Ti in the pro peloton
03-22-05, 11:11 AM
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Ti in the pro peloton
Why is it that the pros are no longer using ti bikes. There may be some that still do but I am not aware of them. Is there a reason that this material is being abandoned?
03-22-05, 11:14 AM
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Carbon's the new ti.
03-22-05, 11:14 AM
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If you can achieve a lighter frame weight with CF, and you're relatively unconcerned about frame life (somebody else buys your bikes for you), then durability doesn't mean much to you.
There may be other reasons, but I'm sure that's a factor....
There may be other reasons, but I'm sure that's a factor....
03-22-05, 11:44 AM
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Pro riders ride the bike their sponsors give them. They would ride on bamboo frames if that is what the sponsor paid them to ride.
Ti bikes are made by small, specialized companies and that makes it hard for them win "bidding" wars to sponsor teams. If the Ti companies paid Lance and crew enough money, Lance would toss his carbon bike into the dumpster.
But, Ti seems to be winning the hearts of riders who pay out of their own pockets for a bike. In the $3,000 to $7,000 price range, Ti bikes do very well against carbon and aluminum bikes with the folks who pay out of their own pockets.
Ti bikes are made by small, specialized companies and that makes it hard for them win "bidding" wars to sponsor teams. If the Ti companies paid Lance and crew enough money, Lance would toss his carbon bike into the dumpster.
But, Ti seems to be winning the hearts of riders who pay out of their own pockets for a bike. In the $3,000 to $7,000 price range, Ti bikes do very well against carbon and aluminum bikes with the folks who pay out of their own pockets.
Last edited by alanbikehouston; 03-22-05 at 12:52 PM.
03-22-05, 11:48 AM
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I'd imagine that racers will still supply their own frames for the occasional event as well. Armstrong and many others have ridden a frame built by one group painted with their sponsor's stuff. I think he actually time trialled on Litespeeds for a little while before Trek put much effort into TT bikes.
03-22-05, 11:58 AM
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Originally Posted by alanbikehouston
Ti bikes are made by small, specialized companies and that makes it hard for them win "bidding" wars to sponsor teams.
I think Ti has lost the weight weenie war to CF, and the major MFGRs are more interested in putting riders (and their advertising dollars) on CF bikes which currently represent what consumers are demanding.
03-22-05, 12:08 PM
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webcor ride a carbon/Ti lemond tête de course
03-22-05, 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Ziggurat
webcor ride a carbon/Ti lemond tête de course
and the women's team is on orbeas (Al).
03-22-05, 12:29 PM
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Originally Posted by whitemax
Why is it that the pros are no longer using ti bikes? Is there a reason this materials been abandoned?
You folks better get ahold of these guys and let them know that the pros aren't using ti anymore. They haven't figured out that carbon is the new ti:
www.recyclingteam.co.uk
Last edited by don d.; 03-22-05 at 12:58 PM.
03-22-05, 12:43 PM
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I think the new Kodak team is on ti Serottas this year, too, for that matter.
03-22-05, 02:40 PM
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Last year in the Tour de Georgia it seemed like half of the teams where riding Litespeed's in the Time Trial. I am not sure which one but I think it was the blade.
03-22-05, 06:10 PM
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Who cares what the pros ride. They'd ride 'yo momma' if you paid them enough.
Bottom line? There's more Ti bikes on the market now more than ever. What does that say to you?
Bottom line? There's more Ti bikes on the market now more than ever. What does that say to you?
03-22-05, 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Thylacine
Who cares what the pros ride. They'd ride 'yo momma' if you paid them enough.
Bottom line? There's more Ti bikes on the market now more than ever. What does that say to you?
Bottom line? There's more Ti bikes on the market now more than ever. What does that say to you?
03-23-05, 07:30 PM
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One of the things i saw was a pictuee of George Hincapie on one of the ZR (zircromium?) frames doing a TT. I was suprised that he wasnt on a carbon frame.
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03-23-05, 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by ImprezaDrvr
Carbon's the new ti.
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03-23-05, 07:44 PM
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I have both a carbon and a ti bike. I prefer the ti. Carbon fiber is easily damaged over time by rocks, scratching, etc. If you want a bike that will last your lifetime buy ti. Carbon cannot make that claim.
03-23-05, 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Trogon
Colnago, Merckx, Litespeed, Opera - small, specialized companies?
I think Ti has lost the weight weenie war to CF, and the major MFGRs are more interested in putting riders (and their advertising dollars) on CF bikes which currently represent what consumers are demanding.
I think Ti has lost the weight weenie war to CF, and the major MFGRs are more interested in putting riders (and their advertising dollars) on CF bikes which currently represent what consumers are demanding.
03-23-05, 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by The_Convert
Merckx does not make titanium bikes
Re-sprayed Litespeeds. But still molto desirable.
03-24-05, 10:07 AM
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Originally Posted by dog hair
except for those of us who have been riding carbon for the last 12 years. carbon is the old carbon.
03-24-05, 03:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Marlin523
I have both a carbon and a ti bike. I prefer the ti. Carbon fiber is easily damaged over time by rocks, scratching, etc. If you want a bike that will last your lifetime buy ti. Carbon cannot make that claim.
03-24-05, 03:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Thylacine
Who cares what the pros ride. They'd ride 'yo momma' if you paid them enough.
Bottom line? There's more Ti bikes on the market now more than ever. What does that say to you?
Bottom line? There's more Ti bikes on the market now more than ever. What does that say to you?
lance looks like an extra on the andy griffith show and seems to have the personality to match
my "momma" is one of the best looking 42 year old you'd ever see.
they'd be the one shellin' out the ca$h
03-24-05, 03:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Marlin523
I have both a carbon and a ti bike. I prefer the ti. Carbon fiber is easily damaged over time by rocks, scratching, etc. If you want a bike that will last your lifetime buy ti. Carbon cannot make that claim.
03-24-05, 05:39 PM
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Ti is more costly. If you want to compete in the market place you need to be cost effective. There are plenty of ti bikes around too. But it's a different market.
BTW I don't think there are any 900 gram size medium CF frames out there. The Litespeed Ghisalo beats them all. My Size extra large a "virtual 64" (compact frame) has a frame weight of 990 grams, no rider weight limit. I have about 6,000 miles on mine. There's no CF frames near this are there? Please correct me if I am wrong, but You can't make a lighter frame from CF.
My bike is three years old. This is not new technology any more.
BTW I don't think there are any 900 gram size medium CF frames out there. The Litespeed Ghisalo beats them all. My Size extra large a "virtual 64" (compact frame) has a frame weight of 990 grams, no rider weight limit. I have about 6,000 miles on mine. There's no CF frames near this are there? Please correct me if I am wrong, but You can't make a lighter frame from CF.
My bike is three years old. This is not new technology any more.
03-24-05, 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by 2manybikes
Ti is more costly. If you want to compete in the market place you need to be cost effective. There are plenty of ti bikes around too. But it's a different market.
BTW I don't think there are any 900 gram size medium CF frames out there. The Litespeed Ghisalo beats them all. My Size extra large a "virtual 64" (compact frame) has a frame weight of 990 grams, no rider weight limit. I have about 6,000 miles on mine. There's no CF frames near this are there? Please correct me if I am wrong, but You can't make a lighter frame from CF.
My bike is three years old. This is not new technology any more.
BTW I don't think there are any 900 gram size medium CF frames out there. The Litespeed Ghisalo beats them all. My Size extra large a "virtual 64" (compact frame) has a frame weight of 990 grams, no rider weight limit. I have about 6,000 miles on mine. There's no CF frames near this are there? Please correct me if I am wrong, but You can't make a lighter frame from CF.
My bike is three years old. This is not new technology any more.