dogpound

I just can't get past some of the hideous paint jobs Lynskey has done.

grahny

Don't make me post another picture of my Lynksey... I'll do it. I'm just that crazy.

dogpound

I dont think I've seen yours, but honetly, I think 90% of them are ugly.

Patriot

Serotta.

They'll build whatever you want.

Ramjm_2000

Nope. Started my Ti addition on a circa '96 Dean Costanza, a Sandvik Hardtail, and a VaMoots. Lots o' butted Ti since (Omega, IF, Dean, and most recently a Lynskey custom L3).

Ramjm_2000

You have seen the IF owners gallery right? Proof positive that hideous paint jobs are not specific to any one company...

SpongeDad

If your willing to go to $2500, jump in and get a custom Spectrum for $3600, which includes a top end fork (about $300 right there that you were going to spend anyway). Kellogg is going to give you a primo custom fit and he's going to pick the tubing that matches the ride and stiffness you want. I have a Kellogg designed Merlin that I love. (Unfortunately, I can't rationalize stepping up to a Spectrum until the Merlin frame poops out, which will be never.)

Another thing to think about is S&S couplers, to make it easier to travel with your bike - I assume you fly a lot.

markjenn

Small hijack.... I have a 96 Litespeed which has David Lynskey's signature on one of the chain stays. Does that mean he actually built the frame, or did all Litespeeds of that era get the same decal?

- Mark

MicheleC

I think my new Lynskey is beautiful, but then again, I'm biased.

dogpound

I have. Still, it's not even a contest.


MicheleC, what size is that frame?

ual747captain

After researching the straight gauge vs. butted debate the main factor I'm gathering and frame builders are admitting is a weight savings. Again a difference of a couple of pounds if that isn't a concern that I have. Now if we're talking about forging vs. casting the materials then I see the difference. Butting removes material towards the center of the tubing to lighten up to tube but tell me how & where does it build strength vs. a straight tube which say is supposed to be weaker? As I said I'm only looking at builders in the USA that are a household name only which I think I'm leaning towards the Seven's.

Thanks

SpongeDad

Think of it relative terms - more mass where more strain vs less mass where less strain. A straight guage tube, because it is not designed to put mass where strains are higher, can end up being heavier and weaker. Obviously not always the case, but it's a possibility.

Seven's are fine bikes. A friend who is a bit larger than the average had Seven designed for his specific needs and really likes it. But if you really don't give a toss about weight, a Habanero with Ultegra and Mavics would probably suit you fine and cost a lot less.

Ramjm_2000

not looking hard enough...plenty more where that came from.

markjenn

The deal with butted vs. straight-gauge is that butted tubes put material where the strength is needed and leave out material where it is not. So for any given fixed weight, the butted frame should be stronger. But if the straight-gauge frame is released from the constraint of being the same weight and is instead allowed to be heavier by simply using tubes that are uniformly the thickness of the thicker part of the butted sizes, then sure, it should be as least as strong and possibly a little stronger. That being said, I've always thought a butted frame rode better - more lively. But that's a subjective thing.

But if "a couple lbs don't matter" I'd just get a steel bike - it will ride better than a Ti bike and be a fraction of the cost. (Actually, no matter what the tubing choice, I'd be surprised if the weight difference between Ti frames would ever be more than a handful of ounces - a couple of lbs difference in frame weight is a HUGE amount and VERY noticeable.)

- Mark

Drag

If I were gonna get another Ti frame, I'd be shopping at the following:

Independent Fabrication
Lynskey
Serotta

kleng

+1 Baum in Australia

https://www.baumcycles.com/bikes/road_corretto.html

Davet

I recently had Scott Quiring at Quiring Cycles: https://quiringcycles.net/ make me a Ti bike. While his website isn't the very best I've seen, Scott was easy to talk to and very easy to deal with. His price was very good, his service was even better, his delivery was on time and the bike was exactly what I had wanted.

I'm no newbie to Ti bikes, I've had many, so I am impressed with Quiring and his frames.

speedemon

Here's an answer from talking about butted tubes from a builder's point:

https://www.habcycles.com/techstuf.html#db%20tubing

markjenn

Ah, that's the viewpoint of a builder WHO ONLY SELLS NON-BUTTED FRAMES.

- Mark

MicheleC

I'm not sure. I'll have to ask my LBS owner. I'm 4'11", it's custom, and the wheels are 650. My old bike is a 44 cm and too big for me.

StanSeven

Exactly. Unless you know more than a builder, just tell them what you are looking for and let them pick the tubing.

BarracksSi

Does it make enough of a difference if you have a local builder who you can talk with in person (maybe they've got stuff to get your measurements on-site by their standards; I don't know how they do things, though) versus one that you can only correspond with via email & phone?