your perfect bike

[mimitabby]

Okay, we've had a lot of talk about bikes; why not describe it? If it comes with a brand and model; tell us about that perfect bike.

for me, a perfect bike would be light and sturdy; it would have bright colors , no white, grey or black only for me!(had to get that out) would have handlebars more like mountain bikes; but with a curve. Would FIT ME; would have lots of gears, tires big enough to handle the cracks in the pavement (and the glass on the pavement).. also to not be scary on gravel
A place for fenders would be nice too. I love my campy components, it would be neat for these to be on this bike too.

[dachshund]

We're staying in the real world, i.e. something actually available in stores?

If all carbon and campy Record were affordable, that might do it for me. I have a sweet spot for the Bianchi line and that celeste green color.

If I could make things up... I really like the thumb shifter that comes with campy, so I'd want more of those instead of the long lever that swings left or right. And maybe I'd need more thumbs... And a digital readout built into the handlebar that tells me cadence and what gear I'm in, without more wires and add-on gadgets.

[Kathi]

I've been riding for 24 yrs and I got tired of stock frames that don't exactly fit me so I'm built my own custom frame that, I hope, will fit me to a T.


So here's my perfect bike, http://www.serotta.com/pages/ottrott.html

The frame is currently in the process of being built, hopefully it will be shipped Friday (it's a month overdue)

The frame is a sloper, to accomodate the higher head tube that I need for my short arms. The colors are Ciao Bebe (dusty pink), Quicksilver and Slate.

The wheelset is handbuilt by a wheelbuilder in Santa Fe, NM. Nimble Spider Rims, Tune rear hub and American Classic front hub. Sapim C-XRay spokes. The front wheel weighs 514g and the rear is 670g with a total of 1184g. That is without skewers or tape. I've ordered Michelin Axial Pro Race tires.

The components are Campy Record shifters, derailleurs, skewers and rear cassette. The brakes are Zero Gravity and seatpost is Thompson Masterpiece Zero degree.

The crankset is Specialties TA Carmina 48x34, 165 mm, stem is Ritchey WCS and handlebars, Modolo Venus.

Everything is here for the bike, except my Speedplay pedals, just waiting now for the frame.

[mimitabby]

I've been riding for 24 yrs and I got tired of stock frames that don't exactly fit me so I'm built my own custom frame that, I hope, will fit me to a T.


So here's my perfect bike, http://www.serotta.com/pages/ottrott.html


Everything is here for the bike, except my Speedplay pedals, just waiting now for the frame.

ah, very very cool. How did you know what wheels, etc to use?
(not to mention, how did you figure out the dimensions for the custom frame?)

[SalsaMTB]

for me, a perfect bike would be light and sturdy; it would have bright colors , no white, grey or black only for me!(had to get that out) would have handlebars more like mountain bikes; but with a curve. Would FIT ME; would have lots of gears, tires big enough to handle the cracks in the pavement (and the glass on the pavement).. also to not be scary on gravel
A place for fenders would be nice too. I love my campy components, it would be neat for these to be on this bike too.

Sounds like you should get a cyclocross bike! I love my cross bike, knobby tires that are thin like a road bike, fenders, road gearing. I have drop bars, but you can put a mountain bar on also. Also, if you haven't already, you should check out mustache bars. If you do a google search, you'll get a lot of hits.

Road:
A nice lugged steel frame. I've always had a thing for Vanilla Bikes. They're frames are BEAUTIFUL!!!

Mountain:
Hardtail - Got it! Custom steel frame
FS - I like the Turner FiveSpot a lot. Also, I really like the Dean Baja

Tandem
Off Road: Ventana El Conquistador
Road: DaVinci tandem, with Ti tubing. I like how they have an independant coasting system.

[Squirrel 2]

I'm riding my perfect bike, which is also a Serotta. Kathi -- I hope you love your Ottrott as much as I love my Legend. It is my dream bike. I left the bottom of the bike the polished titanium, the painted section is white, logos in red outlined by yellow. My Fir wheels are red, my Michelin Pro Race tires are yellow, and my Arione saddle is black with a red stripe down the middle. I have carbon seatstays, & a brand new carbon seat post by Specialized with zertz inserts that really does eat up road vibration. I am waiting for my new carbon handlebars, Specialized WSD. But the best part is the ride. When I am on my bike, I fly.....

[Kathi]

ah, very very cool. How did you know what wheels, etc to use?
(not to mention, how did you figure out the dimensions for the custom frame?)

I had a 3 hr fitting done by the bike shop. The fitter is Serotta trained, actually he is one of Serotta's fit trainers and very well respected in the Serotta community. He took the specifications from my current bike and set me up on a size cycle (a bicycle that can be adjusted to your body). I pedaled for a half hour before he made adjustments. When he was satisfied with my position on the bike he took the measurements, sketched out a prototype and sent the information to Serotta, then Serotta takes it from there and designs the bike.

Originally, I was having problems with my current bike that I bought in 00. I thought it was fitted perfectly but when I would do multi day rides I was getting neck and shoulder pain. Plus, my saddle had to be nose down, which probably contributed to my pain. In 2004, I had a knee and elbow problem and had signed up for 4 week long tours. Plus, I bought a Titus mtn bike that was fitted by a Serotta fitter and was experiencing none of the problems with it that I was on the road bike.

There was a Serotta trained woman in Cincinnati. I had her refit my bike and it turned out my handlebars were too low and I needed a zero degree seatpost. We refitted the bike and voila it was perfect. Except now it has 4 cm of spacers and a very steep stem to raise the handlebars. But the fit was right on.

She said then the only way I would get a really good fit is to get a bike with a higher head tube angle and sloping tt. There really aren't any stock frames that would fit me without the spacers. So I decided to do custom.

As far as the rest of the components, I have used Campy bfriters since about 1998 when I complained about how uncomfortable Shimano brifters were. My LBS told me that riders with small hands liked Campy better so I put them on my Cannondale. When it came time to build my Aegis we used Campy Record with a Specialties TA crankset (Campy doesn't make 165 crankarms).

My LBS recommended the Zero Gravity brakes, the Ritchey WCS stem and the tires.

The guys on the Serotta Forum suggested I go with handbuilt wheels and recommended the wheelbuilder. I did a little research and found out that in general 650c wheels are 25% stiffer than the same wheel in a 700c. I also bounced the idea off of Lennard Zinn and he agreed that I would get a wheel better tuned to my weight with handbuilt. So the wheels are built to be strong but be compliant enough to give me a nice ride. The front has 20 spokes and the rear 24. They are built for a 105lb person rather than a 165 lb person.

It was also through the Serotta forum that I found the Modolo Venus handlebars. They are designed to shorten the reach from the drops to the brake levers. I put them on my Aegis and they really do work, I absolutely love them.

I forgot, I'm also using a Chris King headset, also on my Aegis.

Anyway, this is probably more info than you want to know but this has all come about from riding bikes that don't fit and finding products that work well for me and finding some knowledgable bike fitters.

I also found out that it is very difficult to find high end frames to fit small riders without going custom. Finally, it took me 2 yrs to decide to go this route but I've been very comfortable with the decision.

[Kathi]

I'm riding my perfect bike, which is also a Serotta. Kathi -- I hope you love your Ottrott as much as I love my Legend. It is my dream bike. I left the bottom of the bike the polished titanium, the painted section is white, logos in red outlined by yellow. My Fir wheels are red, my Michelin Pro Race tires are yellow, and my Arione saddle is black with a red stripe down the middle. I have carbon seatstays, & a brand new carbon seat post by Specialized with zertz inserts that really does eat up road vibration. I am waiting for my new carbon handlebars, Specialized WSD. But the best part is the ride. When I am on my bike, I fly.....

Your bike sounds really nice. The guys on the Serotta forum love their Legends. Did you get a custom build?

My seat stays are ti, apparently, Serotta believes there is no difference in the ride between ti and carbon with 650c wheels so they don't make a carbon seatstay for 650's.

Unfortunately, some of the cool things like carbon handlebars don't come small enough for me.

[Squirrel 2]

Yes, it is a custom build. I am fortunate in having a very good Serotta fitter in my hood, who already knew me & how I ride from fitting me on another bike. And the carbon handlebars do come in smaller sizes -- I found 2 manufacturers that make a size 38, Bontrager & Specialized. I went with the Specialized because I already know that their short-reach & drop are good for me from my previous bike. And I am a small rider, I am only 5'2". I can't wait, hopefully they will be in this week!

[Kathi]

Yes, it is a custom build. I am fortunate in having a very good Serotta fitter in my hood, who already knew me & how I ride from fitting me on another bike. And the carbon handlebars do come in smaller sizes -- I found 2 manufacturers that make a size 38, Bontrager & Specialized. I went with the Specialized because I already know that their short-reach & drop are good for me from my previous bike. And I am a small rider, I am only 5'2". I can't wait, hopefully they will be in this week!

I'm almost 5'2 but my Modolo Venus handlebars are 34 cm. I had 38 cm but they were too big. Also, with the Venus I can reach the brake levers from the drops without shimming my brakes.

[DebW]

I want a sleek light road bike that sucks up the road bumps. Not sure if that's a titanium frame or steel with some carbon. I need to do some test riding. Campy components.

I also want a cyclocross bike so I can do solo point-to-point hikes and use the bike for the car spot. It needs to handle gravel roads with aplomb and asphault with speed. It has to look like a junker so I'm willing to lock it to a tree in the woods for a day or two. I also need a secure container to lock to the same tree to hold my bike shoes and helmet while I hike, or my hiking gear, boots, and trail tools while I'm riding.

[mimitabby]

Anyway, this is probably more info than you want to know but this has all come about from riding bikes that don't fit and finding products that work well for me and finding some knowledgable bike fitters.
.

Kathi
I started this thread as a sort of invitation because we do want to learn and we do want to know all the details so we are better prepared the next time we are ready to get a better bike ourselves. Thanks!

you said you researched and found the 650 wheels were stiffer than the 700's. So did you go with the 650's?

and of course, you're going to take photos and share them when the bike comes in?

[massbikebabe]

All carbon SEVEN,

painted white with green shamrocks and on the shamrocks the names of all the people that I love...including the TE Gals. If money is no object I want campy super record componets with garmin (?sp) computer. Maybe in 8 years when youngest goes to college...



karen

[Kathi]

Kathi
I started this thread as a sort of invitation because we do want to learn and we do want to know all the details so we are better prepared the next time we are ready to get a better bike ourselves. Thanks!

you said you researched and found the 650 wheels were stiffer than the 700's. So did you go with the 650's?

and of course, you're going to take photos and share them when the bike comes in?

Yes, I went with handbuilt 650's. By doing handbuilt I talked to the wheelbuilder, he built the wheels geared toward my weight, type of riding, etc. He chose the rims, hubs and spokes appropriate for someone my size. When you buy a pre-built wheel there is no customization.

Here's pictures of the wheels. Can't tell you how they ride, if the Serotta doesn't come soon I'm going to put them on my Aegis, just so I can give the wheelbuilder some feedback.

[mimitabby]

Yes, I went with handbuilt 650's. By doing handbuilt I talked to the wheelbuilder, he built the wheels geared toward my weight, type of riding, etc. He chose the rims, hubs and spokes appropriate for someone my size. When you buy a pre-built wheel there is no customization.

Here's pictures of the wheels. Can't tell you how they ride, if the Serotta doesn't come soon I'm going to put them on my Aegis, just so I can give the wheelbuilder some feedback.

Oh Kathi you must be going nuts!! (waiting!)