BikerDoug
friend
Reged: 12/29/03
Posts: 88
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Under what circumstances would you ask for a head tube extension on your Calfee? How does it effectively change the geometry?
It seems like it would make a frame behave like it was slightly larger, but I'm not sure.
If you add a 2cm extension to say a 60cm calfee, how would it change?
Thanks
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Suds
new member
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 22
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The head tube extensions are used to lessen the saddle to handlebar drop - ie - they allow you to have your handlbars higher up with little or no spacers. And as always - whenever you raise your handlebars, you decrease your reach.
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bfd
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 77
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This is a very "Rivendellish" explanation, but the purpose of a headtube extension is to get your handlebar higher. With threaded stems, if you wanted to get your bars up, all you had to do was get a stem with a longer quill, e.g., like a Nitto Technomic.
However, with threadless stems, and the use of carbon steerer forks, to get the stem higher you have to use spacers under the stem. The problem is with 1" forks, you're limited to like 1" (25mm) of spacers under your stem; with 1 and 1/8" fork you're limited to 1.25-1.5" (32-35mm) or so of spacers. For some, that is not enough, especially if they want/need to get their bars equal to or higher than the saddle The headtube extension allows you to raise your bar without having a foot of spacers showing.
The key is to get properly fitted. IF you need a higher bar, get it. Another option is to get a "larger" size bike. This goes against the current trend of getting the smallest bike possible, but hey, if it makes you more comfortable, you'll want to ride! For more, read the articles on fitting at www.rivbike.com and www.peterwhitecycles.com
The fact that Calfee can make a carbon bike that accomodate those of us who are not racers is another reason why his frames are so good....
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Jeff_Nichols
journeyman
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 73
Loc: San Jose
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Another thing about calfees that are nice is that the gussets allow you to end up with a longer head tube that doesn't look so darn long. I have a 60cm. tetra pro with a 1.5 cm extension that doesn't look like it has a headtube as long as it does. I really like this as monster head tubes, monster extensions or many spacers all look kind of funny to me.
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Kevan
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 70
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If an HT extension is in your future then also consider doing the same to your seat tube in order to balance out the appearance of the frame. Purely a cosmetic point.
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