Xavier
new member
Reged: 03/04/04
Posts: 5
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when shopping for your Calfee.
I'm considering a new rig and have narrowed down my choices.
I was wondering what other folks had on their short list before ordering their Calfee. So far mine specs out as follows:
(in no specific order)
- Calfee Tetra or Dragonfly
- Guru Carbonio/Ti
- Parlee Z2
- Look 481i
All of the above are carbon tubes with carbon lugs except the Look which has Al. lugs.
The Guru Tantrik with it's Ti. main tubes and carbon lugs and stays, looks very interesting, but it's out of my price range.
Any recs. to put on the list of bikes to ride?
The following have been scratched from the long list:
Kestrel (the fit is all wrong)
Aegis - Already got one
Colnago C50 - $$$$
Trek OCLV - Too many failures
TIA,
X
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dah
new member
Reged: 01/09/04
Posts: 19
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I was down to a litespeed vortex or Tetra. Glad I went Tetra. I really only considered Calfee among carbon bikes because the metal bits are all Ti rather than aluminum and nobody else was doing that at the time. Colnago has since switched to ti for the BB shell due to problems with the al ones, but beyond them I think the situation is largely the same today.
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CalfeeDealer
new member
Reged: 01/22/04
Posts: 7
Loc: Denver, CO
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The first thing I would look at when considering any carbon bike is the warranty. There are a lot of carbon road bikes with very short warranties, which to me is an indication of quality and workmanship. A 25 year warranty is uncommon in carbon road bikes.
Patrick Gibbons
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http://www.TandemCycleWorks.com
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dave_donielson
friend
Reged: 02/03/04
Posts: 32
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Seems like you have chosen a very nice group of bikes to try. The key question is: Can you actually ride any of them before buying ? It seems to me you should try all the bikes you can before buying any particular one. I eliminated many frames (including the Dragonfly)because I didn't want to drive (or fly) to another city to test ride a bike. I love my Tetra Pro and I was happy to support my LBS. Finally, as calfeedealer said, the 25 year warranty is unique among carbon bikes.It seems that most other carbon bikes have a shorter, more limited warranty.I doubt Craig would offer such a long warranty if he wasn't sure that the frames would really last.
Enjoy
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1centaur
journeyman
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 126
Loc: Massachusetts
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But the OCLV warranty is lifetime. I picked my Tetra over a 5200, but probability of failure on that frame is just not high - more failures than others because way more out there (OCLV 120 in particular). Trek is a comfortable ride, but I liked the lively quality of the Tetra better.
As to the original question, now that I have a bike of every material I will probably only buy carbon from now on. I recently received an Orbea Orca frame which I will build up soon. The Leonardo frame I held at the LBS had the deepest clear coat I have ever seen and the checkerboard carbon looked suspiciously like the Ferrari carbon in the C-50, which would also be on my list as would a Parlee, and that would be it. The Guru was just reviewed in Procycling, I believe, and he was not overwhelmed, plus it looked like a Tetra copy to me - go American and get a great paint job with a Tetra.
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"You never make a gift of Ventoux"
Eddie Merckx to Lance Armstrong
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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From my point of view I would go with the manufacturer that is geographically closest to me. That means, for me, to go with Calfee. Anyone on the east coast would likely prefer Parlee.
My reason for going to a small manufacturer is so I can get a custom-fitted frame for myself. If (this is my personal opinion) I am going to spend good money on a custom bike, it had better fit my body, my riding style and sense of asthetics.
I am also influenced by my LBS with whom I've developed a good trusting dealer-customer relationship.
In my pragmatic point of view there is no magic in design. One must know oneself enough to choose the type of bicycle that suits them. I find it humerous reading posts by someone who has bought a high-end bike and is selling it after a short ownership because they found characteristcs that did not suit them.
My background is as a recreational cyclist who was basically clueless most of my life. Only in the past two years or so have I developed a passion for cycling and the motivation to learn all I can about proper fit, excercise and nutrition.
I have nothing against the big manufactureres. Trek is unfairly maligned. They are aware of their image and so offer a lifetime warranty on their OCLV frames. Craig Calfee offers a 25 year warranty. Any warranty incurrs costs because a good vendor leans toward the principal of, "the customer is always right," and ends up eating the costs of some claims. Trek is able to absorb those costs more easily due to scale.
My ideal bike could be based on any number of manufacturer's frames. Be realistic in a choice of machine.
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GanglRider
new member
Reged: 03/12/04
Posts: 1
Loc: Colorado Springs, CO
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I just read the review in Procycling and I got the opposite impression. It seemed Mr Boardman was quite pleased with the Guru. He just wasn't real happy with the "American" geometry. The Guru can be ordered with custom geometry. I saw one of these frames and was very impressed. So much so that I have begun considering a new carbon bike. I currently ride a beautiful custom built ti frame built by Rich Gangl from Golden, CO. I have not lusted for another until I saw the Guru(most carbon bikes do nothing for me). I may soon have 2 bikes in my stable. It definitely is worth checking out.
Chris
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Max
journeyman
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 69
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I hadn't rode anything but my Merckyx for 20 years, so when I went looking for a new rig I test rode everything I could get my hands on, which was the following list:
481i
5900
C50
Carbonio
Crown Jewel
Dragonfly
Legend
Luna
Ottrott
Odonata
Tarmac
Tetra
R5000
Victory
Z2
Some of these I rode more than once, and some for as much as a week at time. After 14 months of test rides I order a Tetra. For myself it offer what I was looking for in design, performance, price, reliability, repairability, customer service, and warranty. I just got it last month, and if it lasts a little bit longer than I did my Merckyx, I'll be happy.
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MAX
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dfcas
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 136
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repairability,value,etc,what bike was best?I'm asking a little late because I ordered a Dragonfly,but I really think at this level differences are subtle and all the choices are good.I have a Luna and I'll be surprised if the Dragonfly is better.
Dan
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no signature
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Max
journeyman
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 69
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You're right, they are all very good choices, and the differences are very small except for price. Then the next significant difference would be repairability between them and weight being the least, according to Craig Calfee. Craig told me at the 2003 LA Bike Show, that the Tetra was the most repairable model, and the Dragronfly the least. Since, I have had several crashes repairability rank higher on my list of items for my bike selection criteria. You really can't go wrong with any Calfee. They are all great rides. It was the right choice for me, and it sounds like it has been for you, too. Congratulations.
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MAX
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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Actually, my initial quote for a bike from my bike shop was for a Guru bike. The deal was squelched because I'm one of those 20% for whom no off-the-rack bike truly fits correctly and Guru uses lugs like the Calfee Luna. Because the tubing is laid out in the Tetra wihtout the use of pre-made lugs Craig can offer a true custom frame geometry. I had, for a long time, wanted a custom bike. I learned of Calfee only a little over a year ago. I am now going to become an an owner of a ful-custom Tetra Pro.
When I get my bike and can ride it long enough to give a proper impression I'll be posting on here.
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Montaque
new member
Reged: 09/14/04
Posts: 24
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And then there is the FORK
Just a test ride of Calfee Design Tetra Pro FRAME, a Dragonfly FRAME, or a Luna FRAME or what ever other FRAMES are mentioned reflects only one part of the story.
What about the FORK attached to the FRAME which makes a world of difference in how the specific FRAME handles and rides? Knowing it was a (fill in the blank) frame with a (fill in the blank) fork would would be enlightening.
Because of circumstances - I have had an Easton, Bontrager and a True Temper fork installed on my Tetra Pro *only difference was the fork* - no comparison whatsoever in ride quality. Their range (not necessarily in the order shown) is, in my estimation, from Super riding and handling to Bottom of the Heap. Fortunately, with Calfee Designs the final choice was mine.
Once the bike is built, the fork and frame are invariable. Tyres and wheels make a difference - however, the obvious, the FORK is half the road contact.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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You are correct about how a fork can make a big difference on the handlinng of a bike. I'm getting the Easton EC90 SLX fork. I will have a stable geometry as well since I am a moderate distance recreational rider. My bike is being designed to be neutral stearing. My LBS knows my riding style well and we discussed at length the ride qualities I desire in the bike.
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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I would soooooo be getting the new Look full carbon fork if I was building a bike right now, sub-300 grams and that huge R&D budget w/Laurent Jalabert consulting.
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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I have also heard good things about Time forks...though they tend to be heavier than the competition, but not terribly so. My understanding is that they ride very smoothly, are stiff and one friend swears he can carve corners much faster and more confidently with them than other forks...he is a former CAT 1 rider. I have always been a fan of Kestrel forks, but now prefer Alpha Q or Reynolds. Looks have always intriqued me...a lot.
While I would agree that forks are very important to the overall ride, I am convinced the wheels/tires and the saddle make more of a difference in roadfeel over a fork. In the handling department, no doubt the fork is vital, though an integral part of the frame.
One of the thigs that I like about bikes is how simple they are. Yes the brake/shifters and such are fancy, technical, and complicated marvels, as can be other components, but the bike as a whole is very simple machine. Because of this simplicity, I really do not think there is one component that is more important over another because you need all of them to ride and they have to work well together for you to ride efficiently. Balance and synergy rule here...IMHO.
Caio...Mark
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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Ilike your post and the way you said things.
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skagwayroadie
contributor
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 141
Loc: Alaska
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Thanks...it is easy to express things when you are passionate about your interests...and I love cycling!!
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flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
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One thing I didn't mention about the Alpha Q fork is that I find it handles very very well. It is very quick and precise, but not skittish.
And I was on my Reynolds Ouzo pro equipped Airborne today and that fork feels so solid, no wonder lots of pros use it.
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