Fair enough. On a completely unrelated note I had a fantastic ride tonight. I just re-geared to 46-16 (from 42), and I ran into one of the riders from a local club that smoked me a couple of weeks ago. We were pushing 24.5 for a few miles, and I think I actually made him sweat for a bit. If he hadn't turned off my route I think I would have died within 5 minutes, but I did knock a minute and a half off my fastest time, so today was a good day. Tomorrow its going to raid in from 4am for 26 hours. Not so great, since I may have to drive to work. Meh.

Dave

Who cares about the difference between omnium and s300? They have the exact same bottom bracket, the weight difference is around 50 grams, and their difference in stiffness is negligible (http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/crank.shtml). The only thing you're paying $100 extra dollars for is the 144 bcd and some bling.

The point is that Felt is charging more for this bike so they should equip it with higher line equipment, regardless of whether there is a significant functional difference. It's like saying that it's ok to charge $150 for a set of Formula hubs, because they are functionally just as good as a set of Phils, and the only real difference is "bling". If the Felt were priced under $1K, then it would be fine to put medium line components on it, but at their asking price they are pocketing a bigger profit and that bike is a ripoff. Think about it, the Moto Team Track costs half as much, and is equipped with Dura Ace cranks. IMHO, of course.

Wonderful! I was thinking the same. If you are in good shape, that will certainly help your top speed. I like 42x16 for commuting. Good acceleration and braking, and good practice spinning. I can hold 20mph all day long with it. It ain't a top speed gear though. 24mph is a lot of rpm to hold for that gear.

Good idea, thanks for the entertainment. :-)

I've been hanging out with an ironman training idiot - at 42-16 I couldn't spin fast enough on the flats, let alone on a downhill - 46-16 is a pretty huge difference in my opinion. I'm glad I didn't go up to 48 though - I think that what I have is about as much as I would want to try and spin on real roads, and I can actually keep up now. I dont know if I am "good" shape right now, but its a lot better than it has been for a long time now.

Dave

My ironman idiot wanted to do a steady 18mph, and went slow uphill to keep his heart rate down so that wasn't a problem. FG downhill can be a problem with a fast geared bike, but SS isn't a problem as I just draft tight. Cogs are not too expensive - it might have been cheaper to do a 42x15 than a 46x16, practically the same gear.

Enjoy the Langster!

I really don't think my idiot is that bright. Quite fast though. I suppose both of those attributes probably go with the territory. I couldn't find a 15T freewheel that would fit - one probably exists somewhere, but it was easier (though not cheaper) to just suck it up and get the chainring.

Dave

For the intended application and at that price point, it may be suitable to go for a TI road frame and eno hub.

It seems that you're already dead-emeat-set on a SS carbon complete, but might as well go for dual purpose. Not completely sure what you're training for, but if it's crits, boom, you have a back up---your trainer---set up of course.

TI will treat you well, if not better than carbon and will certainly outlast it. There's just nothing really tempting to the Felt Footprint from this perspective. Could just as easily go custom steel frame, or second-hand TI complete.

And I'm just postulating that you have a fully stocked parts bin.

CF is *****ific for this guy. CF fetish.

He doesn't sound too bright. 24mph in an Iron Man? He is going to blow up and never finish the marathon. He definately needs to pace himself.

Nope, there are no 15 tooth freewheels available. There actually have been rumors of one, but no one has actualy seen it (rather like bigfoot IMHO). There really isn't enough room for the free wheel assembly inside of 15 teeth.

I try to ride at 100rpm and sprint around 130 (and top out around 180 downhill)
42x16 @ 100rpm = 21.1mph
46x16 @ 100rpm = 23.0mph
so you have in effect added an easy 2mph to your cruising speed, and 3mph to your top speed with that gearing (assuming you have the strength to turn the cranks at that speed). That is why 24mph is a lot more attainable for you.

:-)

Or a carbon road frame. This was already pointed out earlier - not dissing the idea, but I did just have a nice pair of wheels made, so I was being pretty specific I guess. Doesn't white also make an eno BB though?

About 18 months ago my father was having chest pains, so he went to the doctor and got almost 15 seconds through a stress test. The next day he was having heart surgery. I took a hard look at my genetics, my entirely sedentary lifestyle and (growing) 210lb ass and decided to buy a bike. I decided to buy a single speed because it appealed to the weird in me, and because there was no cheating, which I did rather think was the point when training. Right now, I'm training to go faster than I did yesterday, and occasionally to go faster than various idiots on overpriced bikes they ride once a week (the irony of making that statement while starting this thread has not escaped me). I guess I'm training to outrun death, and/or the need to give up nice beer and pies. I haven't given up nice beer or pies, and I now weigh under 185, so I must be doing something right. I'll stop riding a single speed when I stop being able to turn the cranks, or get hit by a car - riding a geared bike just doesn't appeal any more.

After this week's stock market, there is a strong possibility that cat food and no new bike are on the menu. This thread is now running on fumes and sarcasm, and the idea that one day the stocks that I didn't sell in the last month might be worth something again. If they go up loads, I'm totally buying that $4k Trek though. That's probably not going to happen.

Are you coming on to me?

Dave

Dave rules

What a man chooses to do in the privacy of his own home with a can of lube, a carbon fiber frame and a beernutz tool is his own damn business. Neither you, my neighbors, the police or the bucket of soapy frogs gets to judge me.

And turn into a man apparently - this is actually a woman. Can't argue with the rest though, but it's her race - I just ride around with her occasionally and try to keep up.

The FOOTPRINT is 120mm O.L.D. The rear dropouts can be split at the seat stays so you could run a belt if you preferred. The bike use a full carbon frame as well as a monocoque carbon fork. We sell a simiilar road frame for $1500. Thats for the frame only. The S300 crankset is used because of restrictions on "sharp" chainrings. The bike is sold as CPSC compliant, track bikes are not. The S300 is avaialble with the guard the Omnium is not, neither are any other SRAM cranks except the less expensive S100/150 or Truvative options. The S300 is also used in a BB30 version on our $3500 'cross bike.

Certainly there are other options for single speed bicycles and arguments can be made for the "best value for your $1600" ad nauseam.

I have a Footprint frame built up with some older Zipp cranks, Ritchey cockpit, and a light saddle. It is just under 15 pounds and retains the stock wheels. I leave the bottle opener at home also.

It is a unique bike to be sure.

-SD

Certainly looks like an interesting bike, and a better value than the $3500 Treck District Carbon! Now if there was just a way to get a test drive...

Before I read this part, I thought that Dave (Deademeat) had decided to create a new account because he loved his Felt so much that he had to put it in his name (and become Super). :lol:

I'm really glad I'm not the only one who thought that.

Footprint
 

it's nice enough...
http://www.feltbicycles.com/Resource...2011_SMALL.jpg

Nope. If I had bought the Felt I would no doubt be loving it in imaginative and exciting new ways right now, but I've just been riding my trusty langster as much as I can (at least while the weather has permitted, which has not been that often recently). I did get a proper soaking a couple of days ago though (who looks at the weather before a ride?), so clearly I should replace it now - all the new-bike smell washed off.

If someone from Felt happened to know if there was a dealer somewhere near Philly that had one to try out (56, if I was being all specific and stuff), I could definitely be convinced to take a look.

Otherwise I'm going to start putting new bits onto my Specialized - it's a proven fact that the dust that builds up on old components makes you go up to 10mph slower. Lance Armstrong always has a clean bike - coincidence?

Dave

Because dust doesn't build up on bikes that actually get ridden?

(Just teasing. :D)