14max

While BF was inconveniently down I took receipt of my Litespeed Firenze. I was at first taken aback by the total weight of the complete package (box, filler, and bike). According to UPS the package weighed 28 pounds. When I opened the box I was even more surprised by how it was packed. Packing peanuts, millions of them, covered the bike. The only thing I could see not protected by peanuts was the top of the seat tube which had been covered in bubble wrap. As you can imagine, removing the bike was a chore since I didn't want to get the filler all over my house. After about 5 minutes I safely extricated the bike and was immediately floored by how light it was. I mean I was expecting it to be lighter than my previous steel rides but it blew the doors off my CAAD7 Cannondale, too. Total weight came to 17 pounds.

Putting the bike together was easy. The guys at Colorado Cyclist did their job extremely well and all I had to attach were the front brake caliper, handlebar, seatpost, and seat. I'm taping the bars tonight. My Look Sprint pedals are at the Post Office waiting for me to pick them up. Once that's done I'll be able to get the bike out for a test ride.

All in all I'm very pleased with the workmanship on the build itself as well as the craftsmanship of the frame. It's not true artisan work like you'd find on a lugged steel frame but it is very well executed. I've seen welds on frames like Moots and Dean and thought I'd be really envious when receiving the Firenze. That hasn't been the case at all. I'm really blown away by the quality of the welds, the uniformity of the beads, and how, even on this 'low end' frame extra care was taken in making it great. I've also grown to really like the matte grey finish. I wasn't keen on the pictures I've seen on the Litespeed or Colorado Cyclist websites or, for that matter, the picture in the C.C. catalog. However, in person the effect is excellent. The blasted finish looks very nice, subtle, but stands out when compared to the polished titanium that's more common.

I will post pics as soon as the bike is completely put together.

rufvelo

Congrats! Pics needed of course!

Hopefully this is THE ONE - you'll keep for at least a decade. You bought a 59cm 2005 - is that compact or traditional geometry?

I've bought from Colorado Cyclist before, they've built/packed bikes well.

HAMMER MAN

yep lets see some pictures!

slvoid

Congrats man, now we can officially welcome you to the club!

You don't have to treat her well, she can take a beating... the bike I mean.

Hope this satisfies the urge for at least a while.

kgatwork

How come you have to tape the bars? When I got my 04 Litespeed Classic from CC it had the bars taped. Just wondering!

shakeNbake

It's unethical to say good things about a bike and not post a pic

Anyways congrats!

14max

All indicators point to "Yes". And, yes, I did get a 2005 59cm and I'm REALLY glad I did. The 61cm would have been huge. The traditional geometry 59cm with 120mm stem and 175mm crankset is perfect. Very much a glovelike fit.

14max

I actually wondered why I needed to do that, too. However, since I haven't taped a set of bars for a while I need the practice so I'll take that as my silver lining...

14max

Pictures soon. Probably tomorrow. My wife is picking up the pedals from the P.O. tomorrow morning and I was waiting until it was completely together before posting. It's already in the big ring so the pedals are the last to be bolted on before the big shoot...

14max

You, sir, are to thank and to blame for this. I am very, very pleased, however, so the blame is minimal. I still cannot believe how light the thing is. 17 pounds without pedals. I mean, c'mon. I've never owned a bike that light. And this is with 'standard' wheels. I can only imagine what it'd be like if/when I get a lighter set (which, I confess, I've already started looking for).

This should satisfy the bike urge for a long, long time.

ViperZ

Congrats!


I beg to differ, Lugs are not really artisan for the fact that they are filed clean and then painted over. One lugged bike can look like another lugged bike, ornate cut outs aside.

On the other hand, welds are like the builders signature, in that no 2 frames will be welded a like, and the quality is in the finished product, with no paint to hide flaws. Each will have it's own characteristics, look and personal detail in the final weld. In this regard, welds will show the personality and the soul of the builder more than any filed and painted lug ever will.

However that is just my slant on it

Enjoy!

slvoid

By the time you're done, it'll be closer to 22-23 lbs with a seat pack and water bottles.

14max

Yep, you're right. I figured 1/2 pound for the pedals (250 grams), 3 pounds for two 20 ounce bottles of water, and 1/2 pound for the seatpack with tube, levers, etc. However, that's still better than starting out with a 21-22 pound bike (see Rivendell Romulus) and adding the same weight...

14max

I agree with you there. The artisan comment really comes from the viewpoint of what can be done to the lugs to make them stand out from one another. Really good filework goes a long way in this regard. Welds are different and one can really discern a good weld from a great weld, especially if left unpainted. I've seen, and now own, a frame that has great welds. The craftspeople at places like Merlin Litespeed, Dean, Spectrum, Moots, and Indy Fab should be very proud of what they produce...

steve_wmn

I really like the look of the 2005 and older Firenze. That dull gray Titanium looks really utilitarian. The bike is a real sleeper, kind of the opposite of the high bling Carbon frame. I wish Litespeed had left it as is for 2006, 105 gruppo and all.

slvoid

I really like the dull gray finish too. Once you burn all the decals off and have it all dull gray, it's a very nice sleeper.
Now that your bike lust is over with, let the wheel lusting begin! May I recommend a pair of american classics at around 1350 grams? You can probably drop a good pound from the wheels you have now, not to mention less rotational weight.

14max

I was looking at a few sets (AC 420s, Xero Lite XR-1s, and FSA RD-400s). I'm considering getting an 11-23 cassette and some lightweight clinchers to turn them into 'race' wheels...

slvoid

Rolf prima vigor's look pretty good. Light, deep dish aero rim, very very few spokes. FAAAST.

chzman

Although it took forever to get my frame, the welds from Dean are just amazing...

14max

Pics below...

rav

welcome to the Ti Club, good choice on the fork too!!!

ravi

markwebb

My lil' sis was all ready top order a Firenze with Ultegra group from CC, but then i found a 10 speed record equipped NOS Classic on eBay for $1,500 and, well, she'll be whipping me up the hills next week on her new Ti Classic !!!

I am mostly a classic lugged guy and lust over vintage steel (my #1 ride is a new Mercian built with 531) but in looking at the Litespeeds for her, I have been impressed. And you can get them for reasonable prices. They seem to be an excellent product - maybe the best value out there.

Mariner Fan

Wow, look how close the rear tire is to the seat tube. I'm going to have to get a Ti bike one of these days. Nice bike 14max.

slvoid

Yeah mine's pretty close too, you can't fit a pinky in there.
Those are great pics, but it looks like a dent at the top of the downtube...

14max

In which pic? If it's the last one, I think you're seeing the registered trademark "R" next to the "d" in "Litespeed"...