The R3V Bicycle Thread

[BlackbirdM3]

My bike and its clone. These are the only two like them. Joe Wells builds a fantastic frame one at a time, no difference in cost between full custom and builders choice. Its the fastest bike I've ever ridden, and I've ridden some proven fast bikes.

Will

[Nick_S]

Bottom bracket looks really high on the bike of the right?

[BlackbirdM3]

Bottom bracket looks really high on the bike of the right?

The bottom bracket on both sits 11.25" off the ground. Its called pedal clearance in a corner. Yes, I designed the frame. Its a crit/TT bike, head tube angle is 73 degrees, seat tube 74, 57cm effective top tube with the stand over of a 54. When I sat down and started designing the frame I was a hard core crit rider and ITT guy. A break away in a crit is an ITT so I figured why not design a TT bike that handled well, throw a tall bottom bracket in so I wouldn't strike a pedal while pedaling through a corner, in the gutter, and make it stiff so I could sprint effectively on it. Let me tell you, its nimble, yet confidence inspiring and just begs to be pushed to your limit. I've done 70 mph on a decent with it.

The frame is Easton Ultralight 7005 aluminum in an aero tube set. The down tube is bi-axial, chain stays have an S-bend for crank clearance, seat stays are aero profile as are the top and seat tubes. I wanted to run a compact frame design to keep the front and back ends as tight as possible. (Smaller area between tubes, less flex)

Both bikes are built with Record 10 speed, mine has the carbon cranks, and the Alfa Q fork, my friends has the silver record cranks and a Mizuno fork (He will install a 3T Funda when he has the $ for it.)

Will

[lambo]

Got some new pedals...

+2 Trendy Points

[AustinK425]

Built up a new BMX today. Everything is new except one tire and the stem. Feels soooooooo dialed.





Should also look less ridiculous on top of my E30 than my last bike, haha.

Dialed as fuck.

[DHGurs]

XC: 2012 Trek Fuel 9



DH: 2008 Ironhorse Sunday



DJ: 2009 Jamis Kromo

Only pic of that bike:



I'm only 25 minutes away from the best bike park in the country, Highland Mountain.

[Wschnitz]

I'm thinking of upgrading some parts on my hardtail diamondback. Anyone know if you can buy a disc brake kit? Are disc brakes even better?

Also was wondering about any other worthwhile upgrades, but I want to keep my bike simple. And light.

[mcskibadee1]

It would have to have disc brake mounts on the frame in the front and back, similar to this. There are a couple different ways disk brakes can be mounted.

[Wschnitz]

grr, wonder if i could attach them with some fabrication and a clamp using some GOD Tape (3M Molding tape). Or i could just buy a new Dback from them here in Kent WA. Another Hardtail, I don't like all the new shock absorb-er bikes...

Side note, wtf is up with everyone and their damn fixies?

[BlackbirdM3]

grr, wonder if i could attach them with some fabrication and a clamp using some GOD Tape (3M Molding tape). Or i could just buy a new Dback from them here in Kent WA. Another Hardtail, I don't like all the new shock absorb-er bikes...

Side note, wtf is up with everyone and their damn fixies?

What version Diamondback do you have? Back in the day, they made some really great frames. I've been looking for a Ti one for years. My single speed is a 2000ish Diamond back Apex. Its a fantastic riding frame, its light and handles well for an of the shelf frame. At one point I had it built up with all my stupid light parts and it was right about 20 lbs.

What do you have. I've found a lot of the stuff out now is not better than the high end old stuff, its just newer and designed to be thrown out. (Yes, I still run M900/950 8 spd XTR, and its still trouble free after a decade of use. :D ) Disk brakes, eh, I'll stick with my XTR or Avid Arch supreme V brakes. Ultimately, your braking ability will always be limited by traction.

What is up with the fixies? Seriously. Its like if you don't have one, you aren't cool. I don't like them, I'll do a single speed, but fixed gear? Nope.

Yeah, I'm old school, but its hard to say no to top end stuff that just keeps on going.

Will

[j0oftheworld]

Looking into wheels.. Wondering what's best for downhill/climbing? Besides weight is it mainly stiffness/feel when you upgrade? :)

Couple fresh pics:

[BlackbirdM3]

Looking into wheels.. Wondering what's best for downhill/climbing? Besides weight is it mainly stiffness/feel when you upgrade? :)

Couple fresh pics:

First things first, get rid of the stack of spacers under the stem. Your bike will handle better with the bars lower.

So much goes into wheels its not funny. Climbing wheels forgo stiffness for less weight. Thanks, I don't really want to ride stupid light wheels down a hill. That said, I don't want heavier aero wheels for going up a hill (Oh, wait, yes I do. They will come in handy on the trip down.) Aero wheels do nothing for you below about 20 mph, however, above, the advantage just gets better and better the faster you go. The trouble is, they tend to not turn so well at high speed. I scared the hell out of myself on an early set of Zipp 404s when I was trying to chase my way back onto a peloton after being dropped on the climb. I ran out of road before the bike decided to turn. Still, I eventually chased my way back onto the field. I pulled off a 4th place, I would have won the field sprint had I been able to cross the center line (I had to grab a big handful of brakes to keep from rear ending the guys in front of me who were slower than hell 30 yards from the line or be disqualified for crossing the center line.)

So, back to the question. Its a tricky question. It depends on what sort of racing you do. Since I can't climb, I'm crit scumb, a set of Zipp 404s or 808s would be fantastic for a crit. If you tend toward a road race, I'd say nothing with an aero profile larger than say a Zipp 404, Campy Bora, or Mavic Cosmic Carbone. If you don't need a set of carbon wheels, the Campy Euros wheels are way fast, and really light. I'd personally love a set of them. I had to settle for a set of Neuvation R28 Aero 4s. They are fast, light enough, stiff enough, and a fantastic deal for the $. I've been riding them for 2 years and haven't had a problem. I've also done 70 mph down a hill on them. They aren't the lightest, they aren't the most trick, but they are a solid, fast wheel. I'm a big rider and I've trashed my share of wheels. These have held up pretty well.

Will

[Wschnitz]

What version Diamondback do you have? Back in the day, they made some really great frames. I've been looking for a Ti one for years. My single speed is a 2000ish Diamond back Apex. Its a fantastic riding frame, its light and handles well for an of the shelf frame. At one point I had it built up with all my stupid light parts and it was right about 20 lbs.

What do you have. I've found a lot of the stuff out now is not better than the high end old stuff, its just newer and designed to be thrown out. (Yes, I still run M900/950 8 spd XTR, and its still trouble free after a decade of use. :D ) Disk brakes, eh, I'll stick with my XTR or Avid Arch supreme V brakes. Ultimately, your braking ability will always be limited by traction.

What is up with the fixies? Seriously. Its like if you don't have one, you aren't cool. I don't like them, I'll do a single speed, but fixed gear? Nope.

Yeah, I'm old school, but its hard to say no to top end stuff that just keeps on going.

Will

I've got a simple cheap outlook hardtail. WA Looking at maybe a mason frame.

[BlackbirdM3]

I've got a simple cheap outlook hardtail. WA Looking at maybe a mason frame.

I don't mean to be rude, but that is hardly a mountain bike. I wouldn't even think of taking that off road. The shop I used to work at sold those for $198 to college kids. There is no point in upgrading that.

I'd say go looking for a used bike on craigslist or something. You can find some good stuff for under $1000, bikes that were several thousand a couple years ago. I'd guess you could find a nice Kona, Rocky Mountain, or something along those lines pretty easily.

Will

[Wschnitz]

Its worked perfectly fine for me. Spending 300+ on a bike with an aluminum frame is outrageous to me. Especially when they cost little to build....