building my bike

[northstar]

Niiiiiice.

[smilingcat]

K2 and Orbea has carbon fork
Both have carbon seat stay
K2 has carbon top tube Orbea Aluminum
K2 chain stay is aluminum Orbea carbon
both have aluminum seat tube, head tube and down tube.

Tubes are hydroformed for both.

The geometry of the K2 isn't all that different than the Orbea Dama Race.

Wheel base is nearly identical K2 is slightly longer like 1/4"
effective top tube length is nearly the same K2 is just tad shorter.

top of the head tube from the ground is lower on K2
center of the bottom bracket is also lower on K2.

wheel to seat tube clearance is smaller on K2 by 1/4" or so

Overall the geometry is very close so I expected the ride to be somewhat similar and it was.

handling of K2:
responsive and agile like Orbea Dama Race, and Bianchi (I call it the ugly green circa '86).

stable like Orbea and Litespeed. I could ride handsfree without worry. Bianchi was set up as a crit so it was really squirrly and I didn't dare ride hands free.

Didn't notice any flex on hard acceleration like my litespeed and Bianchi.

Hard fast turn felt like it was holding really well like Orbea and Bianchi. Felt like I could have made sharper turns. Good for crit.

shock absorption wasn't the greatest but then again maybe it was because of my old sella flight saddle. just a little vibration up into my hand through the front end. So maybe it wasn't too bad. Will take my Orbea out tomorrow and compare.

Overall I am really pleased with the K2 MOD6 frame.

potential toe overlap didn't exist even though the frame is small. with 170mm crank I still had about an inch before I could touch the front wheel.

SRAM FORCE:

Its my first use of the FORCE. I LOVE IT!! Didn't take much to get used to it. crisp clean shift without the ka-chiang of campy. Very quick shift. love that double tap even from the drop. Definitly better than Ultegra (haven't try the new ultegra ice) and definitly better than campy Centaur. Centaur might be okay for casual recreational riding but its not race ready. Ultegra is race ready. FORCE is defintly race worthy for crit where you can jump and drop others out of a hard turn. Shifts clean under heavy load where Ultegra it is a problem.

So I'm really happy.

I was having second thoughts about selling my Orbea just because its Orbea with great name but seeing how this K2 with FORCE handled, I'm little less sad. Besides the K2 is definitly fitting me much better.

I'll post a finished picture when I put the Specilized toupe seat in red trim and the white bottle holder.

I really starting to think that once you reach a certain level of sophistication with the frame, its inmaterial as to which manufacture or style you go with. K2 may not have the name of DeRosa, Colnago, Orbea, Giant but it handled just as well and FOR LOT LESS!!

The drive train is far more important. responsive and reliable shift... SRAM didn't make too much noise on shift so thats good too. You don't want your opponents to know you've shifted and getting ready to jump.

And my back didn't give me trouble on the road. yippee.

I'll be trying DA in about a week. See how that compares.

Oh the complete bike came in around 16 and 1/2 pounds.

happy happy happy
smilingcat

[Starfish]

SRAM FORCE:

Its my first use of the FORCE. I LOVE IT!! Didn't take much to get used to it. crisp clean shift without the ka-chiang of campy. Very quick shift. love that double tap even from the drop. Definitly better than Ultegra (haven't try the new ultegra ice) and definitly better than campy Centaur. Centaur might be okay for casual recreational riding but its not race ready. Ultegra is race ready. FORCE is defintly race worthy for crit where you can jump and drop others out of a hard turn. Shifts clean under heavy load where Ultegra it is a problem.

Hey, thanks for the review! I'm curious to know your review of how the hoods feel between SRAM, Campy & Shimano. I know, I know...I have to ride them all and see what I think. Just curious, though. I don't live in a land where there are any bikes built up with SRAM right now (I'd have to go about 3 hours), and I'm curious to hear how you think they compare in feel (the hoods).

Thanks!

[smilingcat]

riding on the hood depends on how well the bike is fitted to you I think. height of the bar in relation to the seat and how far foward or streched out. This bike is fitting me well so I didn't have undue force pushing between my thumb and my fore finger.

One thing I did notice is that the brake handle was quite a bit stiffer than my old ultegra STI or even Centaur. It was really good from the drop but trying to close the brake from the hood was really hard. Part of the problem for me is that my hand is not that big. I usually have to ask a guy to open a jar of pickles and the like.

The reach from the drop on FORCE wasn't too bad. it was reasonable and it didn't take too much strength to operate it. Still its not as close as Centaur or Ultegra. Centaur has a button so that it can be made to feel like a short reach and Ultegra has a shim you could drop in to make it a short reach.

Disclaimer: I'm using my old shimano 600 brake caliper instead of FORCE brake caliper. I don't really see performance advantage so I will most likely be selling the FORCE brake caliper to recoup some of the money.

I'm not so meloncholy about selling my Orbea now. I was having second thoughts since it is a very nice bike. Its just too big and no amount of fitting will fix it. But this bike seems really nice.

smilingcat

[RoadRaven]

Glad you are happy, Cat


Good to have the spec comparisons too...

Looking forward to many excited ride and race posts, reported from the vantage point of the bike with its new components...

SPAM FORCE
What a cool name for "bits"

[smilingcat]

here is the final bike without the white bottle cage. I have a non-descript aluminum cage.

Seat has been replaced with Specialized Toupe with red trim. I was bit worried about the minimalist design of the seat but it turns out to be pretty comfortable. It has lot of flex and give. I've been out on about half a dozen very short rides like 10miles each time. Worried about my back

I've been getting lots of comment about this bike. Since I am building another one up with exact same frame, wheel, tire, Dura Ace groupo instead of SRAM (for sale in e-bay) I think I should carry some business cards telling them how they can buy one from me

Lots of positive response and drooling eyes. I was hoping to have the second bike built up by today but mail snafu so no frame yet. Have tires, wheel, Dura Ace cables but no frame, nor groupo

Well my Orbea dama race is on e-bay. Still bit sad about it but...

Anyway, this bike handles exceptionally well. And once my back gets better, I think it will climb really well too.


smilingcat

[mudmucker]

Very interested in your comparison of SRAM to DA. Don't forget to post your thoughts on that.

[PinkBike]

cat,
you are my hero!
that bike is awesome!
$200???? are you kidding me??
good choice on the shimano 600 part, I think the 600 is the most indestructable, smooth gruppo out there.
i'm curious about the sram vs dura-ace comparison.
oh, and minimum weight for the pros is 14.96 pounds.
love the specialized seat, too, that may be my next purchase. DH says his is the most comfy seat he's ever tried.
wow, that bike is just plain awesome!!
good on ya

[sandra]

OH.MY.GOSH. WOW!!!

Unbelievable. That is one fine bike! You did a fantastic job on it. You better guard it. People will be wanting it for sure!!!

[Gidiup]

I'm totally impressed. Where did you learn to build a bike? I wouldn't know where to begin. Don't know the names of all the parts etc. Is there a instruction manual. I'm clueless. (obviously)

[RoadRaven]

Nice result, Cat

Very slick...

Is that your final seat position? It looks a tad low in the pic...

But wow... what a statement. You should be right proud...

[smilingcat]

my body build is similar to a penguin LOL

Actually, I'm still playing with the position of the seat, forward, higher, back...

Went out on another fun easy ride. Well... my leg is not there after 7 or so year hiatus. Tried to climb a hill on 39 chainring and 23 cog. Had to stop and get off my bike. How embarassing only 400 feet of climb on short 10 mile ride.

the good thing I found today is that this bike fits me well. I could climb and my body mechanic felt like years ago. I didn't feel the frame holding me back. It felt like it was doing what it was told underneath me like my litespeed.

Today managed to hit over 30MPH (45Km/hr). Felt like it held its line very cleanly. Very stable. but still nimble. Didn't feel back heavy or front heavy. those new old stock of ultegra brake shoe has to go. Poor braking!!!

Did drop my chain once when I tried to draft a car going downhill some more adjustments needed.

And my back is holding while riding so this is good. Still can't get into my old "aero" style position though. Hands holding on the hood and my forarm resting on the top of the drop bar. I think it will come back.

Things are looking up.

second bike frame is nowhere to be seen...

Smilingcat

[smilingcat]

resurrecting this since two people were asking about SRAM vs Dura-Ace.

Dura Ace front derailleur is better I think. SRAM lacks the "micro" adjustment and its been a bit of struggle to get it adjusted right. Drop the chain, hesitant in shifting, or chain rub.

SRAM feels like it needs more travel on in the shifter to get it shift up or down than on Ultegra or Dura Ace. I have small hands so its like I have to twist my wrist to shift. Getting used to it though.

smoothness of shift between Dura Ace and SRAM seems to be about the same.

One thing I do like on SRAM is the double-tap feature instead of brake+shifter or shifter only on Dura Ace/Ultegra. If it weren't for this feature, I think I would stay with Ultegra.

Maybe I'm still used to Ultegra...

oh here is a picture of TT bike I just finished putting together. I haven't adjusted the height of the seat yet. And its still missing the "plug" for the steer tube. This bike also has SRAM. keep it same as my road bike. Now I guess its time to put my money where my mouth is.