The R3V Bicycle Thread

[Nick_S]

any vintage BMX guys in this thread? I have a Hutch bike I might be selling if you are interested send me a pm

I've been riding for 16 years but never got into vintage stuff. I probably destroyed alot of very, now valuable things in my youth, ha.

Friend of mines collection of bikes. His parts collection is massive too.

[noE30]

Any one have any experience with dirt jumpers?
I'm looking at picking one up some time soon. Kinda looking at the Specialized p2.

[JeST]

Thats a cool looking frame. I used to know the guy who started Argon 18. He sold the company and went in another direction. I'll be honest, I don't like carbon frames. I just don't trust them any further than I can throw one. Still, it allows the ability to build a cool looking frame.

Looks fast.

Will

... considering how most of them are sub 2lb's I would hope you can throw them pretty far...

[BlackbirdM3]

... considering how most of them are sub 2lb's I would hope you can throw them pretty far...

If a 100lb chick can break the head tube of an Orbea riding around a parking lot, there isn't a chance in hell I'm going to rind anything carbon. Besides carbon frames feel like riding a wooden bike. Carbon frames feel dead. I've tried everything from a Trek to a Colnago and never found one that felt good. the top end Time frame was the best feeling of the bunch, but I'd take an aluminum frame over it ANY day of the week. The other issue I have against carbon is that its pretty much impossible to get a full custom frame out of the stuff. Yes, Calfee, Parlee, and a few others offer them, but I don't know how well they hold up.

I'd love to try a frame built out of Reynolds 953 Stainless Steel. I hear those can be sub 3 lbs with a fatigue life of 6/4 Ti. The stuff is hard to work with, but it has all the properties of ti, but in stainless steel. Too bad the price tag is right there with Ti as well.

When I buy a frame/have a frame built, I expect it to last at least 10 years if not more. If its out of Ti, it better last a lifetime. I'd consider someone lucky to get 3 years out of a carbon frame, and if I were forced to ride one, I'd cut it up and throw it away after 6 months. I've broken enough carbon parts that I have no faith in the stuff. You can have your made in China/taiwan cookie cutter carbon stuff. I'll take a hand built one off stainless, aluminum or Ti frame any day of the week.

Will

[ELONZOOOO]

[j0oftheworld]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H68jMVfh9K4&hd=1

Just got through editing this. I filmed it up at Glendora Mountain Road in SoCal. I like to shred the canyon on a different vehicle.

That's some serious ripping man! How much lean angle do road bikes get? Special tires for this higher speed stuff?
I'm just starting to look into a road bike for my son and I. thx

[JeST]

If a 100lb chick can break the head tube of an Orbea riding around a parking lot, there isn't a chance in hell I'm going to rind anything carbon. Besides carbon frames feel like riding a wooden bike. Carbon frames feel dead. I've tried everything from a Trek to a Colnago and never found one that felt good. the top end Time frame was the best feeling of the bunch, but I'd take an aluminum frame over it ANY day of the week. The other issue I have against carbon is that its pretty much impossible to get a full custom frame out of the stuff. Yes, Calfee, Parlee, and a few others offer them, but I don't know how well they hold up.

I'd love to try a frame built out of Reynolds 953 Stainless Steel. I hear those can be sub 3 lbs with a fatigue life of 6/4 Ti. The stuff is hard to work with, but it has all the properties of ti, but in stainless steel. Too bad the price tag is right there with Ti as well.

When I buy a frame/have a frame built, I expect it to last at least 10 years if not more. If its out of Ti, it better last a lifetime. I'd consider someone lucky to get 3 years out of a carbon frame, and if I were forced to ride one, I'd cut it up and throw it away after 6 months. I've broken enough carbon parts that I have no faith in the stuff. You can have your made in China/taiwan cookie cutter carbon stuff. I'll take a hand built one off stainless, aluminum or Ti frame any day of the week.

Will

Will.. you said and I quote "trust it as far as I can throw it". Well ... if you can't throw something 2lb's far then you are extremely weak. Get it? I think you were too busy spewing off at the mouth to get the humor in what you wrote.

Having said that though I disagree with everything you just said. not everything made out of carbon is a "China/taiwan cookie cutter carbon stuff".


It's gone a few thousand miles and I weigh a bit more then a 100lb girl.

Forgot to mention my full carbon fixie I ride around quite possibly the shittiest city roads on the east coast. Few hundred miles without a single issue.

[PeteD]

Awesome.

[BlackbirdM3]

Will.. you said and I quote "trust it as far as I can throw it". Well ... if you can't throw something 2lb's far then you are extremely weak. Get it? I think you were too busy spewing off at the mouth to get the humor in what you wrote.

Having said that though I disagree with everything you just said. not everything made out of carbon is a "China/taiwan cookie cutter carbon stuff".


It's gone a few thousand miles and I weigh a bit more then a 100lb girl.

Forgot to mention my full carbon fixie I ride around quite possibly the shittiest city roads on the east coast. Few hundred miles without a single issue.

Uh, I'm pretty sure the Felts are made in China, I might be wrong, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Look was as well. Hell, Colnago is having frames made there. Its fine if you disagree with me, its not going to change my view on carbon frames. They ride like crap, and there is no telling when one is going to let go. I would hope you can get a "few hundred miles without a single issue" out of a new frame. The last year I raced seriously, I rode more miles than I have ever driven in a year. A few hundred miles was less than a weeks worth of riding for me.

I've broken 9 frames, 5 crank arms, 4 carbon seat posts, bent every large chainring I've ever owned, countless chains (all high end ones, the Connex ones I'm running now seem to hold up, but I don't ride anywhere near as much these days.), every shimano rear hub I've ever had the displeasure of owning (the cassette bodies fail internally) every set of Shimano shifters I've ever owned (however I've got one 8 spd XTR and one 8spd XT rear shifter that I haven't broken, the fronts from both sets died and were replaced with SunTour XC-Pro friction thumb shifters.). Needless to say, I break stuff, and its not because I crash on it (I've crashed once in 20 years of racing, I broke the frame under me causing me to crash.)

As for throwing a carbon bike, I bet I can throw a discus further than I can throw a bike, but its the concept of throwing a bike that you failed to understand. They don't fly well.

Carbon is a poor material to build a bike out of. Because people willingly jump on the band wagon because a company tells you its better is the reason they are popular, not because they are better. Sure, you can build interesting looking frames with the stuff. Thats great if you wish to hang it on your wall as art, but lousy when it comes to riding it.

Sorry, if its not going to last a decade or more, its not worth buying, and no, a frame is not a disposable item like a chain or a tire/tube. If I'm going to spend enough $ on a bike to buy a good used car, it better last as long as the car. The first time a carbon frame hits the ground whether it be falling over in the garage, or crashing in a crit, that frame needs to be thrown out. There is no telling if its been compromised or not. I'm not willing to take that risk because crashing sucks, and having to buy a new frame after someone puts their foot through it in the pile up is just asking to add insult to injury. Titanium and Reynolds 953 stainless are where its at.

Will

[steinbachphoto]

Just not cut yet. Still waiting for my new front derailleur and RTC shifters.

So are you going to be running SRAM then? Or just the Zipp shifters?

[e30evolution]

I am going to try out the Zipp Vuka r2c shifters. Don't know how I feel about the shape, I have been really comfortable with the tt900 shifters.

As far as carbon frames go, I have been racing cross on a carbon frame with carbon wheels (16lb 6oz built with pedals) for 2 years now without any worry of frame/wheel failure or fatigue. I was first in the series and 3rd in the state.

My track frame is aluminum though.

[JeST]

Will,... Nvm I'm talkin to a wall, lol. Loving my carbon bikes :) looks like most of the posts here love theirs as well, lol.

[delatlanta1281]

I will always be building something, whether bike or car.
My SS

Some things need to stay un-modified though.
My road.

Both Fuji's

[Nick_S]

Our trails just got plowed :down:

RIP

[j0oftheworld]

Good first road bike?

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/sport/2_and_1_series/2_1_apex_h2_compact/#