Let's see your titanium bikes...

[Rebecca19804]

I'm not aware of a specific ti show-and-tell thread and am a bit tired of running searches to see other people's ti bikes. :D

So... anyone fancy posting up a photo or two, and maybe a few words about what they like about their bike or what led them to choose titanium?

I can start (if I must!) --

I ordered a custom Enigma Etape at the end of July. 90 days later, she was delivered into my hands:

16822

I chose ti because I love steel but was hoping for something just a bit more forgiving on longer rides. I'm not quite pushing my mileage boundaries again yet, but the future looks bright. I went the custom route because stock geometries are persistently short. There's only so much you can do with stems and handlebars. I got my steel roadbike set up near enough, but the result was the bike was not "under me" properly -- apparently my centre of gravity was too "behind" the bike, so the handling suffered. On the Etape, I'm in much the same position but further forward. The results seems to be a bit less effort needed. Meanwhile, the reach is good and the bike has that just-right balance between responsive and stable.

The entire custom build experience with the Enigma team was A+, too. I highly recommend.

[thekarens]

Ooohhhhhh, pretty! I love Ti bikes :)

[Crankin]

This was my first ride on my custom ti Guru.

[jobob]

From waaay back ... here's the thread announcing the arrival of my Ti Lynskey.

Jobob's Midlife Crisis (bike) (http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=29763)

and a pic:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k186/jobob22/Lynskey/IMG_1095.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jobob22/media/Lynskey/IMG_1095.jpg.html)

Nearly five years later, it looks pretty much the same, except since then I lowered the stem & replaced the brake levers and the bar-end shifters with Ultegra carbon brake-shift levers. And the bike has a few scrapes, but most of those date back to a couple of weeks after I first got the bike. The joys of unpainted brushed Ti. ;)

[Rebecca19804]

This was my first ride on my custom ti Guru.
Lovely!

[Rebecca19804]

From waaay back ... here's the thread announcing the arrival of my Ti Lynskey.

and a pic:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k186/jobob22/Lynskey/IMG_1095.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jobob22/media/Lynskey/IMG_1095.jpg.html)

Nearly five years later, it looks pretty much the same, except since then I lowered the stem & replaced the brake levers and the bar-end shifters with Ultegra carbon brake-shift levers. And the bike has a few scrapes, but most of those date back to a couple of weeks after I first got the bike. The joys of unpainted brushed Ti. ;)

That is stunning! I know what you mean about scrapes - mine's already got some scuffs on the top tube. I understand these can be easily buffed out but am telling myself they add character. ;)

[Wahine]

Mootsie when she was brand new.16835

[Owlie]

Mootsie when she was brand new.16835

I never thought I'd say this about a mountain bike, and don't take this the wrong way, but it's cute! I think it's the top tube.

[GLC1968]

My TI Terry Isis (2005). I love this bike more than a human should love a hunk of metal. It was my third road bike and I ordered it sight-unseen based on geometry dimensions! When I took it to a fitter a year later, I was terrified that she'd tell me it wasn't going to work for me but I was pleasantly surprised to hear that I bought about as close as possible to custom from an off the shelf frame. :)

I really wasn't on the hunt for TI specifically when I bought it, but that's how it came. Once I rode it, I was sold. It was like riding on glass!! I did find that it got a little too 'flexy' or 'spongy' when I was 30 lbs overweight, but at my normal weight, it's wonderful.

16844

[zoom-zoom]

I want a better, lighter CX bike. Problem is, in my size (my Redline is a 44) there are only entry-level bikes. Anything even 1 component group above low-rent is a size larger.

So…my next bike could very well end up being a custom Seven Mudhoney in Ti with carbon fork and disc brakes. I'm dreaming. :)

[Rebecca19804]

My TI Terry Isis (2005). I love this bike more than a human should love a hunk of metal. It was my third road bike and I ordered it sight-unseen based on geometry dimensions! When I took it to a fitter a year later, I was terrified that she'd tell me it wasn't going to work for me but I was pleasantly surprised to hear that I bought about as close as possible to custom from an off the shelf frame. :)

I really wasn't on the hunt for TI specifically when I bought it, but that's how it came. Once I rode it, I was sold. It was like riding on glass!! I did find that it got a little too 'flexy' or 'spongy' when I was 30 lbs overweight, but at my normal weight, it's wonderful.

16844

That is stunning! And what a setting. We were last in Oregon in the summer of 2012, visiting my family in Roseburg. My English boyfriend still raves about Crater Lake! :)

[Rebecca19804]

I want a better, lighter CX bike. Problem is, in my size (my Redline is a 44) there are only entry-level bikes. Anything even 1 component group above low-rent is a size larger.

So…my next bike could very well end up being a custom Seven Mudhoney in Ti with carbon fork and disc brakes. I'm dreaming. :)

Oh zoom-zoom that would be one sweet honey of a bike! ;)

[zoom-zoom]

Oh zoom-zoom that would be one sweet honey of a bike! ;)

Yeah, it sure would! I'm also eyeballing a BMC. Their GranFondo carbon disc comes in a 48 and has enough tire clearance for road or CX tires. Not sure on standover, though. I'd want a decent amount. Otherwise the geometry looks about halfway between my 48 Cdale SuperSix and 44 Redline Conquest. Like…right in my sweet spot range!! I could have 2 sets of wheels for road or CX/gravel and have it as an über bike with Ultegra Di (not generally a fan of Shimano, but Di would eliminate my dislike of their brake lever sweep shifting). The shop we part-own just snagged BMC. Now to let our finances recover a lot while I dream...

[nuliajuk]

This one just appeared on eBay. It has a 50cm seat tube and 52cm top tube:
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Serotta-Legend-Titanium-Road-Bike-Frame-52-cm-Cycling-Race-Red-Yellow-/350960430015?pt=US_Bicycles_Frames&hash=item51b6df2bbf&_uhb=1

[MojoGrrl]

I need to take a new picture of mine since I did some cosmetic work on it, but I have a Ti Lemond Tete De Course which was painted at one time, but the guy I got it from had stripped it and now it has a brushed metal finish, no paint. I bought it because it was my size, a good price, looked like a good bike - husband and friends also said it was a good value. It's a nice bike, light and stiff enough and comfy. Had it for two and a half years now.

Husband and I also bought a Ti Santana tandem last summer and we've put over 4000 miles on it. We love it and get compliments on it every time we take it out. It's much lighter than the steel one we had before, and it's polished and shiny.

[salsabike]

16865

This is my ti Seven. I like color. :)

[Rebecca19804]

16865

This is my ti Seven. I like color. :)

That is awesome! You're not going to lose that in a crowd! :D

[salsabike]

That is awesome! You're not going to lose that in a crowd! :D

It's also a really wonderful bike, color aside. :)

[Rebecca19804]

I need to take a new picture of mine since I did some cosmetic work on it, but I have a Ti Lemond Tete De Course which was painted at one time, but the guy I got it from had stripped it and now it has a brushed metal finish, no paint. I bought it because it was my size, a good price, looked like a good bike - husband and friends also said it was a good value. It's a nice bike, light and stiff enough and comfy. Had it for two and a half years now.

Husband and I also bought a Ti Santana tandem last summer and we've put over 4000 miles on it. We love it and get compliments on it every time we take it out. It's much lighter than the steel one we had before, and it's polished and shiny.

MojoGrrl, any pictures of either bike yet? :)

[hulagirl]

This is my Lynskey 2014 ProCross. Ultegra 6800, disc brakes. Rides like a dream. I can't praise the bike or the company enough!

16992

[Wahine]

That's one hot Lynskey you've got there hulagirl!

[Irulan]

This is a circa 2001 (?) Pro Mongoose Sandvig Titanium bike, converted to a 32/16 singlespeed.
It originally belonged to a friend of mine, one of the gals who I learned to ride by following her everywhere. At some point she was trying to sell it and I mentioned that I thought it would be a good SS project. She is also a MD, I should mention. The next time I went to see for an appointment, she had it in the office. She said that she knew if I came that she should give it to me.

I put a much lighter fork on, and stripped it down to a 21# trail-dancing machine. I would love to be able replace the decals, and to pimp it out with orange ano but from what I can find the ano stuff is geared towards new mountain bike and doesn't fit old school stuff.

Here we go:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xavrTDYopEc/T814kIqwl1I/AAAAAAAACkg/0BwbvbLah_U/s800/IMG_0526.JPG

[Wahine]

That, is a very cool bike. Are you thinking orange anodized rims? Is the problem that you can't get them with brake tracks since everything is disc now? Have you thought about having disc tabs added to the frame? I have a couple of friends that have done that to older model bikes to bring them up to date. The Ti guy they used was in Portland OR.

[Irulan]

I haven't really looked into but I know going that route is lots of money. Rims, brakes, nipples, bar end caps, headset.; sizes have changed, brakes have changed...If I had unlimited funds I might do all that but going disc and them some would be a really frivolous and huge expense for me. I only ride it a handful of times every year so I can live with it as it is. Decals would be cool, though.

[nscrbug]

This is my Ti Seven Axiom SL w/electronic Ultegra, HED Belgium wheels and King hubs. 17055

[zoom-zoom]

I hope to have a photo of my new über-bike in another 7-8 weeks. A week ago I was fit for a Seven Mudhoney SL (http://www.sevencycles.com/bikes/mudhoney-sl.php). Next week I'll be doing my phone interview with Seven, then their designers will come up with a frame design and I'll have my fit bike fitting. After my approval it will go into production!

My bike will for sure have Ultegra Di2, hydro disc brakes, and most likely a Whiskey #9 thru-axel fork. Bare Ti with bead-blasted Seven logo and I'm planning to get a green saddle (my fave, SMP Drakon), green bottle cage, tape, etc. 2 sets of rims -- 1 mounted with road tires (probably Rolfs) and 1 with CX tires (Velocity, perhaps. I love my current A23s), so I can easily swap wheels depending upon where I want to ride.

I'm pretty stinkin' stoked!!

[Owlie]

I hope to have a photo of my new über-bike in another 7-8 weeks. A week ago I was fit for a Seven Mudhoney SL (http://www.sevencycles.com/bikes/mudhoney-sl.php). Next week I'll be doing my phone interview with Seven, then their designers will come up with a frame design and I'll have my fit bike fitting. After my approval it will go into production!

My bike will for sure have Ultegra Di2, hydro disc brakes, and most likely a Whiskey #9 thru-axel fork. Bare Ti with bead-blasted Seven logo and I'm planning to get a green saddle (my fave, SMP Drakon), green bottle cage, tape, etc. 2 sets of rims -- 1 mounted with road tires (probably Rolfs) and 1 with CX tires (Velocity, perhaps. I love my current A23s), so I can easily swap wheels depending upon where I want to ride.

I'm pretty stinkin' stoked!!

Nice!

[zoom-zoom]

Woot, ETA is first week of Aug. I am stoked! Geometry of the new bike will be about midway between that of my current road bike and Redline CX bike -- exactly what I always suspected would be ideal. Now to get a new saddle, pedals, shoes, and other random bits!

[zoom-zoom]

First mostly complete photo of "Toothless" (named for the dragon in How To Train Your Dragon):
https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10676115_10204944004104148_4910728147075117799_n.jpg?oh=66bac2f226008a84d6e42d2fd9074880&oe=54CEE50D&__gda__=1422592539_32b56a46af29c70c9f71a32bf6182308

We're still dialing in the fit a little. The original stem was just a hair short (not so bad when I was on the hoods, but in the drops I feel pretty cramped). Some of that extra steerer tube will likely come off, too, once fit is dialed-in. And after that the permanent medium gray Lizard Skins bar tape will go on.

But other than those details he's done. I've already logged 90 miles and it's a really cush ride. Amazing how much Ti dulls the rattle of chipseal. Even better than my carbon SuperSix, which already was fairly comfortable on rougher roads. Ti feels a lot like steel to me. And I LOVE the hydro disc brakes! They stop like a boss...but not in a scary, grabby way. Great modulation. Can't wait to ride it in a muddy CX race to see how they work under the same conditions that made my canti brakes on my low-rent Redline downright scary. And it should be awesome even riding on icy, slushy roads with studded tires this Winter, too.

[zoom-zoom]

Yep...pretty sure I like the look of Ti even better with a few splatters of sandy mud!
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10407624_10204952343752634_650747951919584070_n.jpg?oh=c07cfcc3c7a0f85e9fadb446b3c42882&oe=54CD0591&__gda__=1422998011_0309d96026872f405c24f55a5261db2c

[DebSP]

Wow! Beautiful bike! I would love to own a ti bike one day.

[IBrakeforPastry]

Looks sharp! I especially like how it matches your cat ;)

[zoom-zoom]

Gorgeous! Total love. :D

If you are cramped in the drops but not the hoods, do you perhaps need a longer stem? (Had that happen before.

Anyway, congrats on getting it built!

Yep, it had an 80mm stem and now has a 90 and fits like a dream...fits a LOT like my road bike. Did my first CX race today and got it filthy. It was a HARD course...it was either uphill or goopy muddy. Hardest race ever. Wishing I didn't have so much toe overlap, either. I won't even attempt to ride some hills where I know my front wheel will be wobbling back and forth enough for it to be an issue. Hence this.
https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/10659030_10204827093504999_5505991582388425797_o.jpg

And now my bike is properly broken-in.
https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/1979476_10204969948832750_8164651154691618440_n.jpg?oh=44bd4ce1fe7795eb3a86a72b5ba37585&oe=54CF245F

[zoom-zoom]

Made me realize if I ever wanted to get seriously into cross I'd have to see about getting a custom bike with a slightly lax headtube angle, and seat-tube angle.

I'm wondering if it could be done without compromising the rest of the geometry. What do you think?

Boy, I don't know. When I went through my fitting and interview with Seven they said that -- in theory -- they could mostly eliminate toe overlap, but that it would make for geometry that I would likely not be all that happy with. Given that I'm also using this bike for gravel and road riding I really wanted something that wasn't wonky during those times. In the grand scheme of things only a very small portion of my riding is CX. And I may be able to move my cleats forward on new shoes. My LGs aren't particularly stiff, so I had the cleats back a bit further than need-be. I am in the process of getting some nicer Lake mtn shoes with carbon soles that should be a LOT stiffer and have less of my duck feet ahead of the pedal spindle.