help me build an under 15lb Titanium road bike
 

Hi Guys;
I won an auction on ebay for a Mongoose Titanium road frame:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

I will be building it step by step really slowly as i do not have enough $$$. I want to have it weigh under 15lbs, is it realistically possible? My satellite weighs around 23lbs so i want something really light. What components would you use to achieve that?

Any input is appreciated.

thanks;
rav

You might wanna start with this frame instead for a sub 15 pound bike

http://www.excelsports.com/new.asp?p...ajor=1&minor=1

It's going to be tough getting even close to 16lbs with those forks and stem.

If you got a new set of forks, like a Colnago star with 1" steerer, then you'll be on your way.

I would also pull the headset and go with something lighter, like an American Classic Ultra-lite 1" headset.

Then, you might be able to get it under 15lbs, but you'll be investing $$$ in components.


I'll put it to you like this. I also built up a TST frame with modern components. I invested some $$$ and it still came in at 16.8lbs. I could have gotten it lighter, but the cost just wasn't worth it.

That looks nice but i already paid for that one.

Yeah....not to mention the Look frame costs about $2500 more. But it's nice.

Yes, that fork and stem will all go, keep the info coming. $$$ is not an issue as i plan to have it ready by this time next year.

thanks;
rav

JFC, are you kidding? You want a sub 15 lb bike & not spending a lot of $$ ? My favorite thing about stupid light bikes is leaving them behind on rides - but then again, I'm a di#k that way :) A mere $3-5K in wheels will get you sub 15 lbs - then you get to pay $50 for each flat w/ tubulars. Geesus, just build it up w/ ultegra or chorus w/ a decent wheelset and be happy w/ a 17 lb bike. Then again, if you have your dad's platinum credit card, sub 15 will be easy - go to Excel or Co Cyclist - look for stupid light parts and buy them.

I would shoot for a 20 lb bike and just lose 5 lb

seriously working out to achieve that, the satellite is really helping out :D

rav

Money's not an issue?

In that case, here's a list of suggestions. :D

Forks- Colnago star ($600)
Headset- American Classic Ultra-Lite 1"
Stem- Syntace F99 or Ritchey WCS Axis
Bars- Easton Equipe CF.
Shifters- Record
Ders- Record
Cassette- Record
Crank- Stronglight Pulsion CT
BB- American Classic ISIS (140g)
Pedals- Look Keo Titanium
Wheels- Rolf Prima Elan or similar (1250g)
Brakes- Zero Gra.... well, you get the idea.
Tires- Veloflex
Post- USE Alien (trimmed) (just because it's differant)
Saddle- Something extremely painful to sit on.

Be prepared to spend obscene amounts of money. Then, you will have a Ti weight weenie bike.

How much money do you want to throw at it. You are not starting out with a light frameset. It looks Identical to my TST and is the same size also. Mine weighed in at 1440g (3.18 lbs). So in order to save weight you will need some pretty light wheels and other components. I think you can get near 17 lbs for a reasonable cost but 15 lbs will mean you will need some weight weenie stuff, and that don't come cheap.

Mine is now just under 18.5 lbs, but has a lot of Ti parts besides the frame.

Budget is around 3k more ;)

rav

Awesome....so after you use up your budget on your wheelset, what are you gonna do for the rest of the bike?

http://www.bontrager.com/Road/Wheelw...eels/21288.php

920 grams for the pair....

Only $3,200

Nah, get s set of Rolfs for $900, a set of Zero G's for $400, then go from there. I think he could do it with some real smart shopping. But it would take just that, some real smart shopping.

If he doesn't use bar tape, and only one brake caliper for the front wheel, that's a good start.

btw, do you really need a seatpost and saddle? If you could just ride around standing up, you could easily save about 300g. You wouldn't need a clamp either.

OK, i guess realistically 17lbs now, what would you recommend :(

I brought my TST titanium in at 17.3 lbs. and the total investment was $2300. I don't think that an extra $700 would have saved me more than a pound, if that much. Good luck and have fun trying!

I thought the OP was just trolling. Seems like i'm mistaken.

can you please post your build details, the search is not working :rolleyes:

rav

Happy to oblige! The only difference between the build and the current equipment is a switch to a Ritchey WCS stem which saved about 25 grams.

Ti Sports Titanium 1470 gms
DA CN-7700 300 gms
DA CS-7700 182 gms
DA BR-7700 320 gms
DA FC-7701 608 gms
DA BB-7700 174 gms
DA ST-7700-incl. cables 734 gms
DA FD-7700 85 gms
DA RD-7800 182 gms
Profile Design Fork (cut) 315 gms
Chris King 1" 98 gms
Spacers 30 gms
Forte Pro Stem 148 gms
Ritchey WCS HB 219 gms
Cinelli Bar Tape 45 gms
FSA RD400-incl. rim tape 1497 gms
FSA Skewers 115 gms
Forte MG/TI SPD 200 gms
Minoura TiAlloy 28 gms
Vittoria Rubino Pros 440 gms
Ultra Light Tubes 120 gms
Ariborne Titanium SP 224 gms
Ariborne Titanium Collar 30 gms
Fizik Arione 230 gms
7794 total actual grams
17.39732 actual pounds

http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/7...ide21ub.th.jpg

Thanks a lot:)

Here's my weight weenie bike. Use it for guidance obi-wan.

TRINITY
Frame/forks- PF ZX3
Bars/stem- USE
Pedals- Keos
Crank- FSA Superlight
BB- FSA Platinum Ti
chain- wipp
ders- Record
shifters- record
cassette- chorus
wheels- Rolfs
tires- pro race
brakes- zero g's.
post- USE
saddle- SLR

With no cages or computer- 14.9lbs (barely)

Total investment- ~$3,500

Excuse me Patriot, but starting with a feather weight carbon frame just isn't fair! :D

Nobody's perfect. :D

By the way Patriot, wouldn't your Fast Attack be a better/stunning entry here considering the OP is building a titanium bike?