Fifty Plus (50+) - Count down to extacy

I just can't stand waiting.
My new frame has left the building and UPS tracking says it will arrive on Friday.

I have no idea how long it will take to transfer everything from my existing bike to the new frame. And i'm sure it will rain and rain once I do.

But still, I feel like I am an expectant father.

BTW, that is a COPPER frame. Not orange. Got it. COPPER.

Anyway, photos of the birth, build, and bike will endlessly follow, just like a grandma with a wallet of photos you get stuck next to on the plane.

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/kestrel/images/rt_7_frame_fork/images/rt7_frame_n_fork.jpg

I don't know.............looks orange to me.............would have been easier if it was white.

Will there be a name for the beast?

It does need a name. My other bikes are "the road bike" and "the commuter bike" and "the old Cannondale"

My wife has names: "My little Pony" for her road bike and "the red truck" for her commuter.

I'll have to see if it grows a name organically. However, the word ORANGE will not be part of it.

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5960/amkest.html

You may find naming information at this site...I'm especially taken by its "voice"..."killy....killy....killy"

You might also consider a new avitar to go with the new bike.

that's one good looking frame
i have a sci200 which i am happy with to-date - even back then they (kestrel) did some fine work and only seem to be getting better every year.

use it well and happy riding

Excellent choice in every way. BTW, copper is a true bicycle color.

If that picture is its true color, it sure looks a lot closer to metallic orange than it does to copper. Although it does look like it has some copper in it.

Here is a frame that is copper:
http://www.teamcyclist.com/store/Kestrel-Bike-Frame-Talon-Copper-Blaze-ID_P10386.cfm

I do like the color a lot, as metallic orange, er, ah, "copper," is one of my favorite bike colors.

Nice looking frame. That is carbon, right?

Oh, and don't worry - you can always repaint it to yellow later!

Nice looking frame. That is carbon, right?

!

No- one in their right mind would cover up CF with Orange Paint!!!!

Isn't yours the same frame as this one?

http://www.teamcyclist.com/store/Kestrel-Bike-Frame-RT700-Copper-Blaze-Silver-ID_P10394C1327.cfm

In this pic, it does look like copper.

Isn't yours the same frame as this one?

http://www.teamcyclist.com/store/Kestrel-Bike-Frame-RT700-Copper-Blaze-Silver-ID_P10394C1327.cfm

In this pic, it does look like copper.

Yes indeed, that is a photo of the fine carbon fiber COPPER frame I have on order. Swell, huh?

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5960/amkest.html

You may find naming information at this site...I'm especially taken by its "voice"..."killy....killy....killy"

You might also consider a new avitar to go with the new bike.

"The American kestrel is a potential nuisance itself in that it typically makes loud, annoying, squawking noises in the vicinity of human beings."

OK....That IS helpful!

Or maybe
"The American kestrel is, for the most part, not a social bird."

I told you it was a good site!....:)

That frame is sexy. It's hot. Don't listen to these nay-sayers.

"The American kestrel is a potential nuisance itself in that it typically makes loud, annoying, squawking noises in the vicinity of human beings."

OK....That IS helpful!

Or maybe
"The American kestrel is, for the most part, not a social bird."

One thing about a Kestrel- Don't know about the American ones- Is that it is so gracefull that you just cannot admire it.

Kestrel Bike Frame RT700 Copper Blaze/Silver

OK, it really IS copper. For a name, how about Blaze? Sort of goes along with the cowboy theme.

They are a familiar sight, hovering alongside a motorway or other road.

That "copper" is about the color of my truck. I think it's called "Desert Sunrise" or something like that.

Yes indeed, that is a photo of the fine carbon fiber COPPER frame I have on order. Swell, huh?

I don't usually get too excited about a frame but this one is beautiful. Love the copper and silver!

Blaze? As in Blazing Saddles?

Maybe "The Bird of Prey," though I need to be a lot faster to name my bike that.

The Hawk

Maybe just "The Kestrel" I mean, really, it's already got a great name.

Faster.... Faster.......




http://curtis.corlew.com/hosting/when.png

Faster.... Faster.......




http://curtis.corlew.com/hosting/when.png

I had them re-route it to my house. Sorry.

Blaze? As in Blazing Saddles?

.

No - Blaze, like the marking on a horse.

http://www.fort.usgs.gov/resources/spotlight/horse/images/faces/blaze.gif
Blaze
A broad white mark down the face, extending over the nose.


"8.00 lbs" ???? I hope that's a heavy box!

Dear cccorlew,

It didn't quite fit in the truck, hope it doesn't matter if it is bent just a little.

Sincerely,

UPS

"8.00 lbs" ???? I hope that's a heavy box!


No, it's SOLID carbon fiber, so it will be sturdy.

No, it's SOLID carbon fiber, so it will be sturdy.

Hope so- This one weighs 900 grammes.

Silver seems to be the in colour- And Black of course

Old Fibre glass Laminators trick--Best thing to polish the frame- and to get rid of the Mould release agent- is Brylcreem. Honest- it works. Then to keep it at a high gloss- Wax furniture polish.

Looking forward to the build reports including photo.... AND THEN.... the ride report... AND THEN... the stories about where you've been with it... AND THEN... the report about all the compliments you get... AND THEN... the new copper 50+ jersey. :)

I don't know why but for some reason I have always been attracted to the Kestrel brand, I love that name. Probably because it's named after a beautiful bird with outstanding speed and flying capabilities. The name suits well to a stealthy bike. DON'T CHANGE THE NAME!

I like the color theme. Congratulations. :eek: Ooops... it's not here yet, so I will wait on the congrats (see link below).

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=372125&highlight=fedex

Shippers have an amazing way to test our patience. :D

I don't know why but for some reason I have always been attracted to the Kestrel brand, I love that name. Probably because it's named after a beautiful bird with outstanding speed and flying capabilities. The name suits well to a stealthy bike. DON'T CHANGE THE NAME!

I like the color theme. Congratulations. :eek: Ooops... it's not here yet, so I will wait on the congrats (see link below).

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=372125&highlight=fedex

Shippers have an amazing way to test our patience. :D

You seriously freaked me out with this. I started reading it not knowing how it would turn out. I was almost thinking somehow this was a prediction of whether my bike would be lost or not. But I'm still all weirded out. I hit reload on teh shipping page every few minutes.

But you're right about the name. And its easy to say... much nicer than "Honey, I'm taking out the Bikesdirect.com Motobecane SL out for a ride."

Try it: "Hon, I'm gonna go fly the Kestrel"
Yep, that works.

:p I was just joking. Boxes get lost occasionally but most of them arrive on time.

Enjoy the building process by the way. It scared me the first time I build a bike but I found the process very gratifying. Only problem is that when it's completed you want to start a new project. :rolleyes:

Another thing... now that you are switching brand I can say it.

When I was a kid in France Motobécane wasn't a very enticing brand. 'Bécane' is a nick name and equivalent to 'beater bike', not much representative of a fast racer. The name Motobécane appeared as a diminutive for motorized bike as the company was best known for mopeds.
So it amuses me a lot when I read US riders glorify the name.

Mercier, Gitane, and even Peugeot were the real deal.

1. No change in the shipping data (like you care...)

2. "Motobécane" -- you get bonus points for using the diacritical.
I always thought it was stupid for BikeDirect to brand their bikes with a name that has no real meaning. They have no relationship to the old Motobécane. I feel like a fraud whenever someone says "I used to have one of those in the 70s.

Still, it's a nice light bike that came with good components. I'm just thinking a carbon frame might be a little easier on my old bones. And the combination of coolness, the name, hot totally hot seatpost clamp and a great deal made me unable to resist.

Now I feel obligated to do some big rides this summer. I'm seriously thinking Davis Double (there, I said it out loud)
I've got a couple of centurys on my list, and Tricia might want to do seattle to Portland again.

Out for delivery....

Arrg. I'm at work and I want to go home!!!!!!!!!!

http://curtis.corlew.com/hosting/deliver.png

Is it there yet............................


How can you claim still at work when you just got there?

cccorlew, you have your priorities all screwed up. What the heck are you doing at work when The Package is on its way to your home?

Will someone be there to receive it? If not, will they THROW it back on the truck and try again tomorrow, when it could be buried under a mountain of other packages (again)?

Around my neighborhood, they just leave packages on my porch, unless they require a signature.

You need to leave work, find the truck, and draft it all the way to your home. C'mon, man, get your priorities straight!

The truck is wandering in the fog, lots of it this morning. Will be a while before it reaches your home and only if it finds it.
UPS doesn't deliver on Saturdays, could be there on Monday. :eek:

If I was waiting for an orange (sorry....copper) bike, I'd be at home greeting the delivery man with a smile. After all, if he decides not to leave it today, he won't be back till monday. My last frame got shipped "signature required".

There was a report of a UPS man riding a new copper colored Kestrel around Antioch earlier this morning.:eek:

I missed an important UPS delivery by a few minutes once, so I got in my car, and started driving around town, asking every UPS truck I found if they had my package! On the third or fourth try, I hit pay dirt!

And by "important," I mean cycling related...

I missed an important UPS delivery by a few minutes once, so I got in my car, and started driving around town, asking every UPS truck I found if they had my package! On the third or fourth try, I hit pay dirt!

And by "important," I mean cycling related...

My company now longer uses UPS. Too many cartons looked as though they had been run over by a fork lift truck. Check for tyre marks before taking delivery.

Dear Curtis;

I'm waiting nervously on your door step, still in my box. Some neighborhood kids came home early and were gesturing at me like they wanted to take me home with them. A loose pit bull peed on me and I think Trish is getting suspicious. It's dark in here, please come get me... let's run away together.

Your new bike.

Well.....is it there yet......I for one am surprised that you can sit there with so little emotion and calmly await what will probably be the finest bike in you life to arrive. My gosh man....get involved, get excited.....get the camera. We all await the news and pictures.

Oh man. I left a note on my door and still UPS didn't leave the package.
I called them. They are supposed to call within an hour. DA*^&%$&^%#%&^$*&^*&^

Man that's harsh. I hope you can drive down to the distribution center and take delivery there. Good luck Curtis, I cant give you any more !@#$ about this.

When I saw his post a couple of hours ago, I started a post to chastise him for having gone to work, but then I felt so sorry for him that I deleted it. I too hope he finds a way to take delivery.

Definitely one of the best Steely Dan albums.

So, what happened? Maybe I'll check google news for assaults on UPS drivers.

Two pictures are worth a thousand words, but here's a few anyway.

I drove over to the UPS place at 8:30 and picked it up.

Note my sweet Tricia, impressed with the light weight.

The color is nicer than any of the photos I've seen.

Thanks for everyones support and teasing and fun.

Build to follow in a week or so.

http://curtis.corlew.com/hosting/kestrel1.jpg

http://curtis.corlew.com/hosting/kestrel2.jpg

Now... Congrats are in order.

Enjoy the build. The fun begins.