Jack_brunk
friend
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 41
|
|
Hi all,
I just ordered a new Dragonfly hand wrapped custom frame. The frame will be a compact frame (6 degree slope) and will be hand wrapped carbon instead of carbon lugs. It will be nude with a clearcoat. It's going to be a long eight week wait.
Jack
|
bfd
journeyman
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 77
|
|
Well,
Congrats on the Calfee. But why compact? Sorry, but I think in a few years it will make your bike look dated....
|
Jack_brunk
friend
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 41
|
|
How will it become dated ? Traditional frames have been around alot longer than compact frames. I have a feeling that this frame will look awesome for a long long time.
Jack
|
Anthony
new member
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 7
Loc: California
|
|
I was watching the Giro the other day & noticed that almost every bike in the line up was a "compact". Is it a fad or like 1 1/8, or integrated headsets - the new defacto standard for most bikes? All my bikes are traditional in sizing & I had a TCR composite, but couldn't ever get used to it.
If it's a fad you're certainly in good company.
-Anthony (new Calfee Dragonfly owner! I've only been eyeing them for 4 years & should have the frame by next week).
|
dfcas
contributor
Reged: 12/19/03
Posts: 143
|
|
I think you made a good call on the sloping design.Although all Calfees seem to have a little slope,I find pure level frames to appear dated to me(most of my frames are level).
The only downside(its not really a downside,just a condition) would be not getting sculptured lugs.I never cared much for lugs in steel bikes,but the D'flys lugs really ring my bell.
Anyway,please post what size and geo it is,and PLEASE post some pics when you get it.I have frame envy....
dan
--------------------
no signature
|
Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
|
|
To start off, congratulations to Jack for ordering a frame you will love when you get it. Mine was a custom Tetra Pro and it took about 8 weeks, though I was told it would take 10 weeks.
As far as a judgement on compact frames, it's not style or fad, it's simply a different way of building a frame. Do you think there was a practical engineering reason the top tube of bikes were horizontal? The so-called "classic" frame is a tradtional frame shape, not something especially efficient compared to modern compact frames. There are folks who value tradition and tend to dismiss anything new as a "fad." Index shifting was called a fad when it was new as well, as a matter of fact.
|
skuke
captain
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 323
|
|
Quote:
Insightdriver wrote:
Do you think there was a practical engineering reason the top tube of bikes were horizontal?
Maybe not engineered, per se, but certainly evolutionary.
Here's a WAG:
Let's start with the roads at the turn of the 20th century. They were crappy.
The steels at that time were not as developed and thus not nearly as strong as today. They bent and broke more easily. Don't even think about aluminum.
So, if you had a sloping top tube, you'd have to have a longer seat post for a given rider. That seat post would be less supported and with the weaker steels compounded with bad roads, I'd think they would bend and break more often.
By raising the rear end of the TT and the front end of the seat stays, you allow the seat post to have greater support and strength.
--------------------
Skuke
95 Carbonframes Tetra Pro
92 Bridgestone MB-1
90 Moser 51.151
|
Jack_brunk
friend
Reged: 12/24/03
Posts: 41
|
|
Thanks forthe comments. I am having the frame built using craig's standard 56 cm size except using a 6 degree sloping top tube and a shorter chain stay length. My LBS also made some small changes so it sizes up just like my Moots SL. I agree abour the D'fly lugs but once I saw a hand wrapped version I changed my mind. Also according to Calfee, the hand wrapped lugs are stiffer than the standard carbon lugs.
Jack
|
flythebike
captain
Reged: 08/26/04
Posts: 272
Loc: N. Virginia, USA
|
|
I like the way the standard drop dragonfly handles. The Airborne that I had before that was more of a drop. It felt like the bike was less stable when hammering while going straight. By contrast, out of the saddle and sprint wagging was easier. So that is a trade-off, IMHO. So I think it is an issue of personal preference - riding values and such. I think they look fine. And yes, do post some pics please once it if finished. I just finished mine with a Zipp stem so I need to get some pics of that up soon.
Certainly a compact frame has less frame material, but then you end up with a longer seatpost, so I can't really say if it makes it a lot lighter. Becuase there is less space between the tubes, it is for sure a stiffer frame, especially when you're out of the saddle. I'd make sure to get a real stiff seatpost (Record) so you're not all over the place when seated, thats all.
Craig builds phenomenal bikes. I made a piloting error yesterday that on a lesser bike would have seen me have a horrendous crash and I might have ended up run-over. As it was I didn't even fall. You wanted an awesome compact frame; I promise you that is what you'll get!
|
Previous
Thread Index
Next
Threaded
Just ordered my first Calfee frame
Edit
Reply
Quote
