Re: questions: Bikefanclub.com

Dana,

You are tying to make the classic "tradeoff" between light/responsive and comfortable comparison, but that really does not apply to Calfee frames. Let me explain:

In the past, with steel, AL, or Ti frames, you had three design criteria (stiff, light, comfortable), but you could only pick 2. Steel was stiff and comfortable, but not light, AL was stiff and light, but not comfortable, and Ti was light and comfortable but not stiff unless you got into the steel weights. But with CF you have a different equation, stiff, light, comfortable, and cheap, pick any 3, and you can't pick cheap! Now Ti and AL manufacturers are trying to get on the CF band wagon by adding carbon bits to the bikes. Next time you see one of these metal frame makers who add carbon bits here and there, ask them why if carbon is so good for the folk (ever see a Ti bike with a Ti fork, or an AL bike with an AL fork?) or other bits, why isn't the rest of the bike carbon? Watch them studder and stammer and start talking about proprietary tubing and wall thicknesses. The bottom line is they know carbon is better, they are just too stupid to know how to make a good carbon bike.

I have a 16lb DFly that is stiff, obviously light (for a 60 cm frame), and is the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden. I have done 320k multiple times on it and feels like I have not ridden a bike at the end. Tired, but not sore.

So you don't need to worry about comfort on a Calfee. That is assumed. Add a pair of Topolino wheels and you are really talking comfort.

I do know some brevet cyclists who ride Calfees. As far as loaded touring on carbon, you would be on the cutting edge of that. I imagine Craig could add the bits you need. Basically a touring fork, fender bolts, larger wheel clearances, and eyelets on the rear dropouts (easy since they are machined Ti). You might also want to go with disk brakes. These are now light enough they would work well for a touring bike. I would also use stronger tubing on the entire bike. Nothing like packing an additional 20k on a bike to make it sway and flex.

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