jesspal

I borrowed a Ottrot for a long hilly century in Colorado. The bike was buttery smooth, and stiff at the same time. I was riding on Mon Chasseral's, the only flex I felt came from the wheels. I'm a clyde as well.

PedallingATX

Do you guys really think that Ti will be too soft to race on? I have never done a race, but recently have upped my training regimine, and I plan on starting to race within the next few months. I am also looking to buy a new bike, and I really want a Ti one. Would that be a bad idea? I am 22 years old, in good shape, and want to go fast.

I also like being comfortable, though, b/c it keeps me in the saddle longer which makes me faster. An ultra light bike doesn't do any good if I can't ride it for more than 20 miles at a time...

Currently I'm riding steel.

So is Ti really un-raceable or is this just another overthought BF opinion?

merlinextraligh

Lots of people race on Ti bikes. Cat 2 on my team still races his Ti bike. I've raced my Merlin Extralight, even after buying a CF bike.

The whole stiffness thing is completely overblown; 1) look at Sean Kelly on a Vitus, and 2) read one of Watterocket's threads on stiffness/efficiency.

All that said, if I was setting out to buy a bike for racing (particularly shorter races) I'd be looking more to CF, with the possible exception of a Litespeed Archon. But that by no means is to say you can't race on a Ti bike.

PedallingATX

cool, thanks. people on BF tend to exaggerate everything (myself included), so I was kinda skeptical that the stiffness difference would really be as noticeable as people make it out to be. I am looking at the $1700 LeChampion Ti bike on BD and also the $1400 LeChampion CF w/ Rival bike. They both seem like good deals to me. I guess it depends on how much I'll get paid for my first job out of college w/ a degree in English. I know, I'm gonna be poor forever!

n0tverycreative

After reading all your posts, you guys have pushed me to go all ti. lol Now I wonder what are good racingbikes. I mean good as in like if i asked you for an alum racing bike, most of you would say CAAD9.

merlinextraligh

I don't think you're going to find many racers who are going to reccomend a Ti bike as the first choice for racing, with the exception of some diehart Ti fans. Thus I don't think there is a Ti analog to the iconic CAAD9.

In spite of my above post, I prefer to race Giant TCR Advanced Team (CF) over my Merlin Extralight.

If you're set on racing a Ti bike, I'd look at a Litespeed Archon. The wraparound technique stiffens the front end, which should make the bike handle more crisply than many other Ti frames.

You might also consider a Lynskey Helix.

But again, these days people buy Ti for looks, longevity, comfort, craftmanship, not so much for all out racing performance.

n0tverycreative

Thank you. That Archon does seem sick. My new dream bike, haha. So I understand the impracticalness of ti race bikes. First let me tell my point of view. I do own a CAAD9 and I am looking into a new bike. I am just of college and I have the money. I really don't need an another race bike but the CAAD9 is killing me one long group rides. But I really want to own a ti bike, so is there one that's has like a performance fit for like group rides?

BillyD

I see you've absorbed a lot in a relatively short period of time.