Alien is stiffer than the Anchor I had (though the Anchor was lighter, thinner tubes and was w/o a doubt the nicest feeling bike I've had), somewhere near the stiffness of the Peloton I had before that (only had that bike for 2 weeks), I'd say slightly less stiff than the KHS but I really need to do some track training in 53x16/53x15 to really make that assertion. It is kind of heavy... 19lb built up as pictured vs. 18.5 on the KHS with a slightly heavier front wheel (but also threadless stem/Thomson seatpost on the KHS vs. old Campy post / steel stem on Alien).

I really think you should get an aluminum or carbon track bike and use the road bike for the really long stuff and the aluminum track bike for rides up to 40 miles... but it's also preference. So far I don't even know if I like aluminum at Alpenrose, but I know I like steel cuz it's what I'm used to.

I am 5'11" as well and having bit of a conflict on what size to go with. I looks like the 57 (-c-t) will be right but don't want to end up with a bike that is to small.

I was thinking of going w/ the 55cm but after I compared between other companies. I rode a 56cm Pista and it was very nice. So I believe the 57cm Alien is closer to that.

Sounds good, thanks for the help. I did the whole measurement breakdown on www.competitivecyclist.com and the alien 57 will do me fine. The OCD get's the best of me on some things.


Cheers!

Thanks for the input man. Youre probably right about using the roadie for long rides. Plus I think I want something with 1 1/8" threadless headset and a CF fork (I want an Easton EC90 SL…).

Im tempted to try and get a Cascadia frame since its local and nice looking. But thatd blow my budget right there. The Bare Knuckle and Cinelli or Vigorelli are options too. I may hold out and see f I can find a cheap TK2/Track Pro/Sonik on ebay/CL in the coming weeks though.

thought i'ld post a better pic of mine... still trying to figure out what to do for wheels
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8...ure0243av7.jpg
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/p...jpg/1/w768.png

http://img408.imageshack.us/images/thpix.gif

What size is this? And are those velocity aeroheads?

Ricks Alien
 

Here is my Alien build first time build first time rider

looks real good colerc - i dig the colors. no suggestions except maybe lose those velocity stickers, and lower the stem an inch if that's comfortable for you. how's the ride? which hubs are they? would also be interested in some more pics in the sunlight.

The ride is awesome lots of speed,rode it in a marathon ride. The hubs are Phil so is the bottom bracket, cant lower the stem it will hit the top of the fork but I am ok with the height for now. Any suggestions on how to remove the velocity stickers?

very nice - i certainly wouldn't mind having having the phil BB so that i could adjust my chainline so precisely. of course, phil hubs need to be matched with a beautiful chris king headset ... when you've got the ca$h!

re: the stickers, i always assumed you'd just peel 'em off, but if they look more hardcore, i guess you'll have to whip out the goo-gone or degreaser or whatever people do. i'm sure somebody must have asked this question before, if you can find it.

^ ^ ^ You can also adjust chainline on Miche BB if you use ISO cranks such as Sugino 75 or Campy.

The stickers should just lift of... just go slow. Use a hair dryer to warm them up if they don't want to let go.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/...fa340d.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3280/...b7f0c0.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3048/...656278.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/...8f4eba.jpg?v=0
It's a ton of fun

All these pictures make me really regret not jumping on the group buy... :(

i know right :(

...and it makes me so happy I did get in on it! :D

Nope. They are Mavic CXP22's, that I mobbed up with a black flowpen. And it's a 53.

are the powdercoats worth it? cause it seems the prices for aliens went up, and i might get a frame to rattlecan to save money.

I was at my LBS and this kid was telling me that Alien is shady because they dont' deliver the products? I know the 53s are out of stock but what is the turn around time if I ordered any other size they have in stock? Few days if I don't ask for powdercoat I'm assuming?

I wouldn't really call them shady at all. Joseph is really good with returning emails. It's more like the powdercoat guys are slow as **** and take forever. I waited a good 3 or 4 weeks for my frame to get coated by them. Personally I would say unless you have a color they offer that you're really set on (in my case, I did), just get it powdercoated locally and don't wait forever for them to do it for you. Typical turnaround is 1 week locally usually, and they're charging $99 for the coat now which is what you should pay locally anyway.

I wouldn't call them shady at all. They just subcontracted out all the powder coating.

so i'd save time and money getting paint done myself.

I was thinking of powdercoating locally to begin with. That's good to know now. I'm so upset I missed the group buy.

53 is the smallest they come in? Is that typical for track frames?