thoughts on litespeed ?
 

Hey,

I am buying a new bike; was thinking I might wanna make the leap into Ti, but very entry-level Ti, and it looks like the starting point might be a litespeed Firenze.
I posted previously about possibly buying a Fondriest; sounds like both bikes'll end up being similar in cost tho' maybe the litespeed ti will be a bit less of a harsh ride (riding 192 mi in 2 days in Aug). I like the fast and quickness of the Fondriest, but yeah, it's a racing bike and so it's a little stiff. But, I may be willing to trade off the stiffness if I can't find anything better. Maybe the Ti bike will give me that combination of all that I am looking for? I'm on a search for it now at various LBS - - I may not even be able to find it, but thought it would be interesting to hear from some of you who currently ride Litespeed and/or Fondriest.

Thanks.

What model of Fondriest? The status image looks awesome.

I can only speak for myself, but on long rides I don't feel Aluminum is the way to go. I presently have a 2002 Lemond Zurich which is a very sweet ride and smooth. I used to have a Aluminum bike and after a 60 or 70 mile ride I felt like someone beat me, but on the Zurich I never feel that way and ride it 50+ very often.

I recently ordered a Litespeed Solano, because it has a ride like steel only stiffer and more responsive. I don't plan on getting rid of my Zurich though and will ride both depending on the ride. If your going to ride 90 plus miles in 2 days and will be doing a lot of long rides preparing yourself I would get either a quality steel or Ti or possibly a carbon bike. A good Ti or Steel bike will last you a lifetime, but the verdict on carbon frames as far as longevity is still out, but it is a very smooth ride as well.

Just my 2cents worth,
Philli

Scroll down to the middle of this page to see the Fondriest. It's a sweet bike. I'm a little scared of the aluminum though. But a friend of mine also did the Pan Mass (192 mi) ride and she's got a Fondriest, she said it rode like a dream. So...I don't know.

http://www.wrenchscience.com/WS1/New...r/July2002.asp

Solano-great choice!

bikebean,
Let me say that carbon can dampen vibration but it can still be harsh and stiff.
It also can be numb or dead feeling compared to titanium and steel. By that I mean it has no feel, no feedback.
Carbon does have a longer life than aluminum (the shortest life) but not as long as titanium. It is more fragile too, however a good carbon bike can be a wonderful thing.

Beyond those factors, I would look at how long a company stands behind their product (warranty). Especially if this is a stretch or max. of your budget- you want assurances in the worst case or the unlikely case of bad quality control.

If you are looking for Litespeeds at shops, maybe they have a floor model in your size at discount. The Firenze is hot right now so it might be hard to find one just sitting around- however, they might have another one that they can make a great deal on.

good luck

The U107? It is a good frame with some unique features. Fondriest are fine bikes and the Mizuno fork is ok too. The stock rear carbon stays and Dedaccaci alloy plug are a cost cutting feature, the cnc'd bottom bracket is nice and unique but the welds down there are pretty bad - functional, I would say.

It would be a good race frame but if I were going aluminum, cannondale's Optimo frames are really tops.

Ok, I don't think the rear stays are carbon, are they? Thought it was just a carbon fork...but yes, it is a Top Level U107. According to Fondriest site, msrp is $2099, on sale now for $1k. So is it really a deal? I guess I'm just thinking it could be a really good value, even though it's pushing it for me budget-wise. Getting a 3K bike for 2K....sort of hard to pass up.
I may try and take a spin on a Litespeed; haven't been able to find any Cannondales in my size....

Well, as far as I can tell, they are very lightweight, very speedy and very expensive. Other than that I don't like their logo.

Today's steel frames are making ti less and less appealing for some of us. For a lot less, you're getting more bikes that are as lively as you want while still being forgiving and stiff where it counts.

Litespeed makes a good bike, but they still charge a bit more for their sticker on the down tube. There are a lot of other options, even for ti.

And I dont' know that I would describe carbon fiber frames as particularly fragile. As for aluminum, it varies so much from frame to frame anymore that no one can give a definitive answer as to the ride quality. I do know this, however- alu frames have come a very long way in terms of ride quality, and take leaps almost every year in this department.

litespeed...well. if you want a pretty nice Ti bike that looks exactly like a lot of other people's pretty nice Ti bikes, then go for it. i say this knowing full well that all merlins look like merlins and all serottas look like serottas and VTs look like VT and airbornes look like airbornes and so on and so on...it's just the sheer number of litespeed bikes on the road, and the sheer ugliness of their decals pushes me away from them. i feel like a lot of people just get lazy when they choose litespeed. the pick it because it's readily available. i could go down to an LBS and they'd have 15 litespeeds on the floor, and they all look exactly the same. that's not to say they ride crappily, or their not made well. from what i hear, the ride is excellent, and they are very well-made. i equate them with trek just because of their omnipresence. again, i'm not saying that litespeed and trek are bad bikes...just saying there's too damn many of them.

if you like the ride quality, go for it. personally, i like to ride bikes that no one else has. surprisingly, this isn't too expensive when you know where to look, know the right people, and have the mechanical know-how to put your bike together yourself.

get a bike you're gonna love, and make it your own.

You don't like Litespeed because you think too many people have them, they have ugly decals.
You equate a bike that no one else has with being good. Uh, ok.

People are lazy in your eyes because they can buy a well-made, excellent riding Litespeed.

:rolleyes:

You are actually wrong on many counts. Litespeed is a small company. Are you confusing good press, advertising and marketing to thinking Litespeed is a huge company with billions of ti sales?

You are correct that Trek is big. They are the largest bike co. in the US.

Ugly decals? That's a personal preference. I like them but everyone has a different taste. At least Litespeed's can be replaced and updated if scratched or you want some new labels.

Anyway back to the bikes- bikebean;

if you can't find a Litespeed to test ride this maybe moot. My only opinion is that for the type of riding (and future riding) you described, a titanium Litespeed would be ideal. Give it a try if you can.

Good luck again.

Go here to get a list of Litespeed dealers in your area:

http://www.litespeed.com/dealers/

Test ride one. You owe it to yourself. I usually describe the difference between AL and Ti like this:
Imagine that you are driving in your car on an average road. Everything seems fine. Then you hit a patch of freshly paved road. You suddenly notice that everything is smooth and vibration free. That is the difference in feeling to me.

hahaha RacerX, you're hilarious! once again, i say something that disagrees with what you said and you go on the defense. i wasn't even responding to you, i was responding to bikebean, because he/she asked for people's thoughts about litespeed bikes. and i gave them. what are you, the marketing rep. for litespeed or something?

uh, no. i never said that litespeeds aren't good. i said:

the person asked for my thoughts on litespeed and i gave them.

no, that's not what i was infering at all. i said i PREFER to ride a bike that no one else has. my reasoning behind that is this: i believe that bicycles are a personal thing. everyone has different reasons for riding, everyone has different preferences, different aesthetic styles. i, personally, don't want to ride a bike that someone else can just go out and pull off the shelf and ride too. it's why i don't ride a cannondale, or a trek, or a litespeed. i have an old-school steel, repainted pinarello, with detailing that i did myself, built up with parts that i picked out myself. it was a labor of love to put together. for me, the joy is not just in the riding, but in the selecting, the building, the maintaining...getting my hands dirty in order to make my bike what i want, not what some marketing or sales guy tells me i want. there's nothing wrong with buying an off-the-shelf bike if that's what someone wants. it's just not what I prefer. there's nothing wrong with having a litespeed Ti road bike with full ultegra or whatever, as long as it suits the person's needs. myself? i need something different. i'll admit it, i like it when i'm riding and someone notices my bike and compliments me on it. i take pride in my bike, because mine is the only one like it anywhere. and i only had to spend $800 on it! i like that feeling. my bike is a great bike. it's the perfect bike for me. your litespeed is also a great bike, and it may very well be the perfect bike for you. if i ever found myself owning a litespeed, i'd probably remove the decals and paint it black, or battleship grey, or some heinous shade of green. same goes for any other mass-produced bike out there.

i see SO many people on litespeeds, do you really think they took the time to test ride every single Ti bike available to them? no. of course not. they walked into a shop, said they wanted a fancy road bike and the shop guy sent them off on a test ride and subsequently, sold them the same model bike that they just sold to someone else 2 weeks ago. and the customer, while they may be satisfied, doesn't always get try out the full spectrum before making their decision. it's not just their fault though...most salespeople are motivated to just move product, no matter what. ocassionally, you'll find the sales guy who wants to make the customer happy.

litespeed is a small company? then how come they happen to distribute more Ti bikes than any other company in the US currently? more shops carry litespeed than serotta, than carry VT, than carry airborne. you can't get the kind of distribution that litespeed gets if you're a small company. it's just not possible to move that much product.


yes, that's personal preference, as in MY THOUGHTS on litespeed, which is what the person asked for. you just can't seem to stand the fact that someone doesn't like your favorite bike company.

i'll pretend i'm you for a second here. you're opinion is wrong. it's only wrong because i say it is, but everyone else should agree with me because i say they should.

now, back to being somewhat logical and civil: any other brand of Ti bike would be ideal. a quality steel bike would most definitely fit the bill as well, and end up costing a bit less. for me, if i was looking at spending that kind of money on a Ti road bike, i'd want to shop around a bit more and consider my options.

again, i'm not saying litespeeds are bad bikes. i saw a couple yesterday in a shop and i thought to myself "damn, that's a well-built bike."

in the end, bikebean, it doesn't really matter what anyone on here thinks, as long as you're happy with the bike you end up getting. you asked for people's thoughts and i gave you mine. i appear to be in the minority here. go out, get yourself a litespeed if that's what you want. it's a great bike.

Onetinsloth,

Just wondering what kind of car you drive. A Bentley or something like that???

I ride a Litespeed, and I love it. Having said that, forget about all the crap about the "huge" differences in ride quality when you compare top ranked frames. The most important factors will be fit, wheels and components you choose in this order. If you go with Fondriest, take the Carb Level (alu frame with carbon seat stays). If you decide that Litespeed fits you better, try to find a 2003 or 2004 Tuscany. You may spend an extra few hundred, but it's in a much higher category than the Firenze. All of these bikes are excellent. In 4-5 years, you will be looking for the newest technology, and I'm sure you'll be ready for a new bike again. Go ride as man bikes as you can before you actually commit.

Cheers

cars are abhorent beasts. i don't drive, nor do i want to (at this point in time).

i think you confuse unique-ness and individuality with luxury. my bikes aren't very flashy or expensive, but they're mine, and that's what counts.


should i ever feel the inclination to own a car (since life is a journey which consists of many twists and turns and times change and ideals change and whatnot), it won't be anything special. i'd like a VW golf, or an old, yet still functional station wagon. given that the latter is becoming extinct with alarming rapidity, i think i'd opt for a used VW should the need ever arise, and i'd probably end up putting some work into it to make it my own. you don't have to spend an ridiculous amount of money to have something unique. for the time-being, though, i'm quite happy with my bicycles.

Bikebean,

I just bought a Litespeed Solano after looking at the Firenze. I also have an Al Bianchi and liked the ride of Ti. I was able to get the cost down by subbing wheels and seat post at the factory (nice LBS :) ). You could also look at Airborne and Douglas for entry level Ti.

I ride a Litespeed Classic. !2,000+ miles in 2 years. It is by far the best Bike that I have ever ridden. Both from a comfort and quality standpoint. My previous ride was a Cannondale R600 - CAAD 3 - still my second bike. The Litespeed is a more comfortable ride and just a shade quicker because of the weight difference. The aluminum Cannondale is stiffer and has a harsher ride. All this being said - the bike you choose must fit you and you must be happy with your choice. If the bike you REALLY want costs just a little more - wait until you can afford it, otherwise you will always second guess yourself.

Uh, can you read what I wrote and what you quoted? "You don't like Litespeed..." translates into "Litespeeds aren't good" in your world?

Your own words, "Litespeeds are well-made, excellent riding bikes". But the people that buy them are ignorant because they are readily available and there are "too many of them". Uh, ok.

Your posts actually say more about you and your hangups with society than actual bicycles.

These are things YOU said, not me. I just repeated your post. I'm too bored to go into all your misconceptions but starting your post with poor comprehension skills doesn't bode well for your credibility.

haha!!! you UH rule. UH, OK. seriously. UH, OK. i UH <3 you. OK :rolleyes: i UH want to have your UH children. UH, OK.

i don't see why you had to UH, jump down my UH, throat in the first place UH, OK for stating my UH, OPINION in a thread ASKING for UH, people's OPINIONS. UH, OK.

i think you may have some issues with feelings of inadequacy that you feel the need to start an argument when someone voices their opinion about a bike that you own. i don't see the trek people (or any of the other litespeed people on this board for that matter) jumping down someone's throat when they say they don't like trek. people like bikes, some people dislike other bikes, get over it. i don't have a problem with you or anyone else liking litespeed, i don't say anything when someone says they just got a new litespeed, someone asked for people's opinions, you gave yours, i gave mine, and my reasons, then you jumped down my throat about it. wtf? and you weren't even civil about it. you had to be a prick about it and get sarcastic and condescending. and then i replied in a civil tone, and AGAIN with the sarcasm and condescention. christ you're a prick. you can't just let it drop that someone has an opinion that differs from your own.

[ i don't see the trek people (or any of the other litespeed people on this board for that matter) jumping down someone's throat when they say they don't like trek. ]

Hey I'm a Trek guy- just got a 5200- and, yup just like everyone else. And yeah, I want to yell at you too <gr>. no not really - but only becuase I don't care what you think of my purchase. I do care what you or others on this board have to offer in terms of experience with various products and methods.

And thats the point for our friend who started this thread. Lots of opinions here in the forums - but go ride the bikes, ride as many as you can find time for, listen to the opinions - but dont treat them as some kinda gospel. Listen moslty to yourself, make your desions, open your wallet, and never appolgize for your choice. Just enjoy the ride.

There are many great riders on "common" bikes. There is nothing wrong with that. Trek and Litespeed both manufacture excellent products. Don't worry about status symbols and a few grams of weight difference. My average bowel movements weigh more than some exotic over priced frames. Buy what fits and enjoy the ride.

Cheers

Exotic bowel movement, now that would be worth its weight in,er,grams? Decals,i thought LeMonds and Treks, at least in 03 had some of the poorest ones ever.

i like the new lemond decals. they look pretty classy. i don't know what the '03 ones looked like. i just "built" :rolleyes: a "custom" :rolleyes: lemond...one of those "spine" ones on their site...all black with white lettering. it looked pretty hot. i kinda like the frame design, it's a different direction to take with carbon. i'd get one if i thought i needed one and had the cash and liked the ride, too bad they don't make a 50cm frame...i still might try to test ride a 49 or a 51 sometime...but i'm not in the market for a new bike just now, i might try to test ride a litespeed too, just for ****s and giggles (yes, i realise the lemond is a mass-produced frame, but i like the frame design AND the decals, then again, if i'm gonna spend that much money on a bike, i might as well get one custom designed and built).

Any chance you can elaborate? I think this isn't hijacking the post because Bikebean had been considering a Zurich in another thread if I recall correctly.

I too have a Zurich (2000 model - red and white) and am considering going to ti (or maybe carbon or even a carbon/ti or aluminum) for some extra stiffness given that I am riding hills a lot more where I currently live. Like you, I am very happy with the Zurich and this would be a second bike rather than a replacement. Did you consider Serotta as well as Litespeed? The new Cannondale 6-13 looks interesting also (carbon-aluminum).