riff

Beautiful! Did you consider getting down to a brushed ti finish?

fa63

At the moment, I am just going to ride the bike as is for a while. However, sometime in the not too distant future (probably when I pull everything off for cleaning and re-lubing in a few months) I plan to strip the bike down, re-finish in a brushed finish and add a brushed Ti seatpost to match. Maybe add a set of carbon tubulars as well...

Quel

Yah, there's just something about that brushed, shiny finish and the matte gray just doesn't deliver looks-wise. But I also ride on a Scattante that you can't remove the decals from, so I'm not sure if I am really an authority on what looks good or not.

jbpence

I have TI seat posts in both my TI frames = its not a problem. I bought this scattante TI frame last week, and its getting a ti seat post. Mine are set back, have a nice bend in the post, REALLY softens the ride.

fa63

If I remember correctly, you have a couple of Black Sheep Ti bikes, correct? I looked on their website, and their Ti seatposts look great but they only seem to make them in 27.2mm diameter. The only choice for a 31.6mm setback Ti seatpost seems to be the one made by Van Nicholas. Do you know of any other ones?

riff

Lynskey makes a non-setback one: here

That brushed Ti/deep carbon combo... Wow!

fa63

The long femurs that I have keep me from achieving a good fit with the 73.5 degree seat-tube angle when using a non-setback seatpost. Otherwise, I would be all over that Lynskey seatpost.

Thanks for the suggestion anyways.

hopsing08

its interesting that all i hear is Ti is comfortable and you dont really notice that much of a difference. Im having issues with my aluminum bike and the extreme road buzz. i dont care about potholes and all that cause cant really get around the harshness of that. but i mean on regular roads i feel every little pebble right in my sit bones. its really frustrating. Im looking at getting a Cooper cause i was hoping Ti would help but now im not sure. the only other bike i have ridden was my dads 2007 specialized tarmac comp. but the new frame is much stiffer than 2007. oh well. ill figure it out i guess.

Siu Blue Wind

I tried an alu bike and that sucker tore me up. I'm surprised I still have my teeth.

fa63- How are those Michelin Krylion Carbon tires working out for you?

RichinPeoria

Maybe try some good tires like Continental GP 4000 if you dont have them already and run them at the specified pressure for your weight.

fa63

They are working out great. I have been riding Krylion Carbons for about a year and a half now, and have gotten only one flat (knock on wood). My rides are a good mix of nice smooth roads and crappy shoulders scattered with glass shards.

fa63

Agreed.

My experience is also that tire quality and pressure have the biggest impact on ride quality and comfort. I once rented a Specialized Roubaix when I was out of town for business, and this bike had the harshest ride I ever experienced. And this is supposedly one of the most comfortable bikes on the road. I then realized the bike shop had inflated the tires way too much, and releasing a little bit of air made all the difference in the world.

So even a comfortable bike will ride like a brick if your pressures aren't right.

TestyEPOCERA

I'm surprised people still talk like this, as if wheels and tires mean nothing.

bikerboy869

How do you like your new bars? I was looking at these because mine have that steep angle with the hoods too and it kills my wrists. Let me know how you like em!

Siu Blue Wind

Please excuse me. I don't know much about bikes which is why I'm here.

Educate me. Tell me why the person showing me the bike insisted that she put 120psi in the tires when I specifically said that I didn't want them that high. Tell me why the stiffness of the frame and the geometry of it wasn't good for my bulging disc. Tell my why I was recommended wider tires on the bike I currently own?

Don't make fun of me, teach me please!!

Siu Blue Wind

Glad they work out for you. Your bike is really nice!

fa63

I am taking it out on a ride this evening, I will report when I get back.

TestyEPOCERA

I was quoting you.

Maybe what you're thinking makes sense to you, but what you write comes across completely differently. Others reading your posts may think the fallacy of stiff aluminum frames is being reinforced.

Responding with the other half of the story make a little more sense, but I guess I missed the "Psychic connection" radio button on my profile preferences.

Siu Blue Wind

Gah.. Yes, I failed to tell the other half...my apologies.

But yeah. When I went to test ride a road bike for the first time and it was the worst experience ever on a roadie. Granted the thing had 'Zertz' inserts (supposed to help with vibration?) that bike rode harsh. She pumped it up to the highest that was recommended on the tire. When I asked her not to do that, she told me that she wanted me to ...in her words... "experience the bike properly" since I have not been on a road bike since I was a kid.

I learned more about bikes here than when I was actually shopping for a bike at different LBSs!

jbpence

true - I love his frames

and Blacksheep is making me one for this frame - he is also making me a TI fork. Have his TI road fork on the other two bikes.

he is a custom builder who will build what you ask.... for the post, same price as the other size.

fa63

Great, I will get in touch with him when I am ready to buy.

Thanks for the information.

btjzx6rr

https://cgi.ebay.com/Titanium-seatpos...#ht_500wt_1182

maybe?

fa63

Good find; that is a great price on a Ti seatpost. The only problem is that I need one that is at least 350mm long.

Thanks for looking though.

(P.S. Go Jackets)

fa63

Brief report on the handlebar:

Well, not much to say besides that it is very comfortable. I love the flat tops and the smooth transition from the tops to the hoods. This stem / handlebar combo also feels stiffer than the Syntace F99 / Deda 215 combo they replaced. Overall I would rate these as one of the better purchases I have made; definitely highly recommended for those looking for a change.

P.S. I forgot that this handlebar was on a Cervelo S2 I test rode for two days a while back, although the reach on the test bike was too long so I was stretched out the all time which must have not allowed me to appreciate the bars fully.

fa63

Here are the obligatory garage door shots of the bike in its latest configuration:





Thanks.