Hunterdog

I had Retul fitting a little while ago and the fitter suggested a 160 crank. Great. So I started looking at shorter cranks which, somehow, lead me to looking at No.22 frames. Which lead me to thinking ... Any thoughts on titanium frames; rough paved roads, lots of hills, older rider. Coming from Specialized Roubaix.

79pmooney

I ride two steel forked ti bikes from TiCycles on any pavement (and occasionally off) as a 62 yo. Love them. Can't compare to any CF bikes because I have yet to ride one. But these bikes have 9 and 13k miles on them and will get many more. Road surface is never a consideration on my rides (other than paved or no) except that I sometimes choose the lesser pavement as being more interesting.

Now, I am long and all my cranks are 175 but I doubt that makes any significant difference in this discussion. (I'm slightly under 6' but all arms and legs. Wt 155.)

Ben

StanSeven

If you're looking for comfort, Ti can't be beat. By changing tubing, it can be stiff or giving. It doesn't rust, scratch, ding, or look bad with age. It's a lifetime frame.

BoSoxYacht

Who did your fitting, and how tall are you(inseam)?

TimothyH

I hadn't heard of 22. They look nice.

Merlin Extralight is out there if you want a level top tube. This might be my next bike.

For some reason I am always disappointed when I see a sloping top tube on a steel or ti bike.

Edit: Just saw "Sloping or level top tube. Your choice" on the TiCycles website. Will have to give them a look.

Hunterdog

I'm 5'7", 58, about 155lb; pretty fit. I too occasionally get off the road for old field roads, woods, etc.

BoSoxYacht

Very short legs, or range of motion issues? I ask because 160mm cranks are shorter than normally available.

CliffordK

160 cranks are available, although usually only on smaller (kid's or women's) bikes. No reason they can't be fit on any bike. Everyone doesn't necessarily fit 170, 172.5, 175, or 180.

What is wrong with the Specialized Roubaix? Everything I've heard is that they make very nice bikes. Or, is this a throw the baby out with the bathwater thing?

I've been riding a Litespeed "Frankenbike". It makes a great winter bike. I can't say it is any better at reducing road vibration than other bikes, but it is a good ride, and easy to keep clean and rust free.

NormanF

Your spot on size is 54 cm in even, 55 cm in odd.

BoSoxYacht

I never said they don't exist.

160mm cranks are unusually short for a 5'7" person.

CliffordK

What did the "fit" involve?

As far as I can tell, cadence is related to the circumference of the crank circle, so there would naturally be a trade-off between cranklength and cadence.

So, you could probably maximize the cadence with shorter cranks, but not necessarily maximizing the actual power. Likewise, longer cranks would give more leverage, but at a cost of slower overall cadence due to the longer circle.

It would seem complex to dial in the perfect crank length, gearing, resistance, and cadence.

Hunterdog

The fit was a computer/video Retul fitting; in my opinion, very extensive. My inseam is 29" and, yes, I do have some hip mobility issues. I was simply going to put shorter cranks on the Roubaix and was "internet shopping" and came upon the titanium frames which got me thinking about simply buyin new bike as opposed to upgrading current frame.

rmfnla

But they do crack, so I guess it depends on whose lifetime...

clifftaylor

All of them?? 50%? 10%? 1 every couple of years??

Wingsprint

Last month I rented a Roubaix for a week while visiting family in Arizona. While I did enjoy riding this bike, IMHO, both of my Ti bikes have a much better ride over rough and chip sealed roads.

I can’t offer any feedback on No 22 frames. Never even seen one.

I have had my Ti bikes for many years and both have well over 10,000 miles on them. I see no reason why they won’t be passed on to someone after I am too old to ride.

In my mind an added benefit of many metal frames (Ti, steel and AL) is the use conventional headsets and bottom brackets.

Wingsprint

I am sure the failure rate for any bike frame material is well under 1%. Assuming one is buying a decent quality frame, material failure should not be a concern.

rpenmanparker 

You can make a case for the preference for threaded bottom brackets, but integrated head sets are now the standard and in no way deficient to non-integrated. That ship has sailed. I have had Ti frames with both kinds. Nothing to choose between.

BoSoxYacht

the only people that want a threaded headset these days are Luddites and Hipsters that want to use quill stems.

RollCNY

I didn't take his word "conventional" to mean threaded. I took him to mean EC34.

rpenmanparker 

That's what I thought too, but who knows?

Stucky

Dear goodness! 160mm cranks at 5'7" are just wrong! I have a friend who is 5'2" with short legs, and he doesn't even ride 160mm cranks!

I think a lot of these fittings are pure BS. Seems like they throw in off-the-wall stuff just to be different and appear "scientific"- They woprk for lots of people, because our bodies can adapt to quite a wide range- but they are likely unnecessary. Unless you are having some major comfort/performance issues with standard cranks, I wouldn't waste time and money going after 160's. just because some proprietary fitting sceme says you should.

Maelochs

Maybe he should be.
If 170 mm cranks are fine for someone who is 5'8" to 5'11", and 175 mm cranks good for someone who is 6'0' to 6'2" why shouldn't someone with short legs who stands 5'7" try 160 mm cranks?

Yeah, it could be some "proprietary fitting sceme" but the people doing the fitting aren't making any money selling shorter cranks. Maybe instead it is an industry which has decided 165-170 mm cranks are a happy medium, good enough for most people and not terrible for the rest---but not really suited to people not in the median range.

Another thing is riding style. I used to spin, so short cranks were not an issue. Now my heart can't handle high revs, so long cranks (with my long legs) offer extra torque to compensate for lower revs---I can still be efficient (though I'd much prefer to be able to spin---more power strokes per minute is better, IMO.)

Attacking the guys who did this fitting when you know absolutely nothing about them makes it seem a bit like you were abused by a bike fitter as a kid, or something. Maybe these guys looked at this specific rider, his range of motion, length of limb, limb-to-body proportions, disabilities and limitations, and calculated that he could get the best performance out of 160-mm cranks.

Unless they immediately followed up with "And we just happen to have the only set of 160-mm cranks in the region--but they are Way expensive" then i don't see why these guys would lie.

Besides, the guy is going after a Ti frame---so you should be steering him to lightweight build-it-yourself Chinese carbon.

Jarrett2

I came from a Roubaix as well, but to a steel bike. I tried a couple of titanium bikes, but prefered my Roubaix to them.

Steel is a different story though. If you want to smooth out your ride, go for a light steel bike. Reynolds 853, True Temper OX Platinum or S3 if you can afford it. Much smoother ride and very little weight difference. An S3 frame might actually come out as light or lighter than an equally strong titanium frame.

Jarrett2

But if you must have Ti, definitely check out Lynskey:

https://www.lynskeyperformance.com

Or buy this cool Litespeed in their used section:

https://www.lynskeyperformance.com/s...e-size-53.html

chasm54

You are mistaken