well, tried testing the headset today. the bearings are too big. the Headtube measured about 40.8mm, the bearings' OD was almost a 1mm larger.

I got the Cane Creek IS-2. Anyone have the same problem? Switch out bearings?

As shown on this link http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=68#is
a 41.8 bearing diameter would be the Campagnolo standard (e.g., Cane creek IS-2i). An IS-2 should have a 41 mm diameter which would at least get you closer to 40.8...

I've always wondered how the guy in the previously mentioned prior link resolved the problem. Please keep us posted.

I might be new at this kinda group buy online....but it seems to me that there is alot little glitch or parts replacement needed for Bike Direct's Bikes.

Is it only to the frameset purchased? Or is the spec. on BD is difference compare to the mainstream...i.e. Trek, Giant, etc...

More to the point, will someone has a problem with swapping parts[e.g. upgrade components] on a complete BD's bike purchased in the future?

Appreciate for clarification

Since I forgot, what did the Evoke framesets go for?

Hey Mike, how many of those Fly Ti MTB's were ordered? I've been gushing about that bike on here for a month and nobody has posted 'yeah I'm getting one too'. Am I the only one? That would surprise me, that bike is a smokin deal.
I would have, but given my back I thought it best to keep my FS mtb and work with a ti road bike. If I could have tested it for a ride first, I likely would have gone Ti MTB

I might be new at this kinda group buy online....but it seems to me that there is alot little glitch or parts replacement needed for Bike Direct's Bikes.

Is it only to the frameset purchased? Or is the spec. on BD is difference compare to the mainstream...i.e. Trek, Giant, etc...

More to the point, will someone has a problem with swapping parts[e.g. upgrade components] on a complete BD's bike purchased in the future?

Appreciate for clarification

I've bought a bike and a frame and had no problems at all. I hope to have no problems with my wheels when they ship. Perhaps since so much of the "dealing" appears in this forum, the inevitable random rare problems appear here too? The components specs look like standard sizes to me. JayC seems to have had more than his share of problems, I hope his current concerns are resolved to his satisfaction.

No, you're not the only one. I remember someone else had bearing fitting problem with the IS2 from this thread.

http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=337930&page=6
(http://bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=337930)

MIne did the same thing. I got it installed at Summit Bike shop in Burlingame(?) and asked about it. They said that the CC headsets are made that way. Seems odd. I'm worried about water and dirt getting in there.

I've bought a bike and a frame and had no problems at all.

I just got the RT700 frame and put the bike together in two nights . I had no problems with the frame or any of the parts that came for BD or the other retailers i got parts from . It was the first modern bike that i have built with the index shifting and all the carbon parts , it really was too easy. I hope the same for the other builders .

Since I forgot, what did the Evoke framesets go for?

$608

Hey you RT700 frameset owners..... Can you take a pic of your headset for me? Or describe it? I think I may have a different one that may be incompatible.... Does yours say "IS" on it? Or does it say "Zero Stack" as in ZS?

Thanks,

Hey you RT700 frameset owners..... Can you take a pic of your headset for me? Or describe it? I think I may have a different one that may be incompatible.... Does yours say "IS" on it? Or does it say "Zero Stack" as in ZS?

Thanks,

Mine says "Zero Stack 2" on it. Haven't installed it yet, still waiting on some parts.

The pictures for the rt700 group buy have been removed, I wanted to see the saddle that came with it, is it the same as the saddle on the naked Rt700. Is it about the same weight?

I weighed the saddle that came with the RT700. It's 204 grams or 13% heavier than the claimed weight of 180 grams. I'll probably ebay it anyway, I have more saddles than I have bikes.

you all ready got your complete RT700 bike?
Hmmm where is mine,,,,,,

I must have been lucky to get mine this early. I live in Hawaii and ordered at the last minute. Did you get tracking info yet?

Mine says "Zero Stack 2" on it. Haven't installed it yet, still waiting on some parts.

Thanks, i have the same one.... but I think that's the ZS2 cane creek headset right? Everyone says they have the IS2.... and that's what's confusing me....



http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc33/pbtrinh06/CNCIS2H.jpg
IS2
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.all3sports.com/imageserver/images_big/CNCIS2H.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.all3sports.com/product_info.php%3FpName%3Dcane-creek-is2-integrated-headset&h=247&w=251&sz=19&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=jKFI4vpHK0QUQM:&tbnh=109&tbnw=111&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcane%2Bcreek%2Bis2%2Bintegrated%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den




http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc33/pbtrinh06/cane-creek-zs2.jpg
ZS2
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/cane-creek-zs2-indx.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.wiggle.co.uk/CategoryProducts.aspx%3FcategoryName%3DHeadsets%26cat%3Dcycle&h=125&w=125&sz=3&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=RCZwPmhah8DagM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcane%2Bcreek%2Bzs2%2Bintegrated%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

if you read a post with "IS-2", we're not talking about the RT700 frame.

I must have been lucky to get mine this early. I live in Hawaii and ordered at the last minute. Did you get tracking info yet?

Since you are in Hawaii that = no freezing weather and able to take your bike for a spin, how is the ride?


NO Tracking number,
I was told that it will not be processed and shipped out until february; I am just jealous :-q

thanks a lot, I may swap mine around with one of the other bikes.

Hey Mike, how many of those Fly Ti MTB's were ordered? I've been gushing about that bike on here for a month and nobody has posted 'yeah I'm getting one too'. Am I the only one? That would surprise me, that bike is a smokin deal.

I would tend to interpret the lack of a response as a 'yes'.

The IS goes on the Boettechia CF frame. I will assume my complete bike will have the proper headset installed. I'll let you know what it is when I get it.

Pcad, I'd be extremely surprised if you were the only one. I have limited funds I sneak away from the SO so I didn't get one. Besides, I'm sure Mike's pretty busy right now. Perhaps he hasn't seen your question. I know, I know, everyone wants instant response now-a-days, but sometimes, it just doesn't happen.

Since you are in Hawaii that = no freezing weather and able to take your bike for a spin, how is the ride?


NO Tracking number,
I was told that it will not be processed and shipped out until february; I am just jealous :-q

Unfortunately I've been working late every night this week so haven't been able to ride it much. Also this is my first road bike so I don't have much to compare it to. BUT, I can tell you that the paint job is reeeeallly nice and it accelerates very very fast compared to my 28 lb commuter bike that I've been riding. I don't like the brakes, however. I can't seem to get them adjusted so that at least one pad isn't always in contact with the rim and I think what everyone says about the pads being garbage is probably right. I'm having a friend of mine dial me in this weekend and then I'll go on a nice ride and have more to report.

if you read a post with "IS-2", we're not talking about the RT700 frame.

Thanks a lot, that clears up everything.

TI know, I know, everyone wants instant response now-a-days, but sometimes, it just doesn't happen.

Yeah, what's up with that?

I would tend to interpret the lack of a response as a 'yes'.

Probably true on the "road cycling" thread, but maybe they're more on the mtb thread?

No photos yet, but we just finished building up the RT700 frame.
It looks flippin' GREAT! It was too dark to ride tonight, or make photos, but I'm really happy.
It went together well. No problems

I used all the parts from my Motobecane Le Champion SL except I added Dura Ace brakes, an Ultegra Compact Crankset and a seat that doesn't suck. I did have to get a braze on front D as the moto had a clamp on. The Shimano FC-700 crankset goes super well with the frame color, which I hadn't expected or even thought about.

It has American Classic 420s wheels. I peeled the stickers off and I'm very pleased.

Photos to follow. I'll shoot this weekend. I'll shoot as well as i can, but I have yet to see a photo that captures the true color of the frame. It looks so much better in person.

Has anyone tried to register their Kestrel online? I couldn't get the registration page to submit, and I tried the email route only to have the message bounce back -
<info@kestrel-usa.com>:
216.82.249.163 does not like recipient.
Remote host said: 550 Invalid recipient <info@kestrel-usa.com>
(#5.1.1)
Giving up on 216.82.249.163.

Here's a pic of my RT700 build. Sorry if the pic isn't Ansel Adams quality. It's all Campy Chorus, Fulcrum Racing 3 wheels. Those red decals on the wheels might have to go... Weighs in at 16.74 lbs. without pedals. I use XTR spds for walkability. (This is sacrilege for a Campy snob like me, but what ya going to do...) I rode it yesterday, it's a smooth riding machine. My previous bike was a Cannondale CAAD 3 with Chorus, and this bike is just as stiff.

Has anyone tried to register their Kestrel online? I couldn't get the registration page to submit, and I tried the email route only to have the message bounce back -

Why bother, these frames don't have any warranty. Kestrel got bought by Fuji so they are blowing out all the old stock. Only the new frames with the new paint scheme come with warranty and none of those seem to be for sale yet.

Actually, Kestrel (well.....Fuji now....) still warranties their bikes....

Why bother, these frames don't have any warranty. Kestrel got bought by Fuji so they are blowing out all the old stock. Only the new frames with the new paint scheme come with warranty and none of those seem to be for sale yet.


This is not true!
We do not sell frames or bikes without warranty

ASI which owns Fuji will stand behind warranty on Kestrel Products
So the warranty is actually better now - as you have one of the top big 3 factories in the industry behind it.

No one who purchases a Kestrel, Motobecane, Windsor, Dawes, Surly, Bottechhia, or Mercier from BD has anything to worry about concerning warranty backup.

is the spec. on BD is difference compare to the mainstream...i.e. Trek, Giant, etc...

More to the point, will someone has a problem with swapping parts[e.g. upgrade components] on a complete BD's bike purchased in the future?

Appreciate for clarification

All the bikes will sell use the same components as Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc - in fact; many are made in the same exact factories.

In general, there are few 'special' parts or sizes found in the bicycle industry today. A few companies like Cannondale use some odd stuff that is not generally available. But Trek, Motobecane, Fuji, Specialized, Felt, Mercier, Bottecchia, Jamis, Dawes, Giant, Kona, Fisher, Windsor, and so on -- all use standardized parts.

Wkend_Warrior,
I pulled the parts from my Motobecane Le champion SL for my new Kestrel frame. Everything fit but the front deraileur. The new frame needed a braze on, Le Champ was a clamp.
Otherwise, no issues.
Of course, some frames have odd seatposts, and god save us all from headsets

Has anyone recieved an e-mail for full payment on the Evoke frameset? Dang...I check my e-mail constantly! I'm like a kid on christmas eve.Can't wait!

Mike,
will you let us know when the Ti road bikes are on the ship from I know that I won't see it until April but the suspence is killing me....

Why bother, these frames don't have any warranty. Kestrel got bought by Fuji so they are blowing out all the old stock. Only the new frames with the new paint scheme come with warranty and none of those seem to be for sale yet.

As Botto would say, Incorrect

Hey. I'm working on my RT700 frame.
You guys that got a finished bike, is there a barrel adjuster somewhere for the front deraileuer?

Hey. I'm working on my RT700 frame.
You guys that got a finished bike, is there a barrel adjuster somewhere for the front deraileuer?

Nope.

Mike,
will you let us know when the Ti road bikes are on the ship from I know that I won't see it until April but the suspence is killing me....


Of course, my schedule shows March shipment - April delivery
I just hope they are not showed down by the ever slower Shimano supply

When any related items ships; I will post here -giving buyers about 30 days notice of time to get the funds together

Hey. I'm working on my RT700 frame.
You guys that got a finished bike, is there a barrel adjuster somewhere for the front deraileuer?

One of those barrel adjusters would have been real handy and so would one of those Park Tool BT-2 Cable Stretchers .

Cable stretchers are pretty much essential.... You'll use them a lot so purchasing a cheap one is helpful.... As for the barrel adjuster.... It could be [d]one without... or you could buy one right?

Yesterday I gave up trying to adjust my rear derailleur on my RT700 that I bought complete and took it to the LBS because I couldn't get it right. After about 30 min of messing with it they loosened up the cable and found the problem. There is a TON of friction inside the frame!! Also the LBS said they used a large diameter brake cable for the derailleurs and not a thinner one, which exacerbates the problem. They said there is nothing they could do about it and it shifts like **** now. WTF bikesdirect, first a chip in the paint then you guys route the chain wrong in the derailleur (causing pretty bad damage to the derailleur), and now the cable routing is all jacked up. Anyone else having a tough time shifting?

Yesterday I gave up trying to adjust my rear derailleur on my RT700 that I bought complete and took it to the LBS because I couldn't get it right. After about 30 min of messing with it they loosened up the cable and found the problem. There is a TON of friction inside the frame!! Also the LBS said they used a large diameter brake cable for the derailleurs and not a thinner one, which exacerbates the problem. They said there is nothing they could do about it and it shifts like **** now. WTF bikesdirect, first a chip in the paint then you guys route the chain wrong in the derailleur (causing pretty bad damage to the derailleur), and now the cable routing is all jacked up. Anyone else having a tough time shifting?


I had no problems with cable friction. I dipped them in 30weight oil and let them drain and made sure the cables did not cross in the frame, but getting that front deraileur set right took me about 30 min`s . It would have been alot faster with the right tool but that was my fault and will not happen again . BTW if the cables are crossed in the frame your screwed until they are uncrossed . If when you slide the second cable down from the top you let it go over the other cable allready in there your crossed .

Yesterday I gave up trying to adjust my rear derailleur on my RT700 that I bought complete and took it to the LBS because I couldn't get it right. After about 30 min of messing with it they loosened up the cable and found the problem. There is a TON of friction inside the frame!! Also the LBS said they used a large diameter brake cable for the derailleurs and not a thinner one, which exacerbates the problem. They said there is nothing they could do about it and it shifts like **** now. WTF bikesdirect, first a chip in the paint then you guys route the chain wrong in the derailleur (causing pretty bad damage to the derailleur), and now the cable routing is all jacked up. Anyone else having a tough time shifting?

Same problem here on my RT700 rd. The LBS said it had some binding, but he thought he had got it working by putting a sleeve in it. (Don't know the details of this...). Anyway, I've ridden it 3 times and the RD shifts like crap. I'll take it in tomorrow and see if there's a remedy. If not, it's warranty/return time.

I've ha better luck, though sending the cable through was really hard. I guess there was a bit of the "balloon" they wrap the carbon around still flapping about inside. I think a surgeon might have tools to reach through that little hole and remove it.

But I'm happy. I'm stiff working on the front deraileur shifting, but the thing rides really well. Solid, and doesn't rattle at all. It feels very stable. I love it.

Yes, that's a Fred jersey. But darn it, it was cold and this one has a wind stop front.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2083/2207775356_f82873a90e.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2083/2207775356_f82873a90e.jpg

That's an awfully Fred jersey. Nice bike.

Same problem here on my RT700 rd. The LBS said it had some binding, but he thought he had got it working by putting a sleeve in it. (Don't know the details of this...). Anyway, I've ridden it 3 times and the RD shifts like crap. I'll take it in tomorrow and see if there's a remedy. If not, it's warranty/return time.
I do fail to see how that is a problem with BD and not Kestrel in general. It's not like there is a BD version of the RT700...

From a fellow bf'er:

took possession of one in May of this year. I love it! It's fast, responsive, aerodynamic and comfortable. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockman13/1943299262/ for a photo and some particulars.

We did have one problem with it. Per Kestrel, a shipment of frames were imported that had not been inspected before shipment to the LBS'. My frame had excess material in the internal cable way inside the right chain stay that hadn't been removed before shipment to the LBS. So we had to ship it back to them for removal, costing an extra 10-15 days total for me to take possession. This did improve the shifting quite a bit, but did not bring it up to par. The chain ring shifting worked fine right from the "git go."

So the real shifting was still slow and a little inconsistent. This was Dura-Ace, mind you! Bear in mind, the frame is designed to have the rear brake cable routed thru the top tube and the 2 dérailleur cables routed down the down tube, exiting in front of the bottom bracket. Unfortunately, the rear dérailleur cable goes through an external guide way that has three, count them, three curves before it enters the right chain stay. The LBS has an excellent mechanic who tried all kinds of lubes and even temporarily substituted a full length cable housing, which made it shift properly, but I wanted to have the bike built as designed so we took it out.

I rode the bike 300-400 miles and the shifting didn't seem to get much better. The LBS ran a Teflon cable housing THROUGH the frame which demonstrated that the problem was in the guide ways, because then the shifting was right! So, in the final analysis, we had to buy another whole Dura Ace cable and housing and route it thru the frame to the rear dérailleur. Note that Kestrel has different flanges that they supplied for free for where the cable housing entered and exited the down tube, plus a different external guide way for placement under the bottom bracket. So now it shifts just fine.

So far I have about 3,000 miles on it. I would still recommend the frame to any body.

SES

I've ha better luck, though sending the cable through was really hard. I guess there was a bit of the "balloon" they wrap the carbon around still flapping about inside. I think a surgeon might have tools to reach through that little hole and remove it.

But I'm happy. I'm stiff working on the front deraileur shifting, but the thing rides really well. Solid, and doesn't rattle at all. It feels very stable. I love it.

Yes, that's a Fred jersey. But darn it, it was cold and this one has a wind stop front.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2083/2207775356_f82873a90e.jpg

Thanks a great build! Full D/A? What frame size is that? Are those de-decaled American classics?

Congrats on you build.... I bought a frameset too.... got the D/A just waiting.....

Also.... it looks like you have two magnets on the wheels.... what's up with that?

Hey B. E. what's in that saddle bag? A six of Bud Light?

In regards to the RT700 Rear derailleur shifting quality, I found that the cable was hanging up at the outlet of the plastic bottom bracket shell guide. No problems for me in the actual frame tubes. I sanded and then eventually had to enlarge/ream out the exit of the guide to relieve the cable binding. Upshifts and downshifts are now fine.
My current challenge is that there is frame interference for the Campy triple front derailleur, so I'll probably use a compact crank instead, as the derailler lever arm profile looks more favorable, though I was hoping for the triple for steep sierra passes.

Hey B. E. what's in that saddle bag? A six of Bud Light?

Man.... you ARE good....

Thanks a great build! Full D/A? What frame size is that? Are those de-decaled American classics?

Ultegra all around on the drive train. I like the chainrings on thi sbike a lot more than my last. They really go well with it.
Took the AC stickers off when I put the wheels on this bike. I kinda like the look.



Also.... it looks like you have two magnets on the wheels.... what's up with that?

Good eyes!
I have my magnet on the front for the Sigma wireless.
The back has one for the Garmin 305 that I haven't installed the sensor for yet.

It look so clean now, but soon will be trashed up with water bottle cages and a small bag for a tube.