i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff!
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2008-04-24 10:29 PM |
Expert 941 WA | Subject: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! so, crazy story. my husband knows a guy who just got his serotta bike fit classes finished and was giving free fits - he needed 10 to get licensed. so we both signed up. i show up with my bike, and he tells me my bike is a piece of crap. (it's a 2005 trek 1500 wsd). i'm like, tell me how you really feel! but he's a total italian bike SNOB so i'm not offended. his stable of bikes consists of like 8 mostly steel italian makes, like ciocc, pegoretti, etc. he eyeballs my bike, and says, "i have a fondriest that's about the same size, let me get it." holds it up against my bike, and they're literally practically the same size, only difference is seat tube length, which doesn't matter so much. he says, "i was going to build up this frame for an 8 year old kid, but i'll give it to you, if you give me your trek frame so i can give that to the kid." every time i tell the story, it sounds like a scam but it isn't. he insists, he says, "just take the frame home, admire it, it's yours." i go home and look up fondriest. little do i know, this bike was ridden in the Tour. http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/tech/?id=tourbikes/TMlamprefondriest anyway, so we did a frame swap, and put all my stuff on the new frame, and are in the midst of several upgrades. but even before we finish those, i have to say this bike is AMAZING!!!!! it seriously is. the power transfer is just phenomenal. my hill climbing has just completely rocked lately, and i'm sure it's not my skills that have changed that much. hills i used to fear with major fear are now not a problem. it literally blows my mind that hills i used to require granny gears for i can just get up to the top in my middle gear, and not feel like dying when i get to the top. anyway, this is mostly just a public love story. this bike rocks. here's a picture! it's not the latest, i even have some blue tires (coincidence) to kind of match the frame. i can't wait to finish all the upgrades!! so exciting! i haven't named it yet, but i need to. oh, just had an idea for a name that is sooooo lame. but this really is my Italian Stallion. Edited by lisazapato 2008-04-24 10:32 PM |
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2008-04-24 10:33 PM in reply to: #1360853 |
Expert 1014 Virginia | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! nice bike! and how lucky where you to get it the way you did! |
2008-04-25 12:21 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Pro 4339 Husker Nation | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! What's a "NARDY"? |
2008-04-25 5:07 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Master 1603 Connecticut | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! Oooooo, very pretty! Enjoy! |
2008-04-25 6:10 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Champion 5850 Michigan | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! Duuuuude, that is AWESOME! and stiff is good, so I hear. |
2008-04-25 7:24 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Champion 16151 Checkin' out the podium girls | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! This is exactly why the paradigm about fit and frame quality is true. Components are nice and indeed do effect performance. All the talk about this bike is 105 and that one Ultegra, etc. are somewhat valid, but nowhere near germane as what the quality of the frame brings. Good components on a crap frame is a pig wearing lipstick. But the bike is the frame. That's what makes a bike truly perform for you. This Fondriest is almost exactly the same size as your Trek and you've brought over most of the components from the Trek. So why the difference? The quality of the frame build, the engineering behind it and the tubeset it's made from. There ya' go. BTW: Nice bike! Edited by pitt83 2008-04-25 7:26 AM |
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2008-04-25 7:39 AM in reply to: #1360917 |
Expert 941 WA | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! Bripod - 2008-04-25 1:21 AM What's a "NARDY"? heh, that's a Honda Pilot - from a dealership called Nardy. Good components on a crap frame is like a pig wearing lipstick. HAHAHAHA!!! I like that one! |
2008-04-25 7:42 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Champion 19812 MA | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! You can't make up this stuff...awesome that you traded up for a sweet bike. Loving your bike makes riding so much more fun..hills are easier..get that compact crank on it and you'll be rocking those CT hills even more. Seems like the bike was meant for you |
2008-04-25 7:47 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Elite 3022 Preferably on my bike somewhere | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. I don't believe this story! It's too good to be true! |
2008-04-25 8:44 AM in reply to: #1361089 |
Elite 3650 Laurium, MI | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! welcome to steel Now that you have tasted it, all other frames will feel dead to you. You have been ruined (in a good way) |
2008-04-25 9:00 AM in reply to: #1361205 |
Expert 941 WA | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! vortmax - 2008-04-25 9:44 AM welcome to steel Now that you have tasted it, all other frames will feel dead to you. You have been ruined (in a good way) heh, i wish it were steel, then i'd feel even more bike snobby. but it's actually some sort of super aluminum, they triple forge it or something so they can keep it light and stiff, despite being aluminum. and i can really feel the difference. |
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2008-04-25 9:03 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Expert 937 Traverse Cityish | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! That was one hell of a trade, you don't see too many Fondriest frames rolling around, they are quite exclusive. BTW, I'm pretty sure that's an aluminum bike, not steel. |
2008-04-25 9:10 AM in reply to: #1361205 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! vortmax - 2008-04-25 8:44 AM welcome to steel Now that you have tasted it, all other frames will feel dead to you. You have been ruined (in a good way) Sounds like you've never ridden titanium! |
2008-04-25 9:15 AM in reply to: #1361205 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! vortmax - 2008-04-25 9:44 AM welcome to steel Now that you have tasted it, all other frames will feel dead to you. You have been ruined (in a good way) It's alum. with a carbon fork and carbon stays ... nothing steel in it ........ Fondriest pretty much never had any real steel bikes in their line. They've always built in alum. and carbon. Congrats on the upgrade! Loving your ride is important as it means you will want to get out on it even more. |
2008-04-25 9:21 AM in reply to: #1361258 |
Elite 3650 Laurium, MI | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! lisazapato - 2008-04-25 10:00 AM vortmax - 2008-04-25 9:44 AM welcome to steel Now that you have tasted it, all other frames will feel dead to you. You have been ruined (in a good way) heh, i wish it were steel, then i'd feel even more bike snobby. but it's actually some sort of super aluminum, they triple forge it or something so they can keep it light and stiff, despite being aluminum. and i can really feel the difference. then it's probably scandium (AL alloy). Scandium is really sexy stuff too. It's like steel's red headed step brother. Titanium is nice and all, but it just doesn't have any soul. |
2008-04-25 9:25 AM in reply to: #1361325 |
Expert 941 WA | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! vortmax - 2008-04-25 10:21 AM lisazapato - 2008-04-25 10:00 AM vortmax - 2008-04-25 9:44 AM welcome to steel Now that you have tasted it, all other frames will feel dead to you. You have been ruined (in a good way) heh, i wish it were steel, then i'd feel even more bike snobby. but it's actually some sort of super aluminum, they triple forge it or something so they can keep it light and stiff, despite being aluminum. and i can really feel the difference. then it's probably scandium (AL alloy). Scandium is really sexy stuff too. It's like steel's red headed step brother. Titanium is nice and all, but it just doesn't have any soul.
i just googled around, and found this description of the frame-making process. i really don't know what it means, but i'll post it anyway: Frames of absolute integrity and durabilityDuring the TIG welding of Dedacciai U2 aluminum, the heat from the welding process causes severe brittleness to the alloy of more than a centimeter in both directions from the weld bead. This brittleness and subsequent loss of strength are severe limiters to the life span of the frame and the integrity of the entire structure. The process Water Quenching Fondriest (U107) reverses this negative effect and guarantees a homogenous structure with greater rigidity and durability than U2 based frames that do not receive this treatment. WQF consists of a 3-part process that takes over 72 hours to execute:
The Carb Level U107, which features the PSA Carbon seat stay unit, is processed as a full AL frame. After WQF, the original AL seat stay is removed and the PSA unit installed. The result of this process is a frame of absolute integrity and durability. We have measured our frames against competing brands and the data leads to a clear understanding:
Water Quenching Fondriest adds significant cost to our U2 based frames but the end result is better durability, strength and ride quality.
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2008-04-25 9:34 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Elite 3650 Laurium, MI | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! after 3 attempts and reading your reply I decided to actually google stuff. Looks like U2 Al is similar to scandium, but Dedacciai's version. SC7000 is an Easton product. So....in the world of frame materials it's still sexy. regardless, sounds like an awesome bike |
2008-04-25 9:38 AM in reply to: #1361325 |
Resident Curmudgeon 25290 The Road Back | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! vortmax - 2008-04-25 9:21 AM lisazapato - 2008-04-25 10:00 AM vortmax - 2008-04-25 9:44 AM welcome to steel Now that you have tasted it, all other frames will feel dead to you. You have been ruined (in a good way) heh, i wish it were steel, then i'd feel even more bike snobby. but it's actually some sort of super aluminum, they triple forge it or something so they can keep it light and stiff, despite being aluminum. and i can really feel the difference. then it's probably scandium (AL alloy). Scandium is really sexy stuff too. It's like steel's red headed step brother. Titanium is nice and all, but it just doesn't have any soul. And, I repeat, Sounds like you've never ridden titanium! |
2008-04-25 9:41 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! Anyone want to trade me a titanium frame for my Specialized Dolce? Anyone? |
2008-04-25 9:44 AM in reply to: #1361390 |
Cycling Guru 15134 Fulton, MD | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! I've ridden them all, and by far aluminum/scandium is at the bottom of my "like to ride" list. I have not had a chance to ride an alum/carbon composite before, so it might actually move up on the scale if I did. My personal likes in frame order? Steel, Carbon, Ti, Aluminum. But both my bikes are carbon right now, and I'm actually in the process of rebuilding my road bike with another lighter/stiffer carbon frame (not that the TCR wasn't stiff). And Bear ...... I just kept losing out on bids for Vortex's and Ghisallo's ..... otherwise it would have been a Ti frame I'd be building up right now. |
2008-04-25 10:16 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
over a barrier | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! |
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2008-04-25 10:20 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Master 2136 A Prairie Home | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! Drat! lisa airbrushed out her license plate.... |
2008-04-25 10:32 AM in reply to: #1361507 |
Expert 941 WA | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! Denise2003 - 2008-04-25 11:20 AM Drat! lisa airbrushed out her license plate.... that's actually not mine. but i did it anyway. figured whose it is likes their privacy. |
2008-04-25 11:00 AM in reply to: #1360853 |
Elite 4344 | Subject: RE: i love my new bike - stiff stiff stiff! Now that you have the Fondriest, you should change your user name to LisaZapUpdaHills. Great story. Great bike.
TW |