So not impressed with Ti after a 5 hour ride
07-24-06, 08:15 PM
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So not impressed with Ti after a 5 hour ride
maybe you Ti lovers out there can explain to me why you like it so much. I went for a 5 hour ride with 27 miles of straight climbing (5000 feet gain) on a Ti DA Eddy Mercx. I've done the ride about 5 times on my steel bike, and recently on an Al bike. The Ti bike has defenitaly felt the worst. I could see the bottom bracket shifting when I wasn't even out of the saddle. When I stood up I almost got sea sick from all the swaying. The bike isn't damaged and it rides like a wet noodle. Descending was a bit sketchy as well because I could feel the rear triangle a bit sloshy which is kinda sketchy at 45 mph. I'm not a heavy rider, I only weigh 155.
just wondering if anyone else has had a similair experience on Ti and what you Ti owners think of your ungodly expensive bikes : )
just wondering if anyone else has had a similair experience on Ti and what you Ti owners think of your ungodly expensive bikes : )
07-24-06, 08:20 PM
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Got ride of a Ti Merlin Superlight . . . got a custom built ariZona carbon fiber single. Happy rider!
07-24-06, 08:22 PM
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Just like has been said hundreds of time over and over - you can't make a generalization about a material from one frame. There are flexy ti frames and very stiff ti frames, the same goes for carbon, steel, etc. Try more than one frame before complaining about all ti frames.
07-24-06, 08:25 PM
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Originally Posted by brianallan
maybe you Ti lovers out there can explain to me why you like it so much. I went for a 5 hour ride with 27 miles of straight climbing (5000 feet gain) on a Ti DA Eddy Mercx. I've done the ride about 5 times on my steel bike, and recently on an Al bike. The Ti bike has defenitaly felt the worst. I could see the bottom bracket shifting when I wasn't even out of the saddle. When I stood up I almost got sea sick from all the swaying. The bike isn't damaged and it rides like a wet noodle. Descending was a bit sketchy as well because I could feel the rear triangle a bit sloshy which is kinda sketchy at 45 mph. I'm not a heavy rider, I only weigh 155.
just wondering if anyone else has had a similair experience on Ti and what you Ti owners think of your ungodly expensive bikes : )
just wondering if anyone else has had a similair experience on Ti and what you Ti owners think of your ungodly expensive bikes : )
07-24-06, 08:29 PM
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if only I had more rich friends, perhaps a Ti test ride would be in my future.
07-24-06, 08:37 PM
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exactly.
07-24-06, 08:44 PM
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The following must be said with a thick new york accent: My litespeed feels like buttah.
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07-24-06, 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by iansir
Just like has been said hundreds of time over and over - you can't make a generalization about a material from one frame. There are flexy ti frames and very stiff ti frames, the same goes for carbon, steel, etc. Try more than one frame before complaining about all ti frames.
07-24-06, 10:40 PM
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Originally Posted by brianallan
maybe you Ti lovers out there can explain to me why you like it so much. I went for a 5 hour ride with 27 miles of straight climbing (5000 feet gain) on a Ti DA Eddy Mercx. I've done the ride about 5 times on my steel bike, and recently on an Al bike. The Ti bike has defenitaly felt the worst. I could see the bottom bracket shifting when I wasn't even out of the saddle. When I stood up I almost got sea sick from all the swaying. The bike isn't damaged and it rides like a wet noodle. Descending was a bit sketchy as well because I could feel the rear triangle a bit sloshy which is kinda sketchy at 45 mph. I'm not a heavy rider, I only weigh 155.
just wondering if anyone else has had a similair experience on Ti and what you Ti owners think of your ungodly expensive bikes : )
just wondering if anyone else has had a similair experience on Ti and what you Ti owners think of your ungodly expensive bikes : )
Loving it! The Ungodly expense (if you want to call it that) was worth every penny
It's stiff enough for me, yet does not punish me on rough roads. I would be hard pressed to trade it in for anything right now.
I have ridden many a steel bike, and I'm building a steel bike now for fun... If it rides as smooth as the Tuscany that would be nice, however I don't think it will, and if it did, it will do it weighing a lot more than the Ti bike
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Last edited by ViperZ; 07-25-06 at 07:12 AM.
07-25-06, 01:11 AM
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I think I've replied to a thread like this four times this week.
Material is good, bike is sh¡t.
Question answered!
Material is good, bike is sh¡t.
Question answered!
07-25-06, 01:23 AM
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Or as I'm fond of saying...
Material is immaterial. "It's the design, stupid."
Material is immaterial. "It's the design, stupid."
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07-25-06, 04:52 AM
#14
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Originally Posted by brianallan
just wondering if anyone else has had a similair experience on Ti and what you Ti owners think of your ungodly expensive bikes : )
Is $450 too much for a nice polished Ti frame made in America?
https://www.cambriabike.com/Shopexd.asp?id=20809
Plenty of others are less than $1000... even Litespeeds at the end of the year...
07-25-06, 07:54 AM
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You rode a crappy bike mate. My IF Crown Jewell rides like a magic carpet and does not flex one iota. Ride a good bike and report back to us.
07-25-06, 08:00 AM
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I have yet to find a Ti bike that I like the ride of.
Years go, I test-rode a Merlin and hated it.
Earlier this year I rode two Serottas during a demo day, and I was happy to get back on my Trek once I was done. Then I rode a steel Serotta and loved it. Go figure.
Years go, I test-rode a Merlin and hated it.
Earlier this year I rode two Serottas during a demo day, and I was happy to get back on my Trek once I was done. Then I rode a steel Serotta and loved it. Go figure.
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07-25-06, 08:29 AM
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Must be some reason the Merckx company produced a bike with those qualities. Many people assume TI bicycles are comfortable. Maybe the Merckx marketing team, told the tech division to go ahead and make a comfortable bike. Afterall, the Merckx product line DOES include competition quality bicycles.
07-25-06, 08:35 AM
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I test rode a litespeed a 40 mile ride and found the same problem, flexy and just a crappy ride.
I chose carbon.
I really believe it is the quality of the titanium and who mfgs. the bike
I chose carbon.
I really believe it is the quality of the titanium and who mfgs. the bike
07-25-06, 08:39 AM
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I have a full Ti bike and Carbon/Ti bike.. there is no flex and I am over 200 lbs....
Try another Ti Frame..
Try another Ti Frame..
07-25-06, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by HAMMER MAN
I test rode a litespeed a 40 mile ride and found the same problem, flexy and just a crappy ride.
I chose carbon.
I really believe it is the quality of the titanium and who mfgs. the bike
I chose carbon.
I really believe it is the quality of the titanium and who mfgs. the bike
07-25-06, 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by rruff
Ungodly expensive?
Is $450 too much for a nice polished Ti frame made in America?
https://www.cambriabike.com/Shopexd.asp?id=20809
Is $450 too much for a nice polished Ti frame made in America?
https://www.cambriabike.com/Shopexd.asp?id=20809
07-25-06, 09:04 AM
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My '04 Merlin Agilis is rock solid out of the saddle but still dampens vibrations compared to my Al Trek. And I weigh more than you do. I think the modern counterpart would be the 3/2.5 version.
Have to think that some of this is the wheels. I'm running Mavics, which are pretty rigid.
Have to think that some of this is the wheels. I'm running Mavics, which are pretty rigid.
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07-25-06, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by HAMMER MAN
I really believe it is the quality of the titanium and who mfgs. the bike
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07-25-06, 09:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Richard Cranium
Must be some reason the Merckx company produced a bike with those qualities. Many people assume TI bicycles are comfortable. Maybe the Merckx marketing team, told the tech division to go ahead and make a comfortable bike. Afterall, the Merckx product line DOES include competition quality bicycles.
I had a Merckx Ti frame that was produced by Litespeed to EM's specs. It would have made a decent touring frame, but It was wayyyyy too sloppy to race on. I had a very similar impression to what the OP posted and sold it not longer after it came into my hands.
As others have said, any material can be noodly.
