post -

After those pics, I built it up with a mixed groupset of Campy triple with Sachs New Success Ergos and RD, and it was nice, but I decided I didn't want the triple, so I bought a few bits I needed to complete a Dura Ace 7410 groupset (last of the 8 speed DA, same year as the frame, 1995), and built it up that way. That build was completed on the 22nd of January and I've already got 270 miles on it.

I bought it, and built it this way because I have wanted a Litespeed Ultimate built up like this since that frame was built 27 years ago. And now I finally have it. It does not disappoint.

big john

It's an Axiom Race model, custom made for someone else (I bought it used) It has Campagnolo Chorus parts and those are Cole wheels. I don't know how you could compare it to other bikes except to say it rides a lot like a CAAD5 Cannondale I used to have but it fits better. I've had it ten years this spring and I've put over 50K miles on it.

David in Maine

When I was going through the process of ordering my Seven through the Ride Studio in Lexington I demoed a bike that was set up for my fit parameters, but the frame was built for someone else. It was also very stiff--too stiff for my liking. Turns out it was designed for someone 60 lbs heavier than I. My own frame (pictured higher up this thread) built to my specified stiffness, wight, and riding style rides way better for me and is very comfortable. That highlights the risk of buying a used custom frame and the fact that not every Ti frame has the same ride characteristics.

David

CliffordK

Ok, it may look like a "Road Bike", but it is actually an older Litespeed MTB.



The frame was $100... and I think the entire build came to less than $400.

A few nice things about it. But, also a few aspects that are sub optimal. For example it has a little wider Q-Factor than I would have liked. And, some of the scrounging for parts left me with a "unique" build.

genejockey 

My first thought on seeing the pic, even before reading your post, was that the angles are WAY slack.

Bob Ross

fwiw I don't own any Ti bikes (yet, he says wishfully) but my wife had this wonderful Ti all-road/gravel bike built by Carl Strong ~4 years ago:



(sorry for the unrevealing pic, it's the only one I have handy)
She loves the bike, and doing business with Carl is an absolute joy...so much so that the missus is currently in the process of ordering/designing another Ti bike with Carl. (The new one will be a road bike with disc brakes and S&S couplers.)

Bassmanbob

And this is why I prefer dogs.

79pmooney

I have a painted TiCycles. Paint is doing just fine except where I've abused it and even there no flaking. Bike is stiff. No, not the stiffest bike out there, but compared to any thin tubed steel bike you'd ever want to ride, very stiff. I think ti is less tolerant of shoddy paint jobs but it isn't an issue for someone who knows what he's doing.

Oops. Answered a year old post. Well, answer still stands.

bamboobike4

1996 Litespeed Classic, brought forward 25 years.

genejockey 

I gather the fork is new, hence the threadless headset on a '96? While I was still waiting for my '95 Ultimate to show up from the Ebay seller, I was looking into that, just in case the fork was toast. Luckily, it wasn't! If I fell into a pile of cash and wanted to rebuild it with all modern bits, I might try that, though.

RiceAWay

I bought an Airborne because I found one in my size. I was not particularly happy with it because despite what they tell you, the bike is nearly the same weight as a steel bike. And most of them have oversized tubing. Now they are making them with smaller tubing and I think that they would ride a great deal better. But remember that even the best titanium alloys are a little brittle and if you run head-on into something you may break a tube.

I think that a custom "race" model of Waterford steel is probably a better buy. Note: All of my steel bikes were lugged and brazed and not welded so take that opinion with a grain of salt.

chaadster

Interesting. I remember Strong from way back, but didn’t realize they were still around. Cool!

bamboobike4

It was such a dull ride with Campy 9 (triple), fairly heavy wheels, and the stock Kestrel EMS fork. It was no better than most of my steel bikes, and worse than a couple.

I tried it with SRAM Red (20) and modern wheels, Bontrager RXL/TLR, and at the top of a Cat 3 climb, I was feeling better about it, then the shift to the big ring revealed the horrible Red FD. Disgusted, I set it aside. In the meantime, I felt the ride was still a little dull. I actually called Lynskey, and the guy there said to try a better fork. I found this one NOS, added the threadless headset.

When a carbon frame failed in its 5th year, it was the last chance for this frame. Modernizing the steering led to a modernized cockpit, and the parts from the carbon frame came over, for the most part. The weight, fork, and crankset makes up about half the boost, and I credit the wheels for the rest.

Since the pic, I’ve swapped in DA9000 calipers, ran the stem to the top of the steerer, and added lights and a bag. I’m still under 16.5, ready to ride, so this round looks good.

I had it at two swap meets in the last 2 months, no takers for F/F/HS at $500, so it runs the roads this year.

Nicke71

I purchased a Seven Axiom SL. I wanted to get something special for myself for my 50th Birthday and settled on a custom Ti framed bike. I placed the order last August and picked up the bike last week. It’s the third Ti framed bike I’ve ever owned and I am very happy with it so far.

Bob Ross

Yeah, he's been at it since the mid-1990s at least, and is still busy enough to have an 18-month wait list. Stopped building in steel a year or two ago, so he's exclusively titanium these days...although if you're interested in bespoke custom carbon frames, Carl is also the man behind the Pursuit Cycles brand.

I know, I sound like a shill! But his bikes are badass, and he's an incredible professional, really comforting to do business with.

tony2v

I have two Moots road bikes, a 2006 Compact and a 2018 custom Vamoots RSL. I got the RSL for my 60th birthday.


2006 Moots Compact


2018 Custom Vamoots RSL

dpd3672

Colnago Monotitan

Lemond Victoire Carbon/Titanium "Spine" bike.


I've got a couple, although one is only HALF titanium (and half carbon). Mostly chose them because I love Colnagos and Lemonds, so wanted a representative example of them in my collection. It also was a bit of luck, as I found deals for good condition bikes at decent prices in my size.

I always wanted to try titanium, but was patient enough for the right deal to come along.

FWIW, I don't notice a profound difference in the steel versions of the same bike, although they do ride wonderfully...they're a bit lighter in weight, but at my level of competence, 1 kilo either way doesn't substantially change the experience.

Nicke71

Here it is

pavinzky

Hi,

Very nice build! I'm considering this R300 Ti frame very soon for Endurance rides. How does it handle? Is it flexy when powering out saddle efforts? Thanks for your input.

texbiker

If you are referring to the Lynskey R300 I have one. I'm around 153 pounds and the frame is not flexy when I get out of the saddle.

genejockey 

Update to update: I lived more or less happily with the 7410 groupset on the Ultimate for 5 months. It was my favorite bike, I think I took it for at least 6 long Sunday rides in a row. But ultimately (haha) the 39x25 low gear just wasn't low enough for any real climbing.

SO, I stripped that off and replaced it with R8000 Ultegra. Now I have 39x32 low. That's MUCH better!!! And yes, I AM happy with it!