I'm guilty of believing there is always something better out there. I know right away that kinda means that I don't belong here.
I liked and was mostly happy with my Sir9 but always figured there must be something better out there. It's just a little bit too flexy for my tastes (170lbs on a large). I fight with the ebb at times. (Was noisy, now quiet but still really hard to turn) and it isn't light.
I had a One9 for a little while and loved picking it up in the garage but is just wasn't as fun downhill.
I got to test ride a One9 Carbon last year and was impressed. I liked how quiet, in terms of muting small bumps that I consider noise, it was. I'm also fond of carbon road bikes so I've been thinking that a carbon single speed would be great. A few weeks ago I found a carbon Orbea Alma on ebay for a decent price and built it up. After 4-5 rides it's going right back to ebay and I canceled the auction for my trusty Sir before anyone bid. (Sorry if you were disappointed on that one)
The Alma was light and looked sexy but I just didn't light up at all riding it. Switchbacks were more fun because the stiff headtube steered really well and it was comfortable like steel which is important to me. The problem is that I always felt like I was fighting it uphill. It was almost as if the steel bike bb flex helped me turn the gear and the stiff carbon gave my recently weak legs nowhere to hide.
I gears on it for today and certainly liked it more but I already have a geared FS and don't really have any justification for keeping it as a geared bike. I read that someone else recommended another carbon frame for racing or fast riding and I'd agree. At speed it really does work nicely. I've also learned that a stiff headtube junction is a wonderful thing but so is having feel in a frame. I may give it one more shot with a 1 tooth easier gear but the relationship just isn't there.
My first real road bike was a steel Serotta. I like how good steel feels to pedal and that it has some pop out of turns but I'm far from a woolie traditionalist. I guess I'm learning that sometimes simple is hard to beat and that advances aren't always.
I haven't really learned much though so I'll keep trying to find something better. Next year maybe a Lynsky Ridgeline or a Waltworks?
I liked and was mostly happy with my Sir9 but always figured there must be something better out there. It's just a little bit too flexy for my tastes (170lbs on a large). I fight with the ebb at times. (Was noisy, now quiet but still really hard to turn) and it isn't light.
I had a One9 for a little while and loved picking it up in the garage but is just wasn't as fun downhill.
I got to test ride a One9 Carbon last year and was impressed. I liked how quiet, in terms of muting small bumps that I consider noise, it was. I'm also fond of carbon road bikes so I've been thinking that a carbon single speed would be great. A few weeks ago I found a carbon Orbea Alma on ebay for a decent price and built it up. After 4-5 rides it's going right back to ebay and I canceled the auction for my trusty Sir before anyone bid. (Sorry if you were disappointed on that one)
The Alma was light and looked sexy but I just didn't light up at all riding it. Switchbacks were more fun because the stiff headtube steered really well and it was comfortable like steel which is important to me. The problem is that I always felt like I was fighting it uphill. It was almost as if the steel bike bb flex helped me turn the gear and the stiff carbon gave my recently weak legs nowhere to hide.
I gears on it for today and certainly liked it more but I already have a geared FS and don't really have any justification for keeping it as a geared bike. I read that someone else recommended another carbon frame for racing or fast riding and I'd agree. At speed it really does work nicely. I've also learned that a stiff headtube junction is a wonderful thing but so is having feel in a frame. I may give it one more shot with a 1 tooth easier gear but the relationship just isn't there.
My first real road bike was a steel Serotta. I like how good steel feels to pedal and that it has some pop out of turns but I'm far from a woolie traditionalist. I guess I'm learning that sometimes simple is hard to beat and that advances aren't always.
I haven't really learned much though so I'll keep trying to find something better. Next year maybe a Lynsky Ridgeline or a Waltworks?
