Time for a new bike..But what...????

Did I over complicate the process?

Lets put it this way...
I'd rather ride the frame I have for life, than buy a frame that
look like all the rest... So the time trial and the Softride
are attractive to me on that level, but what are the good bad and ugly
on the frames as road bikes?

specially thinking about a possible 650 wheel size?

Just a few things.

I am not sure you could even find too many 650 wheels in bikes of the size you are riding much less the size you should be riding. I ride a 55-56 and I am 4 inches shorter than you. btw Your aero positioning would improve greatly if you rode a larger frame regardless of which brand you picked.

The only good things I have heard about Softride bikes came from people trying to justify their purchase. Every shop owner and mechanic I have talked to had nothing good to say about them, in fact thier reaction was quite negative.

As far as a bike that will handle road and TT riding, I have heard the Cervelo Soloist is a good choice. Here is a good review on it:

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/reviews/soloist.shtml

Personally, I think they are a little spendy compaired to other brands but it is still much cheaper than buying 2 bikes.

If you want a compact crank. The Felt F55 seems like a great choice because for under $2k you get full Dura Ace and a FSA compact carbon crank. However, as far as geometry goes, the seat tube angle in the larger sizes might not be high enough for good position on aero bars. For the smaller frames it would work. If I can work out a good fit when these bikes come in, I am going to buy the F55.

Hope that helps

Yeah I know I need a bigger frame..

I do know that Softride does make a 650 and 700 bike in an XL frame.

I like the Felt B2 frame, but geometry is all wrong.

Abici makes a nice Time Machine frame with same geo's that I need...

Then there is the old Zipp 2001 & 3001 frame...SEXY!

So is 650 simply a no no for me?

You need a custom. Call Tom Kellog at Spectrum Cycles.

Azonict said:

😕 after 6000 miles on my entry level frame I think I want a new one..

in '99 I bought a 56cm Cannondale R300 frame with various components.
I am 6'2" 200 lbs and should ride a 60cm bike, but had ridden mountain bikes for 7-10 years prior, and just did not like the feel of the big frame...

more about the bike...
'99 Cannondale R300 56cm
Sora Crank(triple) and front deralier
105 shifters and brake levers
Coda Brakes
Tiagra rear deralier

Upgrades
Weyless Aero seat post (& light seat)
Easton EC70 Carbon Fork
Longer Stem
Profile shortie aero bars
11-23 Ultegra cassette
and my fav... Velocity Spartacus Pro Bladed wheels.

Not bragging or anything..just laying a base..

What I like about the bike...
It accelerates very very quick.
Rides out nice at top speed.
Handles great.
Color (yellow)

Not so happy about.
Aero [font=Times New Roman]positioning[/font].
In the past the ride was way harsh, but the carbon fork
and seat post helped alot of that.
But for the most part I am not to worried about that..

What I want to buy..
Well, nothing very expensive..
under 2K really..

Here are some questions..
Since I love the time trial bike frames, could I buy one with the correct geometry and make it a road bike?

Is going to 650's for a rider my size a NO NO?

What does anyone know about Softride Bikes?

I am to go to a compact double and drop my triple,
but really want to keep my new wheels I spent $$ on..

Thanks Guys (and gals)

My opinion: Forget the 650 wheels, Softride beam and TT frames. For regular road riding, get a proper road bike frame that fits you. I'd pass on the lightest stuff for a rider your size: the frame, fork, and other components need to be stiff enough to handle your weight and power.

dhk said:

My opinion: Forget the 650 wheels, Softride beam and TT frames. For regular road riding, get a proper road bike frame that fits you. I'd pass on the lightest stuff for a rider your size: the frame, fork, and other components need to be stiff enough to handle your weight and power.

I hear what you are saying, but...
I can skip the 650's...(it was just I found a great deal on a frame my size)

The softride, well, I have still to be convinced to dislike them..they still look great..and sound like a great ride!

And the TT frames, well, they are the only ones with styling that I like..

All else is just variations of what I already have..

I have already decided to skip the ultra lights...
I mean, I really flex and torgue my Cadd3 frame as it is...
Plus @ 200 LBs, I can visit a restroom and make up more weight than $1000 of carbon will...

Okay...who is this Custom frame maker? and how much is that going to cost me? and how do I get ahold of him?

I may be picky and frugal, but I do ride the heck out of my bike..
As stated in anothe post, I have worn out 1 set of pedals,
one set of wheels(spokes began to rub and groove), ridden 2 saddles into the ground, countless brake pads, killed a cassette, and replaced crank a sproket, and several chains.

Everything from 10 mile sprints, to double centuries all on the same bike...
I deserve a new bike, and aim to get one I like...??...

My experience... Get a bigger frame! I'm 6'2, ride a 59cm, and really should have a 62cm. I've been on one 56cm frame, it was way too small. Short frames are okay for the sprint and glide style of riding that the MTB is used for, but an hour or two on the road on a too-small frame, and your back is going to start screaming. Or your butt. Or your legs. Or all of the above.

As for beam frames in general: I ride a beam frame regularly, a now discontinued Trek Y-Foil. (that's a photo of it under my name) There are no real disadvantages to this style of frame, especially if you get the Trek or Zipp frames, other than they aren't UCI legal. The official reason for that is a bit vague, NIH is probably the real reason. I don't know if Zipp still makes their beam frames. Trek discontinued the Foil in 2000, though they turn up on ebay on occasion. I bought mine from ebay two years ago. Price wasn't bad - $600 for a new, never built up carbon frame. Rides smooth and handles tight. Theoretically, the Foil's streamlined frame gives an advantage at higher speeds. Realistically, you'd probably never notice the difference. Why did I get one? To tell the truth, it looked wild, especially in the metallic gold.

The Softride frames tend to be a bit heavy, not really a performance frame. Just my opinion, but I think they're butt-ugly, especially when compared to the sleek Trek.

JohnO said:

My experience... Get a bigger frame! I'm 6'2, ride a 59cm, and really should have a 62cm. I've been on one 56cm frame, it was way too small. Short frames are okay for the sprint and glide style of riding that the MTB is used for, but an hour or two on the road on a too-small frame, and your back is going to start screaming. Or your butt. Or your legs. Or all of the above.

As for beam frames in general: I ride a beam frame regularly, a now discontinued Trek Y-Foil. (that's a photo of it under my name) There are no real disadvantages to this style of frame, especially if you get the Trek or Zipp frames, other than they aren't UCI legal. The official reason for that is a bit vague, NIH is probably the real reason. I don't know if Zipp still makes their beam frames. Trek discontinued the Foil in 2000, though they turn up on ebay on occasion. I bought mine from ebay two years ago. Price wasn't bad - $600 for a new, never built up carbon frame. Rides smooth and handles tight. Theoretically, the Foil's streamlined frame gives an advantage at higher speeds. Realistically, you'd probably never notice the difference. Why did I get one? To tell the truth, it looked wild, especially in the metallic gold.

The Softride frames tend to be a bit heavy, not really a performance frame. Just my opinion, but I think they're butt-ugly, especially when compared to the sleek Trek.

IMO the best bike to cross the the line between road and TT is the Cervelo Soloist. Very aero frame and a the ability to change seat angle and go to a more agressive position.

Azonict said:

And the TT frames, well, they are the only ones with styling that I like..

Elaborate on that please. What specifically do you like about them? Is it more than paint scheme?

jitteringjr said:

Elaborate on that please. What specifically do you like about them? Is it more than paint scheme?

unique frame geometry...
way over sized tubes, aero tubes, rear wheel cut outs...
Better yet, some with missing tubes...

Something more than round bars made into triangles...

Does that help?

Part of why I like a softride frame..
The Trek Y-foil
BP-2 Stealth....

Azonict said:

unique frame geometry...

When I think of geometry I usually think about differing tube lengths, angles, and size and I think most other people think this way as well.

What you are looking for then is unique frame shape right? I will say this, I wouldn't buy a bike and use it for somthing that it wasn't designed for just because of asthetics. That being said, because of the way Carbon fiber bikes are constructed, they can be shaped any way the designer wants them to be and some of them have some good flair. The downside here is that they can be expensive.

Kestrel makes outstanding stuff and their least expensive bike is only a couple hundred more than your $2k and if you went with a 105 group it would be in your range. Here is a link to the Talon. It has that flair your talking about. Maybe that is to your liking:

http://www.kestrel-usa.com/products/road/talon.html

jitteringjr said:

When I think of geometry I usually think about differing tube lengths, angles, and size and I think most other people think this way as well.

Your half right..
While the term "geometry" relates to bike in a way that dictates lengths and such...
"Geometry" is also the constructs of the tubes into various "shapes" or "geometry"...

I like the Talon...
and with that said...can't do it..Team already has one...sorry

Azonict said:

I like the Talon...
and with that said...can't do it..Team already has one...sorry

I am having a hard time following your logic here. Team? You can't have the same bike as someone else? Is this a traveling circus of exotic bikes? Don't most teams ride the same bike anyhow?

Let me ask you a question that I / we should have already asked, "What type of riding are you going to be doing on this bike?"

jitteringjr said:

I am having a hard time following your logic here. Team? You can't have the same bike as someone else? Is this a traveling circus of exotic bikes? Don't most teams ride the same bike anyhow?

You said it..if I ain't hard to please...no one is..
Not a circus, and no..don't want what the guys ride...
Just for giggles..
Tony Rides a Talon
Kem rides and OCR1
Tom rides a Tuscany
Scott rides a Vortex
Robin rides a Trek 2000
and I ride the R300 (yellow..)
there are a few other guys that ride, but nothing to note really..

jitteringjr said:

Let me ask you a question that I / we should have already asked, "What type of riding are you going to be doing on this bike?"

I somewhat noted this above,
but, I ride recreation rides from 30-200 miles..
Charity/Group rides 65-100 miles
and Training sprints of 30 minute - 10 miles (lunch time)

No racing really, but on group rides, we do tend to try to lead the pack..

I know that "looks" is not the reason to buy a bike,
but "looks" is one of the first things that draws a person to a bike...
and now I want a different look, and want to figure out how to make
the different frames work for what I do...

make any sense?

Azonict said:

make any sense?

I follow you.

Do you have a Fondriest dealer in your area? Thier bikes are mostly pretty standard shapes, but they make up for it by having kick butt paint jobs. For just over $2k you could get a good set up. Check out:

http://www.fondriest-usa.com/index.php

Also Orbea has cool paint jobs. They don't use decals; its all painted by hand.

http://www.orbea-usa.com/

Azonict said:

I know that "looks" is not the reason to buy a bike,
but "looks" is one of the first things that draws a person to a bike...
and now I want a different look, and want to figure out how to make
the different frames work for what I do...

make any sense?

Makes sense to me. Looks are a reason to buy a bike. Not the only reason, but one nonetheless. A cycle is a very personal item, almost jewelry and occasionally priced like it, too. It can please the eye as well as the legs. I was all set to get a Trek 5200 or a 'dale, when I saw a gold Foil on the road. Something inside said... I want one of those. Found one, and still love it.

Plenty of interesting high performance, unique looking bikes to be had. I'm still looking for a Lotus 110 frameset. Haven't found one yet. Ever seen a C4 Joker? As weird looking as it is expensive...

JohnO said:

...I'm still looking for a Lotus 110 frameset. Haven't found one yet. Ever seen a C4 Joker? As weird looking as it is expensive...

Google here I come!

Okay search over..
Yes..a Lotus 110 would rock...looks like the BP-2 Stealth...similar..
For $700 I could have the Stealth..+$300 for the fork....
Or I could just convert over my equipment to it...
hmmm