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29er with a directed purpose and a deadline

1066 Views 14 Replies 9 Participants Last post by mon t, Dec 11, 2005

YuriB

Discussion Starter · Dec 10, 2005

I've been racking my brain and I think it's time to ask for help/suggestions.
Here is the deal.
I want a 29er for a semi immediate purpose and the ability to modify the set-up in the future and make it my primary ride, on-going.

IMMEDIATE PURPOSE/CONCERN:
Through a fluke I'm likely(ish) to have the time to ride the AZT this spring (the andrea/beth est. route and scott's racing route). Not 100% but pretty close.
I want a 29er for this trip. Since I'll be packing this bike down and up the canyon and thru AZ I want a light bike and I need/want gears. I won't be racing it - more touring - 2.5 weeks are ideal. (my 26er is all but ready for this but I don't want to go there)

IMMEDIATE CONCERN:
The time to get a ti-29er is bumping up against a mid-april late april departure (I need a few rides on the bike to trouble shoot and get used to it) and the ideal(ish) time to start a south to north trip is april/may.

SO
Do I order the Ti 29er I want and hope the timing works?
Go with a light weight steel frame (I do like steel but for the long-run I want a Ti-frame)? Which may/may not take as long as steel (niner/wily)?

Get a cheapie 29 that I can use for the AZT and sell it if I can get my dream bike in time?

I'm not a technical guy. Dimensions and specs make my brain hurt. I like to ride and forget it. My friends can help me with specs and such cuz some of them love that stuff.

Thoughts/suggestions and berating are all accepted.

PS- This forum is heaven and hell

1 - 15 of 15 Posts

IBIKEAZ

· #2 · Dec 10, 2005

Ti 29er

It took about 4 weeks to get a Moots Mooto X 29er made. I think it's a great option for a light bike that is really maintenance free. It rides great (I have the YBB version to take the edge off). Mines built around 22-23 lbs with discs and SS. If you really want Ti call up the builders and tell them your situation. Airpark Cycles in Scottsdale is a good place to get it if you want to save some money on the bike.

YuriB said:
I've been racking my brain and I think it's time to ask for help/suggestions.
Here is the deal.
I want a 29er for a semi immediate purpose and the ability to modify the set-up in the future and make it my primary ride, on-going.

IMMEDIATE PURPOSE/CONCERN:
Through a fluke I'm likely(ish) to have the time to ride the AZT this spring (the andrea/beth est. route and scott's racing route). Not 100% but pretty close.
I want a 29er for this trip. Since I'll be packing this bike down and up the canyon and thru AZ I want a light bike and I need/want gears. I won't be racing it - more touring - 2.5 weeks are ideal. (my 26er is all but ready for this but I don't want to go there)

IMMEDIATE CONCERN:
The time to get a ti-29er is bumping up against a mid-april late april departure (I need a few rides on the bike to trouble shoot and get used to it) and the ideal(ish) time to start a south to north trip is april/may.

SO
Do I order the Ti 29er I want and hope the timing works?
Go with a light weight steel frame (I do like steel but for the long-run I want a Ti-frame)? Which may/may not take as long as steel (niner/wily)?

Get a cheapie 29 that I can use for the AZT and sell it if I can get my dream bike in time?

I'm not a technical guy. Dimensions and specs make my brain hurt. I like to ride and forget it. My friends can help me with specs and such cuz some of them love that stuff.

Thoughts/suggestions and berating are all accepted.

PS- This forum is heaven and hell

threesixeight

· #3 · Dec 10, 2005

Moots

I also think Moots would be a pretty sure bet to have before April. There frames generally take 6-8 weeks give or take 2 weeks. If you have the coin, I say get the dream ride now. Have fun looking and calling builders.

Helibee

· #4 · Dec 10, 2005

Be certain to talk with James at Blacksheep. His turnaround was 4-5 weeks this summer when I dealt with him, and he welds for alot of the "bigboys".

Soloracer

· #5 · Dec 10, 2005

Go Ti

Go Ti or else you will always be regretting not getting ti to some degree.

You should have plenty of time for a Ti frame regardless of who you go through. I'm obviously biased, but with it being winter any builder should be able to have you riding it by early march at the latest. Just place your order before Christmas and start to follow up in Feb.

jim

OrBikbldr

· #6 · Dec 10, 2005

Soloracer said:
Go Ti or else you will always be regretting not getting ti to some degree.

You should have plenty of time for a Ti frame regardless of who you go through. I'm obviously biased, but with it being winter any builder should be able to have you riding it by early march at the latest. Just place your order before Christmas and start to follow up in Feb.

jim

Moots, Seven, Indy Fab (a friend has one and it felt amazing), will all get you your frame in about 4-6 weeks. There are probably other options as well.

Dean... I orded somewhere near the 15th of Sept. Still no frame yet. In a few days it will be 3 months. they claimed 6 weeks. Not that I expected any different, afterall the price is right for a Dean so I am not complaining. I expect it around the first of the year most likely.

OH Yeah!! I forgot, Serrota makes a killer Ti frame and they are doing 29ers. Check out the TiMax on their website. 4-6 Weeks on that one. I almost went for it instead of the dean.

YuriB

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 10, 2005

IBIKEAZ said:
It took about 4 weeks to get a Moots Mooto X 29er made. I think it's a great option for a light bike that is really maintenance free. It rides great (I have the YBB version to take the edge off). Mines built around 22-23 lbs with discs and SS.

Moots would be a great option.
I won't have the $$ in hand or know exactly how much I'll have to work with for at least another week - maybe two.
Part of me wants to also support the littler guy - but my needs do come first on this one

(hey after many years it's time I get something niiiice)

SOLORACER

Go Ti or else you will always be regretting not getting ti to some degree.

I have to agree. It's time for Ti if I can swing it.

HELIBEE

Be certain to talk with James at Blacksheep.

Thanks for the tip, don't know why I hadn't looked there yet.

ORBIKBLDR

OH Yeah!! I forgot, Serrota makes a killer Ti frame and they are doing 29ers. Check out the TiMax on their website. 4-6 Weeks on that one. I almost went for it instead of the dean.

My earlier research did turn this one up but I couldn't find a link. Maybe I need to look again. I've got three friends with Deans - I think if i got one we might go from club to gang esse

Thanks for all the input everyone - much appreciated.

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OrBikbldr

· #8 · Dec 10, 2005

DeSalvo also, seen a number of his frames recently. Very nice stuff.

YuriB said:
Moots would be a great option.
I won't have the $$ in hand or know exactly how much I'll have to work with for at least another week - maybe two.
Part of me wants to also support the littler guy - but my needs do come first on this one (hey after many years it's time I get something niiiice)

SOLORACER
I have to agree. It's time for Ti if I can swing it.

HELIBEE
Thanks for the tip, don't know why I hadn't looked there yet.

ORBIKBLDR

My earlier research did turn this one up but I couldn't find a link. Maybe I need to look again. I've got three friends with Deans - I think if i got one we might go from club to gang esse

Thanks for all the input everyone - much appreciated.

Padre

· #9 · Dec 11, 2005

Get a steel Niner Sir 9. It'll go gears or SS in a jiffy. Rides great also!

YuriB

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 11, 2005

No doubt

Padre said:
Get a steel Niner Sir 9. It'll go gears or SS in a jiffy. Rides great also!

They do foot the bill but I'm having trouble getting past wanting a Ti frame.....
Are they made in CA?

Padre

· #11 · Dec 11, 2005

YuriB said:
They do foot the bill but I'm having trouble getting past wanting a Ti frame.....
Are they made in CA?

Designed, yes.
Made, no.

YuriB

Discussion Starter · #12 · Dec 11, 2005

Padre said:
Designed, yes.
Made, no.

Well we do live in a global economy.
And if bikes can help....
Thanks for the response.
I'll be sure to share my end result (which by no means means I'm done soliciting suggestions...

POG

· #13 · Dec 11, 2005

You could also consider...

YuriB said:
Well we do live in a global economy.
And if bikes can help....
Thanks for the response.
I'll be sure to share my end result (which by no means means I'm done soliciting suggestions...

a Castellano Silk Ti which is welded by Steve Potts. Timing would be close - mine took about three months.

YuriB

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 11, 2005

OrBikbldr said:
DeSalvo also, seen a number of his frames recently. Very nice stuff.

Desalvo is the only builder I bothered yet (nice stuff for sure) and he said 3 months out.
Nice stuff and reasonable.

mon t

· #15 · Dec 11, 2005 (Edited)

yuri leeemme tell you something.

most - nearly all - framebulders are notorious liars when it comes to delivery times and dates. if time is of the essence you are gonna have to drive that home BIG_TIME with the builder ahead of time. even then, with most guys you need to realize that in a framebuilding shop time and space is different than it is in the rest of the universe.

i once asked a calif bulder - who had my frame up to 3 times what he originally claimed it would be done in with no end in sight . . . . . . i aske " dude do you even HAVE such thing as an "hour" out there ???"

he asked for clarification.

i replied " well man around here we have such things as minutes, and hours, and days . . . we use these units of time to actually measure progress in tasks. it appears that the smallest unit of time that you seem to recognize is " next week ". so, do you even HAVE or recognize the concept of an hour, or a day - or is the shortest maesure of time you have there in cali the " week" ???

pretty funny.

anyway - framebuilders lie, brother. they call it something different of course, but bottom line is if you really really really need a frame by a certain date you really really really need to make that really really really clear. even then, do not be surprised if 4 weeks ends up being 6, or eiight. in all the frames i have bought ( i dunno, ten or a dozen so . . . ) only O-N-E has actually arrived on time ( a Strong ). the others were closer to 1.5 or2 times over estimate. ones from california builders ( all well known or legendary builders ) were closer to 3-4 times over estimate, or even quite a bit longer than that. if a frame from cali ever got within 2 times of estimated delivery date i would have a heart attack.

just sayin . . . . . . . .. . . .

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