Fat Boy

Interesting to see how you got from here to there on the bike design. In truth, the Tsunami only has to be comfortable enough to race on. It wouldn't be a complete tragedy to ride on the C'dale on longer rides.

As far as the Chris King headset goes, check out the InSet model https://chrisking.com/headsets/hds_inset Total stack height is 12.7mm. I don't know if that would work for you, but if so, it'd be nice to have.

Let us know how this experiment turns out. I'm really curious to hear about it.

ldesfor1@ithaca

at 2 grand it can easily be a caad 7-9 with DA and snazzzy wheels.

carpediemracing 

Aha. I made an assumption that this headset would be an integrated one. This is good info since A - Tsunami sells these things and B - it's lower than any other headset I've seen in my brief search.

I figure if I ultimately want a lighter, softer frame, I'll figure out how to replicate this thing in carbon, with the 1.5 lower bearing. But for comfort, other than reach, the rear triangle will be extremely similar to the SystemSix (big chainstays with small seat stays), ditto the front (stiff frame with carbon fork).

I'll be blogging the process of the whole frame thing. I hope to take delivery of it in late Jan, at my SoCal "training camp". Ought to be interesting. Based on my extreme requests, I figure if it's rideable that'll be a triumph!

cdr

caloso

Just ordered one of these:



$179. I had blingtastic carbon, now going for down and dirty aluminum.

robncircus

Keep us posted on this. I have been debating one for a while. They have a very low headtube which has me intrigued since it's tough for someone short like me to get good drop.

ldesfor1@ithaca

my GF had one of these. It was OK for her. I'm curious to see how you like it. It seemed a bit sloppily made. You may want to face the BB threads...

Treefox

How is it that 2-3k has come to represent a 'budget bike?'

My race bike is easily within that range and I'd always thought of it as being pretty solidly 'up there' in spec.


You can get anything reasonable with $3,000.

BDS

sette ximo. counting the pro-fit, the build cost me ~$1300. the welds are ugly and a bit chunky. as built it weighs just over 20 lbs. let me know if you have any other questions.

even though it isn't pr0n and it hasn't been raced i should probably post this over in the race rig thread.

cheers,
bds

caloso

Is that SRAM Rival?

BDS

yeah - purchased from this guy.

Oregon Southpaw

This thread is hilarious. I would go back and pull out all the funny quotes from the OP, but I'm not sure that would be so constructive.

When I was graduating high-school, I was obsessed with music and writing songs. I got a secondhand $500 guitar when all I wanted was a $5000 guitar. It worked well. I wrote lots of songs on it. I still have it, use it, and love it. I'm not sure moving the decimal point over would have changed much. I kind of think bikes are the same way. I would love to have the sweetest, shop-new bike I could get. But I wouldn't be any faster* than on a hand-me-down Caad from two years ago. (*ok a little but not as much as say, training)

I hang out primarily in C&V, and am thus thrifty and interested in anachronistic and long-lasting things so I agree wholeheartedly with "its a tool, not a jewel". Work on the engine.

Your ideas of budget are funny. One other thing to keep in mind: all that graduation cash that seems like it'll never vanish - it will vanish. With a quickness.

Also, entering college is a time when priorities change. I hope you stick with the racing thing, particularly if you blow all your graduation money on a fly ride. Please report back after a few semesters. Particularly with that whole "I don't drink" thing.

mike868y

hater...

...either way, I think we have covered that my original use of the word "budget" was not a good idea. Secondly, even if you didn't need that $5,000 guitar, if you had the opportunity to get it you would have. Secondly, if I am going to ride a bike 4-5 days a week 52 weeks a year, spending $3,000 on it doesn't really seem like a big deal. The way I see it, if you spend your money on something you are going to use, at least it is worth it.

No one on the boards hates on anyone for having $10,00 full carbon/sram red/zipp 404 rides, so why is it so damn bad that I want a $2500 (max) alu bike?

...and no comment on the drinking thing

Oregon Southpaw

Sounded a little haterific in retrospect

Still, I stick by it

I don't hate on people who have $10,000 sunk into a bike but I do think WTF

ok_commuter

Maybe this is taking the thread in the wrong direction, but I don't think I can buy new when there are deals like this on ebay:

Ridley Damocles w/Campy Centaur for < $1500.

Ebay is an embarrassment of riches at the moment and will only get better as the recession deepens. I'm looking to buy something similar to the above for around the same price. It was everything I could do to keep myself from bidding on this one...

Oregon Southpaw

I agree, but I suspect a large part of the OP's incentive for purchase is the "new bike" factor.

mike868y

What would make you say that?

and IDK if I am comfortable buying a bike off ebay. I got burned about $350 off ebay a few years back and since then I have avoided it. I would only do local pickup....

ok_commuter

Dolan Aeolus for $1500

I'd by OK with that as my "Budget Race Bike".

Wavey Davey

I just got a Neuvation F100 aluminum framed (carbon steerer fork) with 1520g wheels, SRAM Red shifters, Force cranks and the rest Rival, for $1500 shipped. You can get the same deal, that's John's going rate. Check their website www.neuvationcycling.com. I rode the bike 46 miles on Sunday and it was great. With tires at 110psi, it was still very plush on some very vibey chip-seal Texas farm roads. For what you get, it's an unbeatable deal. I give him thumbs up.

ok_commuter

^ tough to beat that deal. Thanks for the link, that's high on my list now for sure.

Wavey Davey

OK_Comm: That was south of Austin to San Marcos that I rode to on Old San Antonio Rd. Nice user name by the way. Next week I'm going to write up the Neuvation on here. Cheers -D

robncircus

You know I haven't seen these mentioned here yet: https://www.hongfu-bikes.com/Prclass.asp?Id=1

Spare me the lecture but several members over at RBR have purchased these bikes and have really enjoyed them. I have never seen one in person personally but I may try one out with my tax return next year.

Cheers

Rob

caloso

I have a feeling that the Hongfu "Speedflash" is identical to the Scattante XLR Comp I just ordered.

Wavey Davey

My new ripper budget race bike. I already had the saddle, pedals and bars, the rest came shipped for $1550 (with Neuvation bars and saddle) spankin new with my requested mixed group. Red shifters, Force Cranks, Rival the rest. Pretty smokin' deal. John at Neuvation is reliable to work with. The packaging was superb, all the SRAM manuals were included, extra spokes, abrasive decals for chafe areas. Ask John for washers for the internal cables so they don't rattle. Roll on Springtime...

pkpsu

^ are those bars the FSA Wing pro compacts? If so, how do you like them?

roy5000x2

My budget race bike for the year is going to be Sean's group buy Faith aluminum frame and a full SRAM Force gruppo. It'll be about ~$1500 in the end, mostly due to me having all of the other parts hanging around.