Assuming that you have checked the stack and reach of the new frames, you have been fisted or fit by some other esoteric methodology and you have read up on all of the latest aero wind tunnel Madison Avenue marketing bullshit, how do you select a frame?
Personally, I think that the “woodie” method of frame selection works the best assuming that you are not being provided a frame by your sponsor. That is, check out all the frames, sleep on it and which frame gives you wood.
What say you?
I get a p3 aluminum because its cheap, fast as shit, and i don’t have to worry about dropping it and crying about it.
My first ‘real’ road bike was an ‘01 Litespeed Ultimate. I saw it in the Colorado Cyclist catalog and knew right away that I’d be riding it someday. When it went on year-end clearance, I measured myself up and pulled the trigger. Never regretted it, and she’s still my go-to ride (rode it to work this a.m. in fact). She was stripped down to the frame over the winter, polished up and rebuilt with DA-10 and looks brand spankin’ new. She’ll be mine forever. When I decided on a tri bike, I went with a more scientific approach - had a fit done at Get A Grip here in Chicago, and decided on the Saber - not one regret. Sometimes, the woody works, sometimes it takes a bit more research. However, if after doing the research, there’s no woody - you’re on the wrong bike.
I used the ST stack and reach tables to narrow down the selection. I had great help by STers to fill in the blanks for the few frames that were missing.
Then I used the woody test. Ti is sexy. Ti is hot. It Ti does not give you wood … something is wrong … =)
That resulted in the selection of my Litespeed Saber.
As most bike retailers will likely tell you, most buyers purchase based on the wood factor looks. The more experienced the rider/buyer (after, say 5 new frames), the more esoteric the selection tends to become. Most of the best riders I know around here are on frames like Land Sharks, Independent Fab, etc. Very few all carbon Italian/full Campy racers. Nothing at all wrong with a beautiful Colnago for example, mind you.
"Ti is sexy. Ti is hot. It Ti does not give you wood … something is wrong … = "
That, and the fact that they were basically giving away Lynskey framesets earlier this year made my decisoin to get a Lynskey very easy.
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A F.I.S.T fitting by JT Lyons at Moment Cyclesport in San Diego.