I’ve just been through my first travel experience with my bike and HATED the entire stressful, money-wasting process. My bike is fine though so I guess I’m well up on some.
I’ve been thinking:
I plan to travel and race with my bike in the future;
I’ve been wanting a lightweight road frame to add to my small fleet.
I’m taking a look today at the Ritchey Breakaway frames. Given that I’m probably destined for a lifetime of MOP/BOFOP results; would I be making a bad decision to attempt “away from home” tri racing on the Ritchey Ti/Carbon Breakaway frame with clip-on aerobars and good, aero race wheels (once I can afford all of that?).
Any other similar models y’all can suggest? I know you can get the “breakaway” added to some custom models as well. What kind of price range would those options be?
I think S&S couplers can be added to any Ti or steel frame. Don’t know exactly, but cost is around $400.-. If you already have a decent frame, this may be an option for you. I personally think the couplers are technically superior to the Breakaway system (Sorry, Tom). Although I think Tom’s frames look better compared to those “humps” you get with the couplers.
Ritchey has actually hinted at a breakaway model that is tri-specific. Given the success of the road version, which is a sweet bike in and of itself (just as a road bike- folding option notwithstanding) the tri version will likely be a hit when it is available.
I’ve also looked very hard at the Ritchey Breakaway frames. Seems like an ingenious concept to me. I don’t do races that aren’t within driving distance, mainly because of the crap that goes with flying with a bike. I would have no qualms at all about buying one of these frames. If Ritchey ever comes out with a tri specific Breakaway, that frame would be at the top of my list.
Funny - I’ve been thinking that the Ritchey design is inherently superior to the S&S couplers. No real world testing or scientific data to back this up, just an impression I get having studied both designs a bit.
I was actually thinking that one of these years I may ask Ves to build me another tri bike, but to incorporate the Ritchey break-away design (or some facsimilie thereof) so that I could have a custom designed and fit tri bike that’s designed around my dimensions to handle brilliantly and fit like a glove, and yet be highly portable and hassle-free when travelling to races.
As much as I like the idea of an easy travelling bike, I want to race my tri bike - so a Break-Away roadie with clip ons isn’t the solution for me.
My Breakaway is indeed my tri bike. I’m never going to contend for placing in a serious event, and my 43-year-old frame isn’t particularly flexible, so I don’t mind the road geometry. In fact, my preference is for longer races, and since all I care about is finishing, i actually like the road geometry better than tri. I have put a pair of visiontech mini clipons on the Breakaway, but that’s more to give me a variety of positions rather than aero streamlining. Other changes from a stock Breakaway are more personal preference: Arione Tri saddle for triathlons and standard Arione for road, compact crank and 12-27 cassette, but that’s more for road conditions (hey, the Breakaway’s ridden Alpe d’Huez, and I beat Sheryl’s time ;^), and aztek handlebar tape (so I can ride triathlons without gloves).
Never had a problem traveling with the Breakaway, though do get the deluxe case with wheels. The standard case is too bulky to maneuver comfortably in an airport.
I’ve also got some experience with S&S, as that’s what’s on my Co-Motion Speedster. The S&S system is definitely industrial grade. It’s heavy (not a huge deal on a tandem) and takes a bit more time to assemble. Taking my time, I can get the Breakaway together in 15-20 minutes; the Co-Motion (keeping in mind it’s a tandem) is more like a 90 minutes.
Both systems do the job well, and I couldn’t really recommend one over the other.
Yes, you can license the design DaHon was the first to do so and there are other small builders using that system. I’d check with www.jamesframes.com for a custom option with the Ritchey couplers, or as Tom D. has said, be patient with their design.
Ritchey will be offering a Steel complete road bike, a Ti/carbon complete road bike, a steel cross frame, a Ti cross frame and a ti MTB with breakaway fittings, a tri geo can’t be that far off.
As far as racing goes, I used a steel Breakaway as my only race bike for about a year and loved it. It was stolen April 13th.
