Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Litespeed Saber for Brevets?

I really need sine input in this!

I'm a new rider (about 3 months) that came from the ultra running world. I spend a lot of time in the Clyde forum and lurk the long distance forum everyday.

I'm riding a Jamis Coda Sport now that I equipped with a trekking bar and am building my mileage up for a century in June. I really would like to build to Randonneuring.

That being said, I have an opportunity to buy a Litespeed Saber frame from a friend. It's listed as a TT bike. Titanium frame with carbon stays and fork. I'd be able to build it up myself as money allows.

He's asking $700 and before I take a test ride and commit the money (which would have to take a bit of convincing to my wide and a little time to come up with,) I would like the opinions of experienced long distance riders on the comfort, durability, and practicality of this frame for Brevet style riding.

I'm currently 280 pounds, but should be around 225 by the time the bike is ready to ride.

I started riding at round 280. When I bought my Raleigh Sojourn, I had already lost a fair bit of weight. The bike shop set it up with handlebars and stem about as high as they could reasonably go. Even at that, it was uncomfortable to ride in the drops. So you may find the basic geometry is hard for you to fit into, even if the bike is more or less the right size.

Typically, the guys that ride TT bikes are a bunch lighter. Assuming that's the case here, he's probably got it set up with lighter wheels than what you'd want to be using.

I've been "losing weight" for a long time, and it can be a slow process. If you're sticking to a particular diet and workout plan, maybe it'll come off on schedule, but personally, I would never buy a bike now based on what I expected to weigh at some point in the future.

I take it you've looked at this: http://www.litespeed.com/bikes/saber.aspx

According to the "Performance Styles" graph, the Saber is "Not Intended" for much of anything other than Tri's and TTs. In other words, a very narrowly-focused special purpose bike. Not what I'd choose or recommend as a brevet bike. Look for something more of an all-rounder/road/light touring mount. In the Litespeed line, the BlueRidge would be a FAR better choice: http://www.litespeed.com/bikes/blueridge.aspx

SP
Bend, OR

Thanks guys.

I appreciate your help. You verified my initial thoughts.

You know how it goes: there's an offer for a new bike and your mind thinks "N+1=happiness."

Needed n outside opinion to keep me from talking myself into it.

I'm not familiar with that particular bike, but there are people that do rando rides on time trial bikes. But they're also the guys that can do them in 7 hours or so, or do a century in 5. One guy in particular that I have in mind has a number of Litespeed titanium bikes that he uses for just that purpose.

By the way, I haven't priced the things, but that sounds like a heck of a deal, so I can see why you'd hate to pass it up.

I didn't see a geometry chart. Just thinking about it, the only thing that makes a TT bike different is a steeper seat tube angle. If they didn't do this, it looks like it would work fine.

I didn't see a geometry chart. Just thinking about it, the only thing that makes a TT bike different is a steeper seat tube angle. If they didn't do this, it looks like it would work fine.

They did (like 78 degrees?). And probably the 650c wheel thing too.

SP
Bend, OR

wow, someone went out of their way to make that geometry chart so it wouldn't display properly on the most computers possible. Yeah, if it has strange size tires, that's a deal killer.

$700 was for the frame and forks only. I called on Friday and passed.