bikesdirect_com

Should find out by tomorrow or Wednesday

Wkend_Warrior

Mike,
I'm too interested in the wheelset.
Although you brought up a good idea for using less expensive wheels for training wheels but as far as I know, when you're riding on a deep profile wheelset (i.e. 38 or 50mm) there will be a noticable difference in handleing and riding "feel" of the bike ...Which might throw the rider off balance when he/she uses a regular set for training and carbon wheelset for "JUST FOR" racing only.

I'm no expect but would like to know if it will matter. Perhaps, people @ the BF can provide some inputs.
Many thanks.

irish pat

Hey Mike,
you said you would be offering an upgrade of Dura ace on the rt700 for an extra fee. Did you decide what the fee would be, and what upgrades are availabe?
Thanks a lot.

Dalai

I'm interested in one set of the above wheels. Would you ship to Victoria, Australia and if so what would be the cost?

Also are the logos stickers or under clearcoat?

Thanks

mista_chewey

^^i think he said awhile back that it's under the clearcoat and removing the decal voids warranty

Dalai

Thanks mista_chewey.

I didn't want to search all the way through the topic again. Like yesterday someone asked again about S&s couplers. I tried to find the comments where bikesdirect_com said he wouldn't be doing this and couldn't find it...

This a real pity by the way that he isn't contemplating doing this, as domestic and international airlines are becoming stricter about large baggage there will be a growing market for 700c bikes that can fit in a bag not much greater in dimensions than a double wheel bag...

Still interested if Bikesdirect will ship a wheelset down under.

bonechilling

Seriously, could there possibly be a smaller niche market than the S&S Coupler one? Maybe Unicycles? Penny-farthing?

At least Surly is making one, be happy about that.

Dalai

Smaller market? Including me makes three people who have asked or shown interest just in this topic. For the above reason in regards to stricter conditions placed on luggage I would think the market will get much bigger...

Got me all excited with the Surly comment... Only fitted for 2008 on the Cross Checker which uses cantilever brakes and wieghs over 2 kg frame alone before the couplers added!

EdZ

bikesdirect_com :

What type of layup do the 50mm tubulars have? Its hard to tell from the pictures, but it appears that the outer layer of carbon it just matte black, without a carbon weave. True, or is this just the low quality photo?

mascher

Decisions decisions - I'm currently riding a bike a bit too small for me with a 195cm HT, 59.5cm TT - I'm almost dialed in, but it's the limitations of components - 140mm stem and layback post, and my knees are just a titch ahead of the pedal spindles and I'm a tiny bit scrunched, so I think it would be officially a bad idea to go for the Ti frame in XL. (geo is probably slightly different, this is an '83ish road frame, dunno how much that affects basic fit re: "modern" geometry and compact frames)

Definitely a +1 on high quality steel or ti frames for taller riders - I was kicking the tires for a long time on the Serpens, but I lived in Canada and didn't want to deal with shipping to the US somewhere when I don't even drive.

Anyone care to talk me out of going for the XL ti frame and a post with more layback than a Thompson and a 140mm stem high and flipped up?

And not to threadjack, but I wasn't ever considering a bike with a carbon steerer - in larger sizes (taller ht) or with a longer steerer (uncut or nearly at full length), is this something you have to worry about, failure/safety-wise?

revolator

I wouldn't do it. It's not right on your current frame, and you're going to spend money on something that would be even more of an incorrect fit. The 140mm stem and the setback seatpost sounds like you're pushing the range on the current frame. The only remote possibility I see is if your current seat angle is more aggressive than the XL frame? (ie 75 > 73.5) Then with the seatpost raised, you might get a slightly longer effective top tube length, making it close, but not necessarily better.

ridethecliche

Mike, are the weights for th bikes going to be posted soon? I'm just wondering what the weights of the frames and bikes are. Thanks!

sfrider 

Ordered an RT700 frame set. I foresee a massive bike porn photo thread when all these bikes and frames begin to ship.

Pendergast

Yeah...I'm having trouble deciding on what size Ti bike, too. I'm judging based on my 1997 Fuji Roubaix which is a size 54. As best as I can measure, that bike appears to have a TT of about 55.5 or 56 cm which seems a little longer than usual for that size bike. My problem with that bike is that it has a very short head tube which made it impossible with the stem it came with to get about a 2" seat to bar drop which is what I prefer these days, so I have a 90 degree 11cm stem on it now. I was planning to size up to a 56 cm Fuji (or Motobecane or Mercier which size like Fuji), but now I've decided to get one of the Ti Motobecanes and am concerned that the ML(53 ST with 55 cm ETT) might be too small and the L(56 ST with 57 cm ETT) might be too big. I feel like I'm probably right between those two sizes and may end up with lots of spacers and possibly a tilted up stem if I go with the ML or a very short stem if I go with the L. Further complicating things is that the standover listed for the ML is slightly more than what my Fuji is and standover for the L is very close to my cycling inseam. I'm wondering at what point along the top tube the standover measurement is made since we're talking about a sloping top tube with the Ti Motobecanes.

bikesdirect_com

Standover was not measured; I had to compute it from frame designs
So it is right at BB - [so I did not have to do too much math]
And I think you will be happy on a 53c if you like you current Fuji 54cm

These two sizes [53c and 56c are rather close as the frame is a semi compact]
but a 56c in this style will effectively be much bigger than a 56c in a tradtional frame like a 2004 Roubaix
and the 53c is a tad bigger feel than the 54c 2004 Roubaix

just my thoughts on the question

bikesdirect_com

as soon as we get the Ti bikes built
I will post pictures and weights

I am thinking on the Ti bikes -- 16.5, 16, and 15.5 -- but I could be wrong as that is just a wild guess

I was shocked at the 19.5 on the Fly Team Ti -- I weighed it over and over to make sure I was not dreaming. I mean holy crap a Scott Scale 10 is about 21 and $6000 and the Litespeed hardtail is $5500 and 22.5 lbs.

anyway, only way to know is build them up and weigh them
with Pro DS wheels; the le Champion Ti is meant to be a fast smooth durable sport bike - so it may be a bit over my 16.5 guess; but a bike that could be enjoyed trouble free for decades

le Champion Ti SL and TEAM are more race bikes - so they should be somewhat lighter

my guys are working on the builds
should be ready and photoed by wednesday

obanta

I'm struggling between the Ultegra SL and Dura-Ace versions of the Ti road bike. I think the solid decals look a lot nicer than the hollow ones in the pictures provided which is why I'm leaning towards Ultegra SL.

Mike - since it sounds like you are having guys build these bikes up from the frame, is it possible to get Dura-Ace on the solid decal frame? (Or does this fall under 'custom'?)

Thanks

bikesdirect_com

Outer layer looks matt black toi me
and you see the weave some especially in the inside
but color is rather dark

bikesdirect_com

Oh
I am sorry for the confusion

We are building the SAMPLES
the production bikes are factory built

So SL will be solid decals and TEAM will be hollow

I can say - the SL is really close the DuraAce as I think most users have commented

pharmboyrx

I looked to see if this was covered but couldn't find it. What is the warranty on the wheels?

slynkie

Pre-ordered just the tubies, for now...

For anyone looking for a Campy build up on one of these frames, Competetive Cyclist has a 2006 mostly-Chorus build kit for $999.

demand222

If we wanted to have SRAM Force with the Kestrel bike what do we do?

prendrefeu

You buy the bike, sell off the parts, buy a SRAM group with the sales.

AbsoluteZ3RO

^^^^^ actually Mike said he may have the option of buying the SRAM or Dura-Ace for 400 more, but you would essentially get a bike that needed additional assembly.

roy harley

The TI Road bike seems to be a better deal than the Kestrel after you add the $400 to put DA on it.