gettingold

I am on my third season on a Trek 4.7. When I look at it rationally, I love the bike. It rides well, is very comfortable, has full ultegra components, not the lightest, but light enough for fast club rides and climbing which is my (relative) strength. I have never had a complaint about it.

Still, more and more, every time I look at a Lynskey, merlin or an older Litespeed, I pine for it. I find myself constantly surfing ebay looking at Ti frames.

What's wrong with me?

JonnyHK 

Nothing is wrong with you.

Join us...

BillyD

The force is powerful. Surrender with dignity.

Garfield Cat

There is a fad going on with titanium bracelets or they call it wrist bands. Its supposed to have some kind of balancing thing and some athletes wear them. I figure if you can ride a two wheel bike, you're already balancing. If you fall off the bike, then don't blame your titanium frame bike.

thump55

I thought this thread was going to be about a stripper named TITanium.

Just like Rosie O'Donnell at a healthy salad bar....I'm getting used to being disapppointed around here.

Inertianinja

you like titanium?
check out firefly. their bikes are fap-ulous.

new firefly bike.

eippo1

I saw Tyler and Jaimie at D2R2 (the one above is Tyler's) and those bikes look even better in person. Just unbelievably beautiful.

Inertianinja

i keep thinking that someday i'll get a really pretty titanium bike and just ride it and enjoy the ride and be comfortable....because now i can't do that. every ride turns into TRAIN HARDER! but i think that even if i do get a bike like this, i'll end up setting it up all aggressive.

sced

I don't see the appeal, but then I understand engineering physics really well.

hyhuu

I was attracted to Ti since day one. So is that wrong too?

canam73

Heavier than aluminum, weaker than steel. What's not to like?

tuxbailey

OP, nothing wrong with that. I had the same attraction when I decided to get a nice bike and searched for a Ti bike from the start.

Have patience and you can certainly find one. That is how I found my Merlin through CL.

datlas 

I think you are normal.

That said, ride what you have and make your next bike Ti if you desire.

Here's my Custom Geometry Habanero:

surgeonstone

Nothing. Pretty sure the Ti bikes will be around a lot longer than these plastic bikes. Friend of mine who works in a LBS is appalled at the returns of carbon fiber bikes with serious damage from trivial insults, incidents that would not even dent steel or Ti. He wonders at the insanity of this marketing of carbon.

datlas 

surgeon, the analogy I use with bikes and material is like cars and lease vs. buying.

If you want a "new" car every 3 years, lease. I think that's really stupid but I know some folks are like that. I buy a car and plan to keep it for 15+ years. Current one is 1998 and works fine.

The analogy with bikes is, if you want to "upgrade" to a new bike every 2-3 years sure go carbon.

OTOH if you want to get a bike and keep it long term, get metal (steel, Ti, Al, even magnesium are viable options).

It's not a perfect anaology, and before folks start trying to pwn me with their 10-15 year old carbon bikes, I know that happens...but I still think the analogy is a decent one.

p.s. sorry for thread hijack

CHAS

Had a titanium bike. Sold it when I could not stand the BBUUUUUzZZZZZZZ any longer

canam73

I agree with most of your analogy. But I don't think the material limitation is quite correct. There are light weight metal race frames that can't take much of hit at all before they will dent, bend or crack. But they are made for a season or two at most. Where the marketing departments really have the typical fast rider is in making them want to have the same frames that pro's use, and by pro's I mean people who don't pay for their gear. Those guy get a new bike every year and if they break it they get another. They have no reason to care about scratches in carbon or dings in AL or steel. But since they have convinced most Cat racers and even non-racers that they need to shave those last few ounces out of their frames too they are virtually guaranteed to resell to a good percentage of us every few years out of fear of frame failure alone and definately if there is some damage be it cosmetic or otherwise. I guess it is better for them with carbon because of the mantra 'don't buy used carbon as you can't see the stress damage'. At least with metal dings and dents are a little more obvious. But regardless, they have gotten enough of us to sign on whether it's wittingly or unwittingly that it is the norm for the industry. Good job marketing departments!

popeye

Nothing says Fred like TI.

gettingold

Saw a custom ti on ebay today. I was inching my hands toward "make an offer" and my wife snapped me out of it. Like a cold shower....

kf9yr

I have a perfectly acceptable Specialized Roubaix.

I saw a Serotta Ottrott (ti/carbon) and my lust could not be held at bay.

Now both the Ti and Carbon lovers think I ride an abomination where their favorite materials coexist in some kind of perverse way. I, on the other hand think the lugged frame is beautiful and the ride is not buzzy at all.

I have found myself perusing ebay looking for an all-Ti bike since my n+1 wants are still whispering that an all-Ti bike would be great for rainy days (i live in AZ so no excuse is too thin for an addict).

If you want a Ti bike buy one. Cheaper than a weekend in Vegas with hookers and blow and will last longer and be more satisfying in the long run (just read the what would you do w/5k thread and couldn't resist the reference)...

MrTuner1970

Zactly.

Don't know why some folks are having "problems" with Ti. Maybe they bought the cheap stuff?

I have two Ti road bikes with none of the symptoms listed. Dean and Lynskey. My only complaint is that the motor sucks.

DScott

Your username explains it all, and couldn't fit better, unless it was "middleageddentistgettingold".

datlas 

I don't know if the OP's username is gettin' gold or getting old....

gettingold

LOL. Close, but no cigar.

gettingold

I think they say 52 is the new 25. "Nevergrewup" would have been another accurate handle.