Titanium Cycling Zen
#1
Peloton Shelter Dog
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Titanium Cycling Zen
I experienced this today when I took my Ibis Ti Road out for the first time since the D.A. 7800 crank arm snapped off and left me in a heap on a NJ hill. New D.A. 7800 crank set installed (from PBK, $238 shipped). If there's a better all around road bicycle on the planet, I've never ridden it. Nothing feels like Ti. The bike rides like a Cadillac, feels like nothing else, just a total joy to ride. Felt even better with the new chainrings. And it's 12 years old.
P.S. To show you how my LBS and I understand each other, they installed that PBK-purchased D.A. crank set while I waited and didn't charge me labor. I buy a lot of crap from them. In fact, Glenn told me I owed him $60 or so from my last visit there. I said 'I do? What am I like a drunk with a tab at his favorite bar around this friggin place?', to which he replied 'Exactly'.
And everybody was happy. We'll both be happier when my new Cervelo arrives in January. If he's still in business and I still have any money that is.
P.S. To show you how my LBS and I understand each other, they installed that PBK-purchased D.A. crank set while I waited and didn't charge me labor. I buy a lot of crap from them. In fact, Glenn told me I owed him $60 or so from my last visit there. I said 'I do? What am I like a drunk with a tab at his favorite bar around this friggin place?', to which he replied 'Exactly'.
And everybody was happy. We'll both be happier when my new Cervelo arrives in January. If he's still in business and I still have any money that is.
#2
shedding fat
Charge it so it doesn't get repo'd.
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#3
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Do you race on your Ibis?
I was looking at getting a Litespeed, but they're pretty far out of my price range - I could afford a Tuscany, probably, but I rarely see those being sold.
I was looking at getting a Litespeed, but they're pretty far out of my price range - I could afford a Tuscany, probably, but I rarely see those being sold.
#4
Peloton Shelter Dog
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I only train on the Ibis. The Cannondale is a far better racing bike - stiffer BB, feels more like an all out race bike. I raced on the Ibis all through the late 1990's however. But for long rides or training, you can't beat a Ti bike. Nothing like it.
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Yeah, that's basically what I assumed, which is another reason I opted against ti - if I had enough money for a racer and a trainer, a ti bicycle would probably be my first choice as a trainer.
#6
Peloton Shelter Dog
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If you're not a racer, Ti is the ideal road bike. I'll always have a Ti bike. Seriously, there is nothing like it, you can't beat the feel, the friggin bike sings when it rides, and it's like a Cadillac. You can buy perfectly race worthy Ti bikes, my Ibis Ti carried me through plenty of races. But not quite the climber or sprinter that a CF bike or CF/Alu bike is (like my Six13).
Everybody should get to try a Ti bike. Sadly, they're such a pain to make that they've been relegated to the high end boutique end of the market, companies like Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc. don't want to deal with a high end Ti offering. That's why Bikes Direct is potentially filling a significant little void in the market with their recent road and MTB Ti offerings, which is great. My Fly Ti MTB is outstanding, competitive with the best Ti frames I've ridden, at a very reasonable price (you can buy a Bikes Direct Ti road or MTB for $1600-$2100 out the door, complete).
Everybody should get to try a Ti bike. Sadly, they're such a pain to make that they've been relegated to the high end boutique end of the market, companies like Trek, Specialized, Giant, etc. don't want to deal with a high end Ti offering. That's why Bikes Direct is potentially filling a significant little void in the market with their recent road and MTB Ti offerings, which is great. My Fly Ti MTB is outstanding, competitive with the best Ti frames I've ridden, at a very reasonable price (you can buy a Bikes Direct Ti road or MTB for $1600-$2100 out the door, complete).
#7
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Yeah, I went to the LBS and they had three Litespeed Ghisallo framesets(new) for over $4000. Their cheapest ti was a well-used nine speed Record equipped Litespeed that was already on lay-away for $2600.
#8
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I experienced this today when I took my Ibis Ti Road out for the first time since the D.A. 7800 crank arm snapped off and left me in a heap on a NJ hill. New D.A. 7800 crank set installed (from PBK, $238 shipped). If there's a better all around road bicycle on the planet, I've never ridden it. Nothing feels like Ti. The bike rides like a Cadillac, feels like nothing else, just a total joy to ride. Felt even better with the new chainrings. And it's 12 years old.
P.S. To show you how my LBS and I understand each other, they installed that PBK-purchased D.A. crank set while I waited and didn't charge me labor. I buy a lot of crap from them. In fact, Glenn told me I owed him $60 or so from my last visit there. I said 'I do? What am I like a drunk with a tab at his favorite bar around this friggin place?', to which he replied 'Exactly'.
And everybody was happy. We'll both be happier when my new Cervelo arrives in January. If he's still in business and I still have any money that is.
P.S. To show you how my LBS and I understand each other, they installed that PBK-purchased D.A. crank set while I waited and didn't charge me labor. I buy a lot of crap from them. In fact, Glenn told me I owed him $60 or so from my last visit there. I said 'I do? What am I like a drunk with a tab at his favorite bar around this friggin place?', to which he replied 'Exactly'.
And everybody was happy. We'll both be happier when my new Cervelo arrives in January. If he's still in business and I still have any money that is.
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#9
Peloton Shelter Dog
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#10
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#11
Peloton Shelter Dog
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I ordered the 2009 S2 (Carbon Soloist, D.A. 7900). I'll replace the cheesy wheels it comes with, probably with Williams Carbon 38s (clinchers) and I'll mostly race it with the Zipp 404 tubulars.
With the 404s, this bike should be a tick over 15 lbs. Everybody I'd spoken to who has this bike says it's the best bike they've ever had. All of them (probably a dozen people locally). January delivery. Whatever. Hope to have it by March 1 2009.
With the 404s, this bike should be a tick over 15 lbs. Everybody I'd spoken to who has this bike says it's the best bike they've ever had. All of them (probably a dozen people locally). January delivery. Whatever. Hope to have it by March 1 2009.
#12
Peloton Shelter Dog
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Correct. Forget the picture. That bike with less cheesy wheels, a couple of slight upgrades would be a killer ride for under $3K. You can't touch it for less than $5500 or so anywhere else. Which is why I bought that BD Fly Ti MTB. You'd have to actually ride it to believe what a friggin deal that bike represents. I would imagine the road bike is a similar experience.
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BD has other/better pictures of the bike. Just click on the Image Gallery link above the main photo.
#14
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+1 on tha all day comfort of Ti. I raced mine this year, but the bike I ride will never be a limiting factor for me.
Pcad-Have you had to replace the decals on your Ibis. My brushed Ti GT shed it's decals after about a year and a half.
The next drivetrain I put on it, I'm going to 10 speed.- I've gone through 2 sets of 9-speed, and other than the downtube bosses there's not an original component on it.
Pcad-Have you had to replace the decals on your Ibis. My brushed Ti GT shed it's decals after about a year and a half.
The next drivetrain I put on it, I'm going to 10 speed.- I've gone through 2 sets of 9-speed, and other than the downtube bosses there's not an original component on it.
#15
Peloton Shelter Dog
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My Ibis was refinished (clear coat over the Ti) with new decals in March of 2006.
#19
Peloton Shelter Dog
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I got it in January of 1996, it was about 6 months old. Came with Dura Ace 8 speed, complete bike for $1500. Best deal I'll ever get on bike stuff. I re-fitted it with 9 speed a couple of years later, and all new components in 2006 when I refinished it. I do at least half of my 12K annual miles on this bicycle, still loving it.
#21
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Forget the Cervelo; that's a bike! Yeah, I know you don't want to race it. We just won't talk to you after March 2009...you'll be one of them.
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#22
another cat...FAB!
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Ksyrium ES 2007; wound up taking Pcad's recommendation and a closeout - best wheels ever for me, next to Crossmaxes.
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#23
Peloton Shelter Dog
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What do you mean 'forget the Cervelo'?
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Did you run into any durability issues with the clearcoating over Ti? Thanks!