HeadAngle
new member
Reged: 06/30/04
Posts: 14
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I picked up my new Calfee Tetra Pro custom last week, and am just loving it. It has custom geometry, and some wicked custom airbrushed paint! It also has a sick component package, and should currently weigh in at almost exactly 16.0 pounds. Keep in mind this is for essentially a size 59cm frame.
The spec, and pictures are here:
http://www.headangle.com/Members/chris/calfee/
The pictures are at the bottom of the page (links to a half dozen so far, more, including some high-res close-ups, are on their way).
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Gorgeous!
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dhoward
new member
Reged: 01/31/04
Posts: 22
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Awesome looking bike, you have very good reason to be excited.
Enjoy...........
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OnYerLeft
new member
Reged: 06/07/04
Posts: 35
Loc: CA, USA
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it looks fast just sitting there. the quality of the paint really looks top notch. it's interesting to note that you went with the dura ace cranks and campy record for the rest of the gruppos (best of both worlds?). let us know how it rides. also, give us some feedback about the wheels. congratulations!
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HeadAngle
new member
Reged: 06/30/04
Posts: 14
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The DuraAce cranks + Campy other has worked out well, and the shop where I got it is using that setup more and more on high end bikes. The cranks are noticeably stiffer, at least compared to FSA carbons (I haven't had a chance to try Campy's Carbon cranks). Otherwise, the choice of Campy was for two main reasons: 1) I like the feel of the hoods and levers better, and 2) I liked the look of Campy better  I feel shifting performance and other attributes are basically equal for me otherwise. The Campy stuff is a bit lighter overall though, but not much.
As for the wheels, well, those are just stunning. When I was doing my test riding, I rode a Calfee with them and was just blown away. I was also test riding various Serottas. I had them swap the wheels onto the Serotta and was amazed at the difference they yielded (they dramatically improved the Serotta, or rather, were far nicer to ride (for me) than the Campy Neutrons it had, as well as the Velomax wheels on another Serotta). The wheels rode so well, that I said I had to have them. I flinched a bit when told the price, but hey, you get what you pay for mostly The whole wheelset weighs 1050g which is stunning. Note, these are only available in tubular.
I'd never ridden tubulars and that is part of the improved ride quality as well. But i think it's a combo. The wheels are so amazingly light, they are strong, yet supple as hell, etc. The ride difference of this set of wheels was just so much better than anything else I'd ridden that it was extremely convincing.
My previous bike was a Trek OCLV. What I find interesting is how much more smooth my new bike is (it's what sold me on it - the Serottas I tried were like jackhammers in comparison). I find myself riding my favorite rides, and initially I'd find I would subconciously get off the saddle just a tad as a shock absorbing thing over various bumps I knew well. I quickly realized that with the Calfee, I no longer had to do that! I'd ride over these things, and it was as if they weren't there! I mean I knew I went over a bump, but it was just so smooth in comparison.
I could go on and on, it's a really great bike I am still surprised that I wound up with it, as I thought going into this that I'd be getting a Serotta Ottrott ST or Legend ST, but nope, the Calfee won hands down.
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vaxn8r
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 222
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Very nicely done!
Welcome to the COG. I also came from an OCLV, which I loved and which I secretly feared the Calfee would be no better than. I was wrong, thankfully. Enjoy!
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Triman
new member
Reged: 01/23/04
Posts: 16
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Congratulations on your new Tetra. It looks like your crank arms are particularly long. I have a 2003 Tetra with last year's Dura-Ace and a new Litespeed Vortex with the new Dura-Ace. I like the new Dura-Ace so much I wish I could justify making the switch on my Tetra.
By the way, I also have the same saddle, the Arione on both of my bikes. I use my Tetra for club and charity rides, etc., and my Vortex for triathlon. The Arione is great under all conditions. The length makes a real difference for riders who like to move about on their saddles.
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HeadAngle
new member
Reged: 06/30/04
Posts: 14
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My crank arms are probably average for someone who's 6'2", at 175mm. I actually rode 180's on my last bike, and I'm still getting used to the 175's (which is slightly odd since I've now been riding 175's on my mtb for maybe 2 years (rode 180's there before as well)).
As for the Arione, I'm mixed. I mostly like it, but I think I may try a couple others as well. Next on the list is the Selle Italia Prolink. I tend to really like the saddles (well, the WTB saddles with this) that have the cutouts/soft spots down the middle. We'll see.
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rnhood
friend
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 39
Loc: NC
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Interesting. You call this a 59cm frame. Are you referring to it being C-C or C-T? I am also 6'2" with 91cm PBH and 80.5cm saddle height. I just did not feel comfortable on anything smaller than the 62. So I get the 62 Tetra and it fits like it is made to order.
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HeadAngle
new member
Reged: 06/30/04
Posts: 14
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So, I went through a really extensive process to get sized, and this bike is custom geometry. I worked with City Cycle in San Francisco with their Serotta SizeCycle certified guys (they have a couple actually, but I mainly worked with Clay, with some input from Mark). Anyway, My body proportions are not very average. I'm about 6'1.5". As I recall my inseam is like 36.25". I have pretty long femurs, noticeably longer ratio of femur than average, and then I have a shorter upper body. I should note that I had a couple of other sizings done, but nothing comes even close to the detail, time, and depth of the fitting through the Serotta system (it was an amazing process, and I learned a lot - really interesting things about how various position changes affected air intake and so on, and we tried variations to illustrate things, it was so great!).
Distance from center of BB to top of saddle for me is 83.5cm, and I think from pedal axle to top of saddle is 101cm (175 cranks).
The result of all this created a base geometry of a 59-60cm seat tube, measured c-c, and then a 57cm top tube (which some would call short, and is in relation to say a 60cm seat tube). My bike has a very slightly sloping top tube, which was slated to be roughly 6 degrees, but is barely noticeable. I could run a taller seat tube as the pictures show, and in fact, as I would need on almost every bike in order to get my bars in the right spot, but with stock geometry that'd yield way too long top tubes.
I had originally planned to get a Colnago C-50, but I'd need to ride like a 63 freuler (extended head tube), and then the TT was way too long.
The other tweak to this bike, is that it's even steeper/quicker steering than normal, and I believe Calfee's are quicker/twitchier than most (they were definitly moreso than the Serottas which are neutral unless you request otherwise). But, having ridden two of Mark's bikes (59's), and some others, I really liked the quicker handling. Mark had too, as I found that on his Serotta, which was brand new , he'd had them steepen it up to match his Calfee.
There are a few other tweaks to things as well, but mostly it's a long-ish seat tube vs. shorter top-tube setup with quick steering (I think the head tube angle worked out to 74.5 if I recall correctly).
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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We now have a top fitter in Pittsburgh and I recently spent about 3 hours with him. He agrees very much with Clay. A key measurement is the top tube over the seat tube. Good luck with the new ride.
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smartyjones
new member
Reged: 07/08/04
Posts: 20
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With those components there are a multitude of Foco steel frames in that sizerange which could be brought in right at 16 lbs. That may say a lot about the components, but not much about the frame being superlight. Heck, with 1000 gram wheels, most modern decently high end frmaes in that size range could come in at or even below 16 lbs. :-)
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Well Smarty...you are a new member and not familiar with our forum. Unlike what you are used to we don't flame people for their opinions here as long as they are based on first hand knowledge. We also don't make stupid statements and then call ourselves Smarty. Let's see a 59 cm steel frame will easily come in at 16 pounds...right. I take it you have built one up lately? That is a big bike and steel is heavy. You do know that don't you? Heck a steel 7402 Dura-Ace skewer is 80 grams. 2 skewers are pushing a third of a pound and you think a steel bike is light? Right. Components can only go so far. I guess you plan to use a steel fork on your 16 pound bike also? You do know that a Kestrel CARBON fork with a steel skewer is just over 600 grams don't you? Gee that steel sure is light.
You are welcome here if you want to respect the other members. That is how we live here and we like it. If not go elsewhere with your flames. We don't need or appreciate people who post just to make themselves feel smart or important when neither is true.
By the way what carbon posts have you compared to a Thomson first hand? I doubt if you even own one or the other.
Don't forget to post a picture of your light weight steel bike with its carbon post. 
Good bye Smarty. Go somewhere where they will think you poor attempts at humor and lack of knowledge are appreciated by others of your ilk.
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HeadAngle
new member
Reged: 06/30/04
Posts: 14
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There are many ways to have a lighter than 16 pound bike - go to the weight weenies web site (look above in this thread for the link) to see road bikes that weigh 9 pounds(!). The point of my original post and my bike was not to attempt to say it's the lightest, or that it's lighter than everything or many other things. There are a slew of frames out there right now that, given the exact same components would come in lighter (and cost less). Whether they're of the same quality, have desireable ride characteristics, and all that is one for debate and personal preference.
Furthermore, my post, again, was not so much about my Calfee vs. other brands, it was really just about "hey Calfee fans, here's another sweet Calfee!".
I do want to see this steel bike that is so light (and note my frame is really about a 60cm when measured c-to-c with a horizontal TT). But regardless, there is a lot more to it than just the end weight. This Calfee will ride absolutely superior to any steel frame, *for me*. I hate steel bikes, I think they feel like crap. If I didn't, then I'd have bought one (probably a Pegoretti or a Steelman, or various others).
Since you apparently couldn't read the title of this forum, it's for Calfee fans (regardless of whether you own one or not), and the point is to discuss Calfee-specific things. There are a gazillion other forums out there for flaming, and for trying to one up whoever else with the lightest setup (although weight weenies puts all to shame with their list - check it out, some pretty wicked stuff!). Your post really has no value to it, as we're all aware of other frames that are lighter (and in other materials, and so on).
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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HeadAngle, it is wonderful to have such a reasoned, intelligent, and informed new member on the forum. Bravo to your reply to dummy er I mean smarty. It is hard to think of him in the later manner.
I just hope he goes away soon. Regardless we learned a long time ago just to ignore these types of creatures. I really should have done that but his tone to you was really disgusting and it was obvious that he has read/heard a little and learned less. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
It is too bad that you came about the same time as our friend. We haven't had an interloper like him in ages. I'm sure if we ignore him from now on he will just fade away to another forum where he can show how "smart" he is. Does Huffy have a forum?
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HeadAngle
new member
Reged: 06/30/04
Posts: 14
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Ya, no biggy, this is typical on the net. Normally I don't tend to reply, but was in the mood the other night...
I'm loving my new Calfee, so happy with it. There are tons of great bikes out there these days, but I'm just so excited to have found something I truly believe is the best choice for me. It was an interesting process to go custom, and to see how wrong one can be without doing extensive test riding (I thought for sure I was going to wind up with a Serotta Ottrott ST). I'm also glad I did do all the research and test riding, fitting, etc., cuz otherwise I'd likely be on an ill-fitting Colnago C-50 right now I still love Colnagos, always had a fetish for them, but just so psyched on my Calfee now that the Colnago dream has faded completely.
I think my love for this new bike rubbed off on my neighbor too, as he's now hunting for a road bike (previously just mtb). Fun fun.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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It is great you are so happy. I know the feeling.
When I bought my Calfee I just wanted something I like as much as my Kestel. It is in a whole different league than the Kestrel.
3 years later and I'm still amazed by how much I like that bike. I know you'll stay the same.
Take care and ride safely.
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