I've been comparing the Litespeed with the Felt trying to get the Litespeed as comfortable as it was when I bought it. It's amazing what a new bike does to your brain. Makes you think about the strangest things -- like, is the old bike still comfortable?
I decided it wasn't so did some shopping. I ordered a new stem (Easton EA70, -6*), handlebar (Easton EA70), and seatpost (Thomson Elite setback). Got the parts Saturday and installed everything yesterday. I compared the measurements with the Felt, made the necessary adjustments to the Litespeed, and went for a ride today. Did my usual route. The Litespeed felt awesome -- kinda like it did when it was new. It's amazing how the bike changes over time. Or is it my body that changed?
The two biggest changes were (1) the new handlebar has a shorter reach and less drop and (2) the seatpost has the typical setback. The old seatpost had zero setback.

Here is the old Litespeed



and the "NEW" Litespeed

Yeah, I'm in the middle of getting all the bikes positioned the same, or rather, getting me positioned the same on all the bikes.

Started a week ago Friday at the LBS with my Litespeed and the Portland. We started with the Litespeed since it was closest to how I wanted to feel, but not quite there. We ended up moving everything forward a cm.

Then we transferred the measurements to the Portland. It's been three or four years since I had a fitting done on it. We moved everything moved down and forward on it. (I'm at the limit of moving the saddle forward on a Thomson setback seatpost.) Now the Portland is fun to ride again.

I've been riding only those two bikes since then, making sure that's where I want things. On this coming Friday it's back to the LBS with Blue Steel and YellowBike. YellowBike's saddle is already pretty far forward on its seatpost, so it will probably need a straight seatpost instead of its Thomson setback.

Gee, we could have traded seatposts!

I had a professional fitting when I got the Felt. Just used those numbers to get the Litespeed set up.

Let me know if you'd like the zero setback seatpost. It's a Thomson Elite, 27.2 mm x 250 mm. Send me a PM if you're interested.

I will. Thanks.

Pleasure On Two Wheels!!

One of my goals in life is to have a Litespeed just like that.

You didn't say if the new stem is longer or shorter than the old but it sounds like you've moved everything back relative to the crank. Or you are riding quite a bit more stretched out. My guess would be back .... correct?

It's a fine goal. The Lynsky-era ones are pure bliss. I was all set to go custom, then my '96 Classic landed in my lap. That cured me (temporarily I'm sure) of custom bike lust.

While no bike is perfect, I really have to nitpick to find things I don't like about mine. The bottle cage bosses for instance. I prefer the "high" one on the downtube and the "low" one on the seat tube. They're reversed from my preference. And that's the only thing I don't like about the whole darned bike.

This is mine from when I first built it up in 2010. I borrowed all the components from my steel bike. These days it has its own components, including a particularly badass-looking wheelset. Someday, if it'll sit still long enough, I'll get new pics.

Question for RonH and tsh..

Do any of you still have your ORIGINAL TI STEM**********

The previous owner of my 1996 Litespeed Classic replaced the stem. Since you all can see, I am more into the 1980s look. With that said, the original 1996 classic came with a conventional looking TI stem, as shown in this picture..

https://www.cehoward.net/96classic-cat1.JPG





https://www.cehoward.net/lspeedy01.JPG

L, it's TSL.

No. I acquired mine as a frameset only. It's original owner had parted it out on Fleabay before selling the frameset locally. Which is fine by me since I'm a Shimano guy and it was all Campy.

EDIT: I checked teh Googles real quick for ti stem +quill and found several references that seem current, if a non-original yet still Ti quill stem will work for you.

Then you'd better get rid of those wheels and levers too! I know. Just send them to me.

Funny thing about setting up bikes-- I had Boreas first and it was (And still is) Perfect. The TCR came along 6 months later and in the shop I tried to set it up to feel exactly the same. Wheels caused a problem when I did get it out but that was finally sorted. BUT after going back to Boreas- The bars on the TCR just felt a bit far away. In the shop it was perfect but on the road just not right. Measured everything up and nothing outstanding to cause the problem----Till I decided to change the bars and stem over on each bike. Now the TCR was perfect. Checked again and found that the bar stem on the TCR was 5mm longer and the bars in the drops and hoods were a bit shorter.. New stem and bars ordered and perfect fit.

It is surprising how such a small change can make the feel of a bike so different. Glad you have managed to get both bikes comfortable and your experience with the Specialised.

I got old eyes and that star right beside the l, looked like a "h" to me..


Cool on the search, will check that out. I think Litespeed wants $200 upwards for the stem. Don't want to go there.

Oh no on the wheels and levers, you might can get the bars.. Bars just a tad wide. Might go with smaller bars too.

If you notice in the 1996 Litespeed catalog, the Classic looks like an 80s bike, that is what I want to go back too..

Thanks

Same stem length and angle as the previous. Just wanted the stem to match the new handlebar.


My original stem was an Icon alloy stem (-17*) that matched the Icon handlebar.