I would agree that Dean would be a fine choice for a Ti frame. I have a Dean post and I overtightened a bolt, and they replaced it free, and cleaned up the post for free as well.

Contrary to the above, carbon frames can be repaired. Especially lugged carbon frames like Calfees. Cracks can be patched, and in case a tube can't be repaired, the lugs can be removed and the tube replaced. It is surprisingly affordable, though not dirt cheap, to have repairs done. See www.calfeedesign.com. Furthermore, the frames can be clearcoated "nude carbon" and the clearcoat finish is quite durable, resistant to chipping and scratching. Ti will scratch, though not easily, however you are certainly correct that where there is no paint, there is no paint to chip, and that is nice.

But Ti is multidirectional, and you end up with an overbuilt frame because you can't engineer the bike to resist the exact forces that are placed on it. But carbon frames can be built to resist the specific forces that are placed on it, and you end up with a lighter, more comfortable frame. Pros race carbon for the reasons you mentioned, but I think they do it mainly becuase carbon is lighter, faster, stronger, more comfortable and more versatile. They are in buisness to win races, because that is what gets exposure for their sponsor, so it is in their interest to race the fastest thing that they can get. My carbon frame is about 30 percent lighter (over 1 pound) than my Ti frame. And it is so much more responsive as well, there is just no comparison. The ti frame is for sale for that reason. Ti is just a very soft metal when it comes to strength/weight compared to carbon, not nearly as responsive. That said it has some useful applications, Calfees have Ti dropouts because Ti is tough to bend and break.

Here is a real pretty one:
http://www.bikefanclub.com/gallery/s...sort=1&cat=506

Thanks for the correction. But, does Trek or any other major bike have a similar policy of at cost repairs? I would imagine that, aside from warranty, it would be difficult to have a major bike co. carbon frame repaired, and it would just be more cost effective for the company to have it replaced. And that would depend if they have a crash policy. The cool thing about steel or Ti, is if the original maker were out of business, I could still get the frame repaired by a builder using those materials.

Calfees are nice, real nice, BTW. I asume you own a Calfee?

A friend of mine has an OCLV carbon MTB. He is a very fast and aggressive XC rider, and he has broken 3 of those frames, always at the seat stay. Trek gives him a brand new frame every time. Not too bad, although if I were him, I would have prefered a stronger frame. Not very convienient to build up a new frame every couple of months.

Yes, a friend pointed me to a great deal on a Dragonfly road bike on eBay last August, then I found a custom fixed gear that was lightly used, on eBay in February. They are the nicest bikes I have ever owned in 15 years of hardcore biking.

Major manufacturers...you raise a good point, Craig Calfee says he repairs a lot of Colnagos. A teammate was the victim of a pack crash and his Scott CR-1 was cracked. They don't have any more available, and he will have to wait until next season, and spend 500 dollars.

I need to take some more recent pics of the Dragonfly as I have added some stuff...but the pic of the Luna is recent. I don't own a car so I sink a lot of change into nice bikes. I figure it is an investment in my long term health.