Race Geometry: Am I crazy?

[Becky]

+eleventy on the recommendation to look into steel. My steel Bianchi is a racer at heart (and geometry) and lightweight, but she's plenty compliant on rough roads and comfortable for hours at a time.

If you just need a frame and fork, a custom might be in your budget after all...

[Miranda]

Thx to you all. That does give me more things to think about. I did a small amount of lurking looking at some steele on line. I need to find some to ride. Besides the heavy 25+yr old girl hanging in my garage. I will mention this to the fitter when I go also.

Back to brain explosion clean up on aisle #4 lol...

[fidlfreek]

Ok, so I went and rode on chipseal today just for Miranda.

It was very good at slower speeds and very very much better than my old aluminum bianchi. However, at higher speeds (like 25+) it was still bone jarring. I like that feeling but realize that w/ degenerative disk issues you may not. So thats my honest opinion.

Regarding the whole "buying something I can't try first". It feels a little mail order bride, but thats exactly what I did. A close friend was very passionate about his Look and thats why I got it. Remember that anything in this price range is going to be kickass - like comparing a BMW to a Mercedes.

Price range wise my Elle as built would maybe fit. maybe. I spent around $3300 but bought a deeply discounted frame, a few gently loved Dura Ace parts (and all the new DA parts from ebay) and my not-super-spendy wheelset on a pretty darn good deal from Performance. And then my BF built it for me. If I bought this all retail from a dealer I think the final price tag would have been more than 5k. And I didn't even go 7900. Thats not to say you couldn't build it for less by going w/ Ultegra level components etc. However, the standover height on my small is between 28 and 29 inches.

I think the ladies talking about custom steel is great! Serotta makes a Coeur de Acier that would fit into your price range and be built to your exact geometry. The frameset weighs a bit more, maybe a pound, than the high end CF framsets but that really doesn't matter if you end up w/ a bike that feels great and fits you like a glove!

[NbyNW]

+1 on steel and potentially custom . . .

My first road bike was steel and made custom for a lady with similar measurements to mine. It was so light and responsive! Unfortunately it took a ride without me one day. Next bike is also steel, but a stock Rodriguez. They started making/stocking smaller frame sizes based on all the fit data they've collected over the years.

Rodriguez has lots of frame options for shorter riders (www.rodcycle.com), and they have a nice long-distance test-ride program, too. If you need custom they only add on $200.

Don't know where you are, but there are some excellent frame builders in the Seattle area. I'm sure if you did a search some threads would pop up regarding people's experiences with them.

I understand Terry also has a good test program, if you can't find a Terry dealer in your area.

Good luck!

[Miranda]

+1 on steel and potentially custom . . .

I understand Terry also has a good test program, if you can't find a Terry dealer in your area.

Good luck!

Thx for that link. It looks like a great shop. Midwest local though. However, I E-ed the aquiant that has a custom steele and she replied with the name of her builder. It would be a road-trip, but do-able. I'll have to arrange to check out her ride.

I geeked out the Terry dealers as well. They are further off. But, I thought even riding one of them would give me a steele ride feel.

One of my friends who is a carbon lover said that he thought "steele was for folks who liked to feel the road beneath them"... meaning the steele is not forgiving? From what I read here, it's smooth? Hmmm...

I think the fitter will help decide which way is best to turn. If I'm so far out of whack to standard frames, the custom just might be my ticket.

[Cataboo]

I can't really speak for steel 'cause I've never really had one... my bf's got a titanium litespeed and he loves it because he says he can feel the road beneath him... if he rides over a pebble, he can feel it etc.

It's unfortunately too big for me to actually ride, but I did coast down a hill with it once - and it's buzzy. He says they're not annoying or painful vibrations and he likes them - they're not jarring or uncomfortable like aluminum.

He thinks my carbon or aluminum/carbon bikes feel dead... Which has been my goal. Whereas, with titanium or steel you get the road feel.

I need to test ride a titanium road bike in my size sometime to see if I'd like it.

[Eden]

It's about geometry and the style of the frame as much as the material.... a stiffer, lighter bike will give a more harsh ride regardless of the material, while a bike with more touring style geometry will be more forgiving. You can make a harsh ti bike (ti is usually known for giving a smoother ride) and a plush aluminum one - there's just give and take with weight and handling.

[Miranda]

I can't really speak for steel 'cause I've never really had one... my bf's got a titanium litespeed and he loves it because he says he can feel the road beneath him... if he rides over a pebble, he can feel it etc.

That's what my carbon loving guy friend said too about Ti. He said on a hard climb he could feel the bike 'flex' underneath him and he didn't like it. One of the shop guys said about carbon is that "you are one with the bike".

It's about geometry and the style of the frame as much as the material....

Makes sense. I think it's a trade off of what you prefer in the end. For me, I know some things I certainly do not like. But, on some other things I'm undecided as of yet.

[Miranda]

Ok, so I went and rode on chipseal today just for Miranda.

Awe... Thx so much for doing a "Miranda-test-ride" and reporting back! Anyone to purposely endure the nasty chip and seal is a good soul. Well, that gives me some more to think about.

One lbs shops just started carrying Specialized. They had a 52cm carbon demo that was going to be available for rent. Not my size, but maybe rideable enough I could get an idea of a carbon ride.

That was a deal on the final price of your Look, btw. I do know what you mean about the mail order bride part. And yes, at that level, the bike is going to be nice regardless.