invisiblehand

https://www.bikefriday.com/tikit/robspinkone

....

TRICKING UP THE tikitTM

We asked Rob to let us into his lair and tell us what makes his Speeding tikitTM fly (apart from the Samsonite suitcase). His answers are, predictably, fast ...

Q: Rob, why pink? [In memory of our Gaylynn? Is Pink the new Red? To fool the carbon fiber flyers on race day?]

A: Real men ride pink!

Q. How does it depart from the current standard model?

A: Drop bars, caliper brakes, componentry upgrades to lighten it up, custom stem. Otherwise it is 'just the tikit'.

Q: Go on, give us the tech talk.

A: OK ...

* Frame & fork: Standard medium tikitTM, but with caliper brake mountings, and a few prototype bits.

* Seatmast: Titanium.

* Cranks: FSA MegaExo SL-K carbon, 170mm, single 54T chainring.

* Seatpost: Thomson Masterpiece

* Saddle: Velo, titanium rails

* Stem: Custom

* Bars: 3T Prima 199

* Shifter/Brake lever: Campagnolo Record

* Derailleur: SRAM Force

* Front wheel: Sealed bearing tikit hub, Sun 14-A rim, 12 spokes, aluminium nipples

* Rear wheel: Customised American Classic hub to take a custom 10spd Capreo (9-21T) cassette, Sun 14-A rim, 18 spokes, aluminium nipples

* Tyres: Primo racer 16 x 3/4"

* Brakes: SRAM Force

* Chain: KMC X-10

* Pedals: Speedplay X-1

* Weight 18.2lbs

Q: How close will a production model be to this? What will it retail for minimum price? Can you get fancy upgrades?

A: The plan is to have the '09 Speeding tikitTM be similar but with a front derailleur. Don't know pricing yet, but for sure, being Bike Friday, there will be very fancy ones available!

Q: What tactics do you intent to employ to win the hill climb and time trial? Tactics?

A: Go fast!

Q: What is it about small wheels that are advantageous/disadvantageous to these kinds of races and racing in general?

A: For hillclimbs, the small wheels accelerate very well and are very stiff; I've won hillclimbs on my Pocket Rocket before. Haven't TT'd (time-trialed) on the tikitTM yet, so I'll let you know ...

Q: What are you creds in brief again - your most recent accolade/claim to fame?

A: British hour and sprint record holder. Best All Round Time Trialler in Oregon last year, and second in the state TT champs. Only beaten in one hillclimb last year. My British record is for the standing start hour - just over 50 miles. This is in a fully faired recumbent. I also hold the British sprint record at 68mph.

Q: What are you spending your time in the shop doing now?

A: Trying to find time to prototype '09 stuff, whilst managing the tikit line and general problem solving.

Q: How has getting married affected your need for speed?

A: Erm ... I train more on the tandem now!


A PERFORMANCE MACHINE WITH A MISSION

With oil prices escalating, we think this event is great way to boost the image of folding or "multi-modal" bicycles, showing them to be performance machines with a higher purpose - a real option when it comes to transportation alternatives.

UPDATE: Rob's just reported he's been struck down with a bad flu (sabotage by the 27" wheel, carbon fiber gods?) but hopes to be better before he sets off for the Manayunk Wall June 6.

Check out this link for the Round*Up schedule and contact Mike McGettigan to join the fun, michaelmcgettigan@mac.com

Lalato

I don't think I want to know how much that costs.

--sam

vik 

I'm not really interested in a race oriented Tikit, but I'm glad there is a guy that stoked about bikes.... involved with making them....

Simple Simon

Amazing guy - check out his bike collection https://rob.bikerevuk.com/mybikes/mybikes.html

LittlePixel

His Custom Superlight™ is a wonder to behold... 15lbs! (7.8kg)

StuAff

Very nice...They should do a production version. In black, please.....

Raxel

How on the earth did he make a 10 speed 9-21 capreo cassette, and convert AM classic hub to take capreo cassette? I'm missing capreo cassette as I don't like 60T TA chainring I'm using now , but my AM classic hub won't accept one..

doco

I am curious how he did it too???

I tried about every combo I could come up with for my APB, and finally just decided for now on the capreo hub 9-26, and a campy compact crank 50/34 for my setup and built up with velocity aeroheat rims

The only thing I can come up with, is he somehow switched the capreo hub housing with the american classic housing..maybe they are interchangeable with a little bit of fiddling ??

nice tikit

jur

I expect the bigger cassette cogs were combined with 10sp spacers, these are plain 10sp cogs. For the smaller ones, a very small amount needs to be ground off each cog to make the spacing slightly smaller for 10sp systems.

The freehub is the same at the bigger cogs, so the end needs to be adapted. Sounds like a custom end piece was made for it. See

https://sheldonbrown.com/capreo/index.html

PDR

Hmm. Now if I came across Lynette with that Tikit then I would stop her to say hello and have a look at the bike……….. I doubt that I would ever stop a guy on a pink bike for a chat though!

jur

and

Lynette is riding a black Tikit Express in Australia... v light according to the new 08 specs... and I am in the process of buying that same Tikit after her tour!

Foldable Two

Jur,

Let me get this straight - assuming I am reading this right - you at 5'10" are going to be riding around on a tikit that fits 5'0" (maybe even 4'11"+) Lynette?

Pictures please!

Lou

jur

The size was a concern for me too. I have found out from BF that particular one is a medium with 55cm effective top tube. All my folders are that size, so I'm OK on that score. I would have appreciated a bigger size but this is a very good price opportunity. The tikit is supposed to be my ABF bike purchase.

It'll be a while, a month or more, before she's done with the publicity tour.