ViperZ

How can seeing the welds of the craftsman be boring and soulless? In fact for me, seeing the welds and every stroke of the welders arc, has the most soul of anything bicycle related, no two will be the same.

The variances is what gives it it's soul. It is the craftsman's signature, and I accept it as that, his work unhidden by paint.

I also think because I planned, selected all the parts and assembled a bike with my own hands, it even possesses more soul than ever. By virtue it consumed my heart and soul during that time, as such my soul is now infused into that bike.
















If I wanted a painted bike, it may as well be steel Besides, I already have 4 painted bikes, I want RAW beauty

I think it takes more than Paint to give a bike soul, but I may be crazy too. After all, it is just an inanimate object right?

Mr. Fierte

There are craftsmen and then there are true artists.

ViperZ

Nice, it looks like the Serrota is bead blasted, smoothing it out.

MattC

You are correct Viper.

ViperZ

I actually prefer the bright polish and the raw welds However thats just me, and I certainly can appreciate all types of finishes. For me, this Tuscany is perfectly what I wanted in a Ti frame bike.

Deanster04

My comment was tongue-in-cheek ( and probably a little tasteless). The Dean has excellent detail and the welds are superb. I just wanted a British Racing Green metallic Steel bike and was talked into this frame by the builder, so I went for a 1/2 paint job which is satisfying that need.
I collected my components as well and built my wheels from scratch as I have done for the last 50 years of riding 10 spds. Makes riding that much more soulful. I have 3 lugged steel bikes, a lugged bianchi pista, an Ionic (columbus FOCO tigged), and a second Dean all Ti (to be built up as a touring bike). I love riding and at 63 I still manage 4 to 5K per year. The majority of my riding is on the Dean. Super comfortable and the Carbon seat stays and front fork give it a ride like the Lexus.
Like all the bikes posted on this site. Beautiful AND great component gruppos. Good riding.

patentcad

I gotta admit weenies - as much as I love my new Cannondale Six13 - NOTHING is quite as gorgeous as Titanium on a bicycle. Thanks for all the killer photos : ).

MattC

Yeah Viper has me all inspired I am going to be doing a project on my LS Classic soon. I prefer the LOOK is just got for hard riding but for just a nice ride the Classic is hard to beat.

ViperZ

It's cool Deanster, we like what we like..... I like paint as well


Patent, you own 2 badassed bikes

Seeing as you asked Here are a few more

ViperZ

Matt, the Tuscany satisfied my yearning for a classic and Titanium bike as well. I have always wanted a Titanium bike for the raw beauty, and I have always wanted a classic steel bike for the traditional lines with more regular sized tubes. All the while I wanted something with modern componentry.... While I was planning on building a Record equipped Carbon bike, the Tuscany came along, and I thought it would be fun and stroke a few more things off my bicycle wants list

Nice to hear you will be doing something with your Classic.

MattC

Anyone know if powdercoating a LS will void warranty?

ViperZ

I just read the Litespeed warranty and they make no mention of it. Probably best to contact Litespeed and ask.

Or just do it warranty be damned.. I do that often because it can make life fun with a bit of risk factored in

Mr. Fierte

You are right. It is glass bead blasted which really doesn't smooth it out as much as wire brush polishing.

ViperZ

In your case I would say it did

patentcad

Is there no end to the bike schwag on this Forum? Apparently not. Nothing however tops my new Topeak micro pump. Fits in an empty water bottle. And actually pumps a tire up to 100psi. Takes a while, but it WORKS. Amazing. No CO2 cartridges allowed on the airplane problem (for my trip to Greece in August) SOLVED. God, anything beats carrying around a frame pump.

https://www.ems.com/catalog/product_d...=1141914747121

ViperZ

Wow, thats nice and sexy for sure.

I still like C02 for the compactness of it. I also pick up a TopPeak pump to carry in my packback. It also has the bottle cage mount. I tested it up to 100psi, took a bit of work too I bought it more for my MTB, and Urban Assault bike.

mingsta

Thats a fair comment, but for me having an unpainted frame is one of the big plus points of Ti.

Believe me, I should know, I own a Klein Attitude. Klein do one of the nicest factory paint going (well, for a non boutique brand at least) and it's a nightmare!!! Although the paint job is reasonably tough, I used to cry every time I washed it down after a muddy ride and spotted a new chip on the down tube. When I crash, I end up using my body as a cushion to save the Klein. When I look over the frame, I can see the little chips and scratches it has picked up over the years and a little piece of me dies with every imperfection.

Okay, just fooling around with that last bit, but the babying of a pretty paint job I can do without. My Seven's been ridden hard in all weather for 8 months and is still factory fresh.

chzman

while you're talking about mini pumps... i really like barbieri carb-one pumps, its rated to 140 or 160psi and it comes in a Ti version... it just won't fit in an empty 500ml bottle (probably a tall bottle though)

TRaffic Jammer

B A S T A R D S!!!!!
Make it stop, I can't look away!!!!!

ViperZ

You have to like a Carbon Fiber or Titanium Pump

patentcad

I don't care about that as long as it fits in my spare water bottle. And the Topeak does that. I hope to never have to use the damn thing of course....

ViperZ

Why would you want it to fit in your spare water bottle? Don't you carry water in it?

Most pumps fit beside the water bottle, which makes more sense to me.... Rather than carry an empty bottle just to carry a pump. Plus the Topeak's mount is so cool, its a bit Ghetto to have a pump like that rattling around in an empty bottle.

merlinextraligh

My 8 year old merlin.

ViperZ

Nice contribution

sleme

Me Seven Marathon Ti. Not custom but standard Seven geometry. Size S. Only sold outside the US. Campy Record with FSA SLK compact crank and Deda Spectrum handle bars connected to Deda Magic stem. Look Egropost 2 with Fizik Arionne. Wheelset, Thorius Carbon King with Panaracer Stradius Pro tyres...me pride and joy..