Well after a little over 2 1/2 months my Ti Crown Jewel is finally a reality. I cannot believe how great it looks! Everyone of my expectations were either met or exceded.

Here is the complete bike.



So what ya think?

*edited on 11/29/05, all of the original pictures were lost thanks to a server change with the original host *

Impressive!!! It has an elegant simplicity about it. Appears to be beautifully made. Hey how about a component listing. Are those Open Pros? How do you like the eggbeaters?? Good luck & safe riding.
Joe

Thank ya.

Independent Fabrications Titanium Crown Jewel Compact Frame
Reynolds Ouza Pro Fork
Chris King headset
Specialized S-Works Carbon Stem (110 mm) (not on yet, waiting for bar to return after warranty)
Kestrel EMS Pro SL oversized bar(44 cm) (not on yet either)
Specialized Phat Wrap bar tape (not on yet, just generic tape until new bar comes in)
Easton EC70 Composite seatpost (350 mm)
Fi'zi:k Aliante Ti saddle
FSA Platinum Pro Ti bottom bracket
FSA Carbon Pro Team Issue Crankset (172.5)
Eggbeater Stainless pedals.......ordered Speedplay stainless CSC team edition zero pedals today
Campy Record shifters/brake levers (2004)
Campy Record carbon front derailleur (2004, clamp on)
Campy Record medium rear derailleur (2004)
Campy Record chain
Campy Chorus cassette (13-29)
Campy Record cables
Cane Creek 200sl brakes
American Classic hubs
DT Swiss RR 1.1 rims
Wheelsmith spokes (15 gauge on front wheel and rear non drive, 14 gauge on driveside)
Aluminum nipples on front wheel and rear non drive side, brass on driveside.
Wheels built by Mike Garcia at odds and endos
Performance Q-Stix Ti quick releases

I thing that pretty much takes care of the build. As for the eggbeaters I love them on my mountain bike and they are ok on the roadie. However, I would like to have just a little more contact area plus I wouldn't mind a lighter pedals so I went ahead and ordered the Speedplay Zero stainless CSC edition today. I went with the CSC edition because I figured the red pedals would go with my bike better than the standard blue stainless zero's.

I am also waiting for my Kestrel bar to come in. It was replaced by warranty even though installation error was the reason it was broken.....btw, I was the installer....oops!

As of right now the bike weighs 16 pounds 12 ounces. I figure once I get the other bar, stem and pedals on it will drop to around 16.5 pounds. However, the computer and bottle cages will make up for the weight savings.

Very Nice setup! I currently have the Speedplay Stainless on my Merckx & Cromoly on my Specialized. Great pedals. Can't beat the Campy Record and Carbon cranks.

Thanks, I have had FSA Carbon pro's on three different bikes now, including my mountain bike. I figure if they can hold up to WV trails they can holud up to anything.

Very stylo. You are going to be so proud an owner.

Wow, what a beauty.

What color name ?

And you are a MTB ?

What is your MTB ?

Thanks. The color is the pearl orange.

Well, I used to consider myself a mountain biker but now I just call myself a cyclist.

My mountain bike is a Santa Cruz Superlight. It is built pretty nice and weighs in at around 24.5 pounds.

Ever hear of Murphy's Law???

My new Kestrel bar came in today. Well, that is the good news. The bad news is that now the cables aren't long enough! These bars are only 2 cm wider but they are actually a little longer front to back as well.

I guess things could have been worse. Right now all I have to do is go to the bike shop tomorrow and get one brake cable, one shifter cable and about 6 foot of derailleur housing and about 6 feet of brake housing.

Sweet....!

Nice machine, Elegant simplicity.

Smooth welds BTW.

Props for your tastes! I chose the Moots Vamoots (on the way), but before I did, I had it down to Roark, Kish, and IF. At that point, there's no going wrong! Never heard anything vaguely negative about the Crown Jewel. With the components you put together, it's all about you now ;-)

Many happy miles on that thing. Let us know some detail when you've clocked a few good rides. I recall Charleston as being pretty hilly, no? 172.5 cranks. I'm guessing you're not a big guy--at least not a skyscraper. Between that and your featherweight bike, I imagine you'll flatten hills. I'd be interested in hearing whether 39x29 gives you all you need. I had a hard time deciding between double, compact, and triple. Finally went with triple . . . for now.

Happy trails! You're gonna' have fuuuuun.....

isn't there another thread that this guy posted about two days later with pics of various parts with battle damage due to a dog running him off the road?

that was truly heartbreaking.

I was just reading Chris Boardman's review of this bike from the August 2004 ProCycling magazine. Boy I wish I could afford one.

This is a beautiful bike!!!

You're a fortunate one

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

Yup, there was another post somewhere showing the damage. That was a while ago though. I ended up just taking it like a man, unfortunately the owner of the dog has absolutely nothing in his name and he gets paid under the table. His uncle is also the local magistrate. The only thing I got out of the whole deal was some threats. Oh, and a new 9mm.

The only changes I have made to the bike so far has been replacing the pedals with speedplay zero stainless (TH edition). I also replaced the brakes and went to a slightly shorter stem. I got rid of the Cane Creek brakes and put on Campy Records. Much, much better brakes.

I am only 5' 10" so the 172.5 crank works perfect. So far I have put quite a few miles on the bike including one century. The weather is finally getting a little better so I am able to spend a little more time on the bike and a little less time at the gym. I absolutely love this bike, it's great to be spending some time with it again. There is nothing on it that I would change with the exception of the cassette but that is just because I am getting stronger.

The area that I ride is pretty hilly and the bike does great, especially now that I have lost 30 pounds. I am actually considering switching out the cassette for a 13-26. I just haven't decided for sure yet.

What would these bikes cost? I really like the way they look. Nice color.

A veeeery nice bike!

Is the IF frame internally butted at all? I've never seen one before but I am impressed with the workmanship.

Happy riding!

There was a review of IF in the December '04 ROAD magazine. They use shot peening on the frame. Very sweet looking ride.

No question, IF does a hell of a job. Real nice guys, too - they showed me around the shop last winter (interview on frame building for a project I was doing), were very helpful. Very cool that you got one! I was amazed by the quality of the welds when I visited. I still prefer lugs , but I don't know of anyone who does a better TIG weld.

Wannaride, IF steel frames are built with the purchaser's choice of top-end Reynolds or (two other brands I can't remember) tubing. This is according to their literature, anyway. I have no idea as to whether the Ti bikes are butted. I know very little about Ti as a frame material.

As for price... you've got to be prepared to pay a pretty penny. The steel crown jewel goes for $1600 MSRP without any extra options. The cheapest frame they build is the steel off-road - MSRP is right about $1400. Want Ti? Expect to pay well over three grand, depending upon the options you pick. Quality has a price tag. Honestly - and I was told this by the IF guys themselves - just about no one really needs a custom-built frame like the ones they do. If your heart is set on it, or you really need it, go for it, but you can honestly get a much better deal on most production bikes.

They do beautiful work though, don't they?

I've been thinking about upgrading to them from my 5 year old Ritchey WCS aluminum bars. What stem are you using with the Kestrel bars?

So, you over tightened the stem and damaged the bar?

I am using a Specialized S-works carbon oversized stem. I did overtighten my original stem which was a giant carbon and cracked the standard sized kestrel bar. Come to find out Kestrel does not recommend that stem be used with their bar. Any guesses why********** Kestrel was awesome though and replaced by bar with an oversized bar. I couldn't believe they did it, especially since it was completely my fault that the old one cracked.

wannaride - to be honest I don't know if it internally butted.

recneps345 - the frame sells for $3300 with the pearl orange paint. The complete bike is a little over $6,000 the way I built it.

stunning bike Mate.
Love the colour.

I had Principia RS6 in a very similar colour...
Was very difficult to let her go.....

Sweet ride! Love that orange.

shot peened ti tubeset ...very techie and cool.