Ride for Pizza

Hello from Philadelphia Suburbs!

I've been riding seriously for about 14 years and had the same bike ('07 LeMond Chamberry) for 13 of those years. Alas, in August a truck pulled right out in front of me while going 20+ mph so now I need to replace my bike. Mainly into endurance/distance riding, the furthest I ever rode in 1 day was 187 miles, and I want to break 200.

From what I have been reading, I am very interested in a titanium frame, but I have never ridden one. Does anyone know where (close-ish) to Philadelphia I would be able to test ride a titanium frame?

Thanks!

cb400bill

Thread moved from Introductions to General Cycling.

indyfabz

I live in Philly. Nowhere comes to mind. Pandemic aside. Maybe search for the closest Litespeed dealer.

https://litespeed.com/apps/store-locator

livedarklions

No idea, but are you a solo rider? How long did it take you to ride the 187 miles? Longest I've ever managed was 168 miles, so I'm always curious about people who are even more distance crazy than I am.

Sy Reene

This or Moots I'd guess. I think Moots has a demo program of some sort

delbiker1 

Do you have any interest in used framesets?

Ride for Pizza

I did the 187 at the Adirondack cycling club 12 hour time trial. It was a 40 some mile loop with 1 or 2 water stations and I had a cooler with drinks and food at the central spot. Wanted at least some support for that distance. Did you do 168 totally solo? Very impressive.

livedarklions

Yup. On a hybrid. Stopped for two meals and a snack on the way. Hope you get the double century!

Ride for Pizza

Open to the idea, but still hesitant to buy anything without actually knowing how Ti rides. A lot of conflicting things out there.

TiHabanero

I have owned two Habanero ti bikes. First one was the Road Classic, the second one is the Cyclocross. Two different rides for sure, one a go faster bike and the other, to my preference, an all day long rider. I like a longer wheelbase and stability. The Road Classic is without question a race bike and it performed that way, the Cyclocross is just that, a stable platform for all road types.
The design of the bike is most important, more important than the material it is made from. Now on to the similarities to high quality steel. Both bikes have the same "zing" of high end steel in their categories. If you have ridden a top shelf steel frame, not mid-grade tubing, but the best stuff available be it European or Japanese or USA made tubing, then you have an idea of how titanium rides. That same feeling of life under your butt. Something very different from carbon or aluminum.
One thing to note. The ti frames I owned are straight gauge. Seven makes frames from butted tubing and I have ridden them. Never owned one, but the rides I have had on them were simply excellent, and I will say a step above the Habaneros. Of course this comes with a large price tag!
Find someone with a sweet steel bike and ride it.

Ride for Pizza

Only things I've ridden in over a decade have been my carbon/aluminum LeMond and an all carbon bike on vacation (forget the brand).

I keep reading about the "zing", can you compare it to carbon or aluminum? Don't suppose you live near Philly or Pittsburgh and want to let me borrow for a quick ride?

CliffordK

I doubt that the change to titanium will push you over 200 miles. It means either riding faster and/or riding longer. GOOD LIGHTS!!!

But, @Jimmy Wisdom's bike looks mighty SWEET!!!

livedarklions

I gotta think a guy who's ridden 187 miles is going to have a better idea of what will or won't take him over 200 than you or me!

indyfabz

Sorry, but no one but me rides my super fly, made-in-Philly, titanium jawn.

indyfabz

Speak for yourself, but I know it's 13+ miles.

livedarklions

I hear the best strategy for winning a football game is to score more points than the other team.

indyfabz

Yep. If you try to not score fewer points than the other team you could end up in a tie.

CliffordK

A couple of years ago I was semi-regularly riding to and from Portland which would take me a minimum of about 145 miles, and as high as about 190 miles. Up one day, a few days in Portland, then another century plus back in less than a week.

I did push it over 200 miles on at least 2 occasions, maybe 3. Not that common, but not impossible.

I've done 100 to 180 mile rides on a variety of bikes.
https://www.bikeforums.net/19942124-post9.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/19516290-post1005.html

For a couple of reasons, I think the Titanium bike got some of the shorter "century" rides.

I'm not 100% sure which bikes I rode for the double centuries. I think the first might have been the Colnago C40, and the second one may have been the Jamis Coda (chromoly).



You're right, I can't judge exactly what another person needs for a bike to ride a double century.

But, the main key is the person pushing the pedals, and spending time on the bike.

I have heard of people that would ride, say four 50 mile loops around their house. That won't work for me. So, it is either a one-way trip, or a long out and back trip or loop. Sometimes doing an extra 5 miles or so around the neighborhood while avoiding my house (if I go home for a second, I don't get back on the bike).

Perhaps there was one ride that I got a late start for my century plus to Portland. Slept for a few hours, then got in a short group ride before I hit 24 hours.

livedarklions

I wasn't challenging your credentials, I'm just saying this guy has enough experience that he's going to figure out the last little push he needs to get over 200 than we are and we don't need to tell him the needs to ride faster or longer, he obviously knows that. If he thinks the TI bike will motivate him or whatever, I'm going to defer to his judgment. Not for nothing, BTW, he didn't actually claim that in the OP..

79pmooney

Many years ago I rode 175 mile loops solo just like my long day race training rides, just longer. 2 WBs and an extra package of sport drink or two, 2 PB, cheese and honey sandwiches. ~50 miles to go I stopped for coffee and a pastry. Now, I was an in-form bike racer at the time. 120 miles or more with a 2000' hill midway was my mid-week norm. Also I drank zero caffeine and ate zero sucrose in those days so a cup of black coffee and sugar was rocket fuel good for 50 miles.

Edit: to the topic - titanium. Yes, but titanium bikes vary a lot. My ride above were done on a 1970s race bike that was basically for criteriums but that had good road wheels. It fit me perfectly. In more recent years I've ridden 130 miles on both my ti bikes. Both custom with right-on fit. Both with roughly stiff 1980s steel race bike feel. Decidedly NOT endurance geometry. Good rides and comfortable to the end.