thoughts about a custom blue ridge litespeed
 

The blue ridge litespeed that's on clearance is such a nice bike, but it's
too big for me. Still, it got me thinking about a custom blue ridge. If I
went this route, it means I'd probably leave my LBS and go over to my
husband's.

Your thoughts?


--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
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Home of the meditative cyclist:
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Claire Petersky wrote:

The blue ridge litespeed that's on clearance is such a nice bike, but
it's too big for me. Still, it got me thinking about a custom blue
ridge. If I went this route, it means I'd probably leave my LBS and
go over to my husband's.

Your thoughts?

I like Ti bikes because they have an elegant, low-key appearance without worry
of paint being scratched. With a brushed finish, just rub them out with
Scotchbrite or fine steel wool. The less zooty ones have straight guage tubes
(not butted) that are actually more dent resistant than steel frames of the same
weight, and probably aluminum ones too. The downside is the expense, but
amortized over the 30+ years most bikes can last, you'll hardly feel the pain.
Once you've been riding long enough to know exactly what you want, and you can't
get it off the shelf, a custom frame makes sense.

Litespeed's parent company, American something-or-other, has an outlet store in
Tennessee with *great* prices. They sell on eBay too, officially. It's al
legit. Check it out if you're not looking there already. They might have a
Blue Ridge on sale that fits. I don't have the exact name of the place offhand,
but I can get it by tomorrow.

Matt O.

Claire Petersky wrote:
The blue ridge litespeed that's on clearance is such a nice bike, but it's
too big for me. Still, it got me thinking about a custom blue ridge. If I
went this route, it means I'd probably leave my LBS and go over to my
husband's.

Your thoughts?

how much is a custom litespeed?

ooooohhhh, they have financing!

http://www.litespeed.com/2005/finance.aspx

har, har, har. not sure why i find that so funny.
--
david reuteler

In article k.net,
"Claire Petersky" wrote:

The blue ridge litespeed that's on clearance is such a nice bike, but it's
too big for me. Still, it got me thinking about a custom blue ridge. If I
went this route, it means I'd probably leave my LBS and go over to my
husband's.

Your thoughts?

They are not cheap, but for a custom frame take alook at Moots.
A Moots frame will last a lifetime unless you get T-boned by a semi.

Another frame to check out is a Habenero custom.

I looked at some Litespeeds before my LBS stopped selling them because of
quality issues.

YMMV

HAND

"H. M. Leary" wrote:
A Moots frame will last a lifetime unless you get T-boned by a semi.

That's what they said about custom steel frames 20 years ago. But most folks
get the itch for a new bike long before the old one is worn out.

The real question is whether a custom frame gives better performance. Except
in very unusual cases (height, weight, weird proportions), I'm inclined to
think they don't. I've even seen custom frames listed for sale by the owner
because they "didn't fit right!"

Art "still riding a 20-year-old stock SL frame" Harris

"Claire Petersky" wrote in message thlink.net...
The blue ridge litespeed that's on clearance is such a nice bike, but it's
too big for me. Still, it got me thinking about a custom blue ridge. If I
went this route, it means I'd probably leave my LBS and go over to my
husband's.

Your thoughts?

I love my Blue Ridge, love it, love it. However mine is a 2000 model
so I can't comment on the new version. The thing I love about it is
that it can do anything and everything, maybe except serious single
track. I've had mine on rocky carriage roads (with cyclocross tires),
multi-day tours and my usual rides. It is as quick as my triathlon
bike, but doesn't like to keep going that fast (wider tires?). I'm
looking forward to the day when I'm on a long tour and come across a
triathlon. I plan to leave the packs in the transition area and ride
with the racks.

However when I saw an ad for a new motorcycle for $6,000 I thought to
myself "gee for 3,000+ more I could have gotten a motor!"

Andy

--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

"H. M. Leary" wrote: (clip)A Moots frame will last a lifetime unless you
get T-boned by a semi.(clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^
If you get T-boned by a semi, chances are that will be define your lifetime.

Have you been looking at any other custom bikes, Claire? Mine, direct
from the builder, not through a shop, has been wonderful, so it can
indeed make a difference. As much as you ride, you shouldn't limit
yourself to discounted bikes. If the kids each agree to work for a
year before starting college, you can dip into the education fund.

On the day that I picked up my Spectrum, Tom was in the process of
fitting a young fellow from SF who had flown out (Allentown PA) just
for his fit. Do the same and you can visit the Lehigh Valley Welodrome
and, with good timning, the Trexlertown bike swap--a giant flea market
for cycling stuff.

Why the "his" and "hers" bike shops? --Roy Zipris

"Roy Zipris" wrote in message
m...

Why the "his" and "hers" bike shops? --Roy Zipris

Even more funny, they're four block apart from each other. It just happened
I bought my bike from one place, my husband from the other.


--
Warm Regards,

Claire Petersky
please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply
Home of the meditative cyclist:
http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm
Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/
See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky

Dane Jackson wrote:
Of course, I figured out a while
ago that I definitely have a bad case of reverse snobbery. I'm much
more interested in talking to the guy riding an older bike with DT
shifters or bar-cons than the guy riding the Dura-Ace equipped
wonder-bike.

i'm a reverse reverse snob if that makes sense. more to the point i guess
is that i'm a reverse snob who unashamedly owns a seven. what's interesting
to me are well thought out bikes that serve their purpose well.

besides it's a pretty good motivator to be riding an expensive bike. ride
slow and people label you a poseur. even with fenders & a rack.
--
david reuteler