[benwitt11]

Here you go. I got bored, (an easy thing to do with 4 inches of snow outside!) My Fisher rep and I had a litle bet going. He gave mean number for a weight and asked if I thought I could beat it. I did, by a lot. The bike as pictured, a 17.5", weighs in at 17.6 lbs! Biggest weight loss is in the wheels. They are the new Bontrager XXX Light Carbon Clincher wheels. Weight weinies ready? 1350g per pair! I've been running a pair of the aluminum X light road wheels for a few seasons now, I've barely had to true them. So, what's one step up? The tech boys at Bontrager have told me repeatedly that the carbon wheels actually have much higher fatigue life than the aluminum versions. I figure, if I can't break them XC racing, people will never break them on road bikes. Tricky setup on the brake pads. Carbon wheels use cork brake pads, I am in the process of converting a pair of DA road shoes to work with XTR V brake posts. Shouldn't be too hard.

Performance on the bike is nothing short of amazing! The wheels are spun up before you can comprehend it. Braking is the only thing less than perfect compared to a brushed or polished brake track. I'm working on that Another reason I built this is to highlight some of Bontrager's New high end products. The Cranks are new tis season. They are surprisingly stiff, and weigh almost the same as XTRs. Can't talk about shifting yet, (SS.) I'll have another set soon for that. The XXX light cnotrol group, (bar/stem/seatpost,) is great. The stem is gorgeous, bar are comfy, and everything is fairly light weight. I've been running this same set up on my Surly for 2 seasons now without any trouble at all. The new 1.8 Jones tires are small. Just putting that out there. They are about 100g lighter than the 2.2's, but not as cushy. You guys can figure that out. Even with the 2.2's, the bike weighs about 18.1 lbs. Here's some pics.
bike photo:

<img border=2 img src="https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/13508134-17.5RIG.JPG">

Rear wheel and crankset close up shot:

<img border=2 img src="https://img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-10/867718/71652481-rearwheelclose.JPG">

 

[OneGearGuy]

Holy Crap!
That looks like a fun project.
I guess even I need to admit that using v-brakes and road wheels is a HUGE advantage for getting weight really low...
Thanks for sharing. Let us know how it rides once you can get past all the snow!

OGG

 

[benwitt11]

I like disc brakes. I like suspension. This is addmitedly a very specific use bike. On the right XC course, v brakes and light wheels work just fine. For the rough stuff, I have a really trick Titus in the works!

 

[OneGearGuy]

I like disc brakes. I like suspension. This is addmitedly a very specific use bike. On the right XC course, v brakes and light wheels work just fine. For the rough stuff, I have a really trick Titus in the works!

I hear ya' about specific and all. Hitting a weight point is a fun challenge, but obviously not the main goal of being an everyday, all-conditions ride. I can't wait to see your Titus!
I have been dreaming of the 29er Intense Spyder as a light, all day race bike (when I rob a bank and come up with the dough, of course).
I am sure your Titus project will fill my head with bad, bad ideas.

 

[djcrb9]

I don't know that very lightweight (and not that strong) road wheels are a good idea for mountain bikes.. road carbon wheels? They look very cool, but will they hold up to any sort of abuse?
Also, i don't know about cork brake pads. Do they work as well or not? I've never used them.

 

[benwitt11]

I'll see your Intense and raise you Ti/Carbon on the Titus!

There is no way that can be a bad idea!!! Did I mention that they are full custom? Hehehe

 

[benwitt11]

I'm not worried about the wheels. Like I said, I have used their alu. road wheels for years. No problems at all. My fisher rep, (at 6'3'' and about 220lbs,) has been racing them for three years. Like I said, everything I've seen from the Bonty tech dept. says that these re even stronger than the alum version. I'm about 180 lbs and I'm not worried. They won't see huge miles, and I'm a very smooth rider.

Braking isn't that different. Not a big deal at all.

 

[OneGearGuy]

I'll see your Intense and raise you Ti/Carbon on the Titus!

There is no way that can be a bad idea!!! Did I mention that they are full custom? Hehehe

Ya' see what I mean?! You're starting already... of course you would be hard pressed to beat carbon and ti, not to mention custom (unbeatable for sure!) Gawd, I may have to rob 2 banks, now

 

[benwitt11]

Ya' see what I mean?! You're starting already... of course you would be hard pressed to beat carbon and ti, not to mention custom (unbeatable for sure!) Gawd, I may have to rob 2 banks, now

https://titusti.com/images/large/racerx_EXO.gif

Only with big wheels....Doesn't get any sexy, period.

 

[benwitt11]

V brake studs.

About the "Hybrid" thing. It still only weighs 18lbs with 2.25" XR's.

 

[jh_on_the_cape]

that is crazy!

it's like a super high end hybrid bike from the planet 'whoa'.

anything stock besides the frame?

 

[el-cid]

The icing on that bike will be a carbon Switchblade fork. They should be ready soon, right?

 

[lelebebbel]

good idea?

chexor this out:
(german "Tour Magazin" roadbike forums)

http://forum.tour-magazin.de/showthread.php?t=61755

rear rim, cracked at 3 places

according to the owner, those wheels have seen about 200 miles ON ROAD, owner is 150lbs

you probably can't see the images without registering, so i've attached one of them for you:

 

[OneGearGuy]

https://titusti.com/images/large/racerx_EXO.gif

Only with big wheels....Doesn't get any sexy, period.

Dang it! I can't be your friend anymore! You are nothing but trouble, young man
Of course, it's got to have the big wheels. I have seen the light and there's no going back.

 

[jh_on_the_cape]

V brake studs.

About the "Hybrid" thing. It still only weighs 18lbs with 2.25" XR's.

it was a joke! great bike! go nuts! weighs less than my road bike, i think!

 

[benwitt11]

it was a joke!

I know, the whole bike's kind of a joke. It's so light it borders on scary. Like riding a missle, you don't want to screw up on it!

The icing on that bike will be a carbon Switchblade fork

I've talked to my reps about this. It's coming out soon, but is disc specific, and about 300gms heavier than the Spicer. That's almost a pound! I've ridden the Pace forks before too, I like the ride feel of the Ti better.

 

[TheRedMantra]

Seems like a stupid question, but how did you deal with the rear hub spacing?

 

[benwitt11]

chexor this out:
(german "Tour Magazin" roadbike forums)

http://forum.tour-magazin.de/showthread.php?t=61755

rear rim, cracked at 3 places

according to the owner, those wheels have seen about 200 miles ON ROAD, owner is 150lbs

you probably can't see the images without registering, so i've attached one of them for you:

Damn, my german isn't that good. I wish I could read the whole thing. There is an engineer at Trek that has been riding these wheels more than 2 years, thousands of miles, rims are just fine. That part of the rim is the same as the ones that the Discovery Team uses for almost all of the tour. They have had ZERO equipment failiers in any of the Bonty products or Trek Frames. That's good enough for me.

 

[benwitt11]

You can go two routes. The Bontrager wheels use DT hubs. You can get a left side DT swiss mountain spacer, a few turns of the spokes to center the dish,and you're ready to go. 5mm, on a flexy aluminum frame, I just tightened it up. I wouldn't do it on a customer's bike, but I'm not worried, I've done it before.

 

[benwitt11]

Dang it! I can't be your friend anymore! You are nothing but trouble, young man
Of course, it's got to have the big wheels. I have seen the light and there's no going back.

I would like to be your friend, I'll stop torturing you. At least until my bike comes. I have to post some pictures of that.