RDP
captain
Reged: 12/18/03
Posts: 243
Loc: Kansas
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Crumpton SL review on Pezcyclingnews
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It is about the bike.....BikeFanClub Forums
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Kevin
new member
Reged: 03/17/06
Posts: 11
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I was a little disappointed with this review because the ride characteristics were not discussed in much detail. Granted, it's a custom frame, but compare the Crumpton review with those for the Elium, Nove, and Ottrott.
This leads me to think that the reviewer was underwhelmed by the bicycle and decided instead to focus on the wonderful craftsmanship.
Or perhaps the reviewer felt it was necessary to discuss the craftsmanship to assuage those with doubts about Nick Crumpton's frames.
Regardless, I was dissapointed.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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Ride characteristics are so affected by the geometry of a custom frame that you can't generalize. It is not a brand that determines handling characteristics, it is geometry, specifically all the tube lengths, diameters, stiffness and all the other engineering factors that go into making a bike. I get a bit tired of those who think there is something special about the handling of a particular brand. I will grant some builders have a bias toward a type of handling and specialize their frames for that characteristic. Any good builder can make you a smooth-riding stable bike or an uber-stiff hair-trigger handling racing bike. It's determined by what you want in a bike.
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Kevin
new member
Reged: 03/17/06
Posts: 11
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I agree that geometry is the single most important factor, yet most reviews (even for custom frames) spend time discussing ride quality. Surely there is a difference between an Ottrott and, say a Calfee, despite the fact that both are custom. Is one better than the other? Probably not. But I would assume they each have their own unique feel, despite the geometry.
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Insightdriver
captain
Reged: 03/07/04
Posts: 472
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I will grant there are characteristics of materials of which bikes are made that will cause slightly differences in feel. I think, however that a good engineer could make four bikes, each out of a different material, assuming he or she has expertise in understanding material science and bicycle design. That said, if the excercise was to make four bikes that looked, externally, identical, witht the same geometry, with the specific goal of making them feel the same I would almost guarantee that a group of test riders would guess wrong about what each bike is made of.
I would say that the fork on each bike would have to remain the same model. In fact, every component and part should be identical. Only the frames will be of different materials.
A few years ago, on a different topic there were arguements that no one could make an instrument that sounded exactly like a Stradivarious. When the orignial violins were analyzed, the details of species of wood, thicknes profile, the type and viscosity of the varnis, the dimensions, type of glues used and other characteristics were determined with scientific investigation to be responsible for the sound. The sound was analyzed from subsonic to supersonic frequencies. The scientists then designed a recangular box with strings with microphones inside. When being played, behind a curtain, first the Stradivarious violin, then the boxy sound instrument, everyone who tried, could not tell the difference. When the curtain was opened, everyone was stunned when they saw the rectangular box being played and the sound coming out of it being as rich and characteristic as the fine vintage Stradivarious violin they heard next, standing next to it.
Many a critic who believed they could tell the difference beforehand had to concede that modern science can reproduce any sound characteristic of any instrument using modern methods and materials.
A bicycle frame is basically a structure on which wheels, fork, handlebars, saddle, cranks and gears are mounted. Much of the feel of a bike is due to the geometry of the frame and everything attached, not the material of the frame. To each their own, though. There will always be those who are convinced that the inherant material differences can be discerned by riding the complete bike. I do think, however, that even they can be fooled.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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As I see it everyone is correct and Pez doesn't write the most critical and informative type of review. I've yet to see them not like something in one way or another. I would suspect that a review by a different person would feature what folks are looking to find.
That said I still like Pez because they review and ride items that many others don't.
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Kevin
new member
Reged: 03/17/06
Posts: 11
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I just want to state for the record that I was disappointed with the quality of the Pez review, and not of Nick Crumpton's bikes. I thought Pez really dropped the ball on this review, but that's just my opinion.
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Lon
sage
Reged: 12/20/03
Posts: 595
Loc: Pittsburgh, PA
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Pez is great in that they review a great many items and often those not found in other venues. However their reviews just aren't the best. I still enjoy reading about a product that I'll never use, may not even see, may never talk to anyone who uses it
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Kevin
new member
Reged: 03/17/06
Posts: 11
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Well said.
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