I currently have a 53 cm 2005 Litespeed Blade. It’s a great bike, but I’ve always felt it’s slightly too big for me. I’m 5’9 1/2" tall with shorter legs and a longer torso. When standing over the bike it’s almost right in my crotch.
I’d love to get a great fitting bike and I also really like titanium. I’d also prefer to not spend 9K on my next bike. It seems like manufacturers are getting away from Ti. Are there any decent ones left other than Litespeed? If I go with another Litespeed I assume I’d need a custom fit. Does anyone know how much that jacks up the cost? There really aren’t any bike shops near me that know anything about Tri bikes. There are a couple shops 90 min away, but they don’t sell Ti. Ideas? Thanks for any replies.
Roark, based just outside of Indianapolis, ONLY makes custom bikes with specific geometries to you. You get fit, then they build the bike around those dimensions. Thats why you dont see them in showrooms, etc.
I may be one of the last true believers in Ti, but if your body demensions are out of whack enough to warrent a custom frame Ti is the way to go. Pleanty of builders have access to aero tubing. It may not beat a P4 in a wind tunnel, but how many seconds are we really talking about? BTW I thought that custom geometry from Litespeed was ‘free’.
I have a custom Ultimate that is now getting long in the tooth…I have since got many other bikes (Cervelo, Pinnarello, DeRosa, Specialized, and a few others) - always end up back on the Litespeed. I doubt I can ever wear it out.
Seriously, aside from the standover height, which doesn’t matter when you are not standing over the bike, what else make you feel the bike is too big?
That’s a darn good bike you got.
Good question. I don’t have a great answer, at all. It “feels” big. When I got it (bought by phone after talking to dealer) it had an 80mm stem, which I wasn’t thrilled with because it seemed so short. (I swapped it out with a 90.) There is almost no seatpost showing and there are no spacers. Yes, yes, yes, I know these things don’t mean it doesn’t fit. I’m just saying how it’s set up now. I did later get FISTed with a decent guy who did the best he could. My position feels okay, but I kind of feel like I’m riding my big brother’s bike. It also doesn’t help that I got some terrifying speed wobbles on the back side of the IMC course a couple years ago. (Not a problem with the bike, more a problem with me, I’m sure.)
The experience of looking for something else is very frustrating. One of our LBS became a Litespeed dealer, but they’re mainly selling mountain bikes and they *clearly *know nothing about tri. They also have no bikes in stock. There are some tri shops 90 min away and although I like one of them well enough they don’t really carry brands I’m interested in. They apparently can’t afford to keep many bikes in the shop. I’ve had a CF bike before and it just seemed too fragile. I assume there are stock bikes out there that fit me, if I’m willing to go CF, but I’d likely have to fly somewhere to a shop that has a ton of stock and carries a lot of brands.
//but I kind of feel like I’m riding my big brother’s bike//
Can’t reach the pedals, well lower the saddle.
Sounds to me like you don’t really know what you need in terms of fit. You have two options: go to good fitter (what did the FIST fitter say about your bike size?), or learn more yourself. Or do both. Problem is that some supposedly good fitters are not good. You could read all of Dan’s articles on fit, then take some measurements, and post them here and ask for an opinion. Read the articles and search Dan’s (Slowman) old posts and you’ll figure out what the key measurements are. Pretty simple really. Do this and you’ll feel more confident about either your current bike or the next one you get.
Good suggestions. Thanks. I’ll read up and take some measurements. At some point though I still have to find a shop to buy from and that could be my biggest problem.
Litespeed Blade 2005. VERY nice bike, just feels too big. One issue I had when I bought it was I didn’t want to size down because I didn’t want 650 wheels (if I remember correctly.) Like I initially said, it came with an 80mm stem, which doesn’t seem like a great thing to me.
I’m semi-debating something like a Guru or custom Litespeed, but I have a hard time parting with that kind of cash. I might be willing to do it if I could get the bike relatively quickly and I was sure it would be something I could use for a long time.
I’m signed up for IMC, but I had a kidney removed two months ago and although I’m riding every day I cannot run yet because the jarring causes a lot of pain. (Went back at it too early and set myself back; my fault.) I’m still hoping to do the race and if I get a new bike I’d like it in time for some pre-race training.
Thanks for the advice and pm’s. I think I need to get another fitting on my bike. My non-adjustable one piece Easton aerobars feel long for me. Perhaps I simply need a different set-up. I’d much rather spend the money getting another fit than buying a whole new bike.
I ride a 2004 blade and love it but wish to move a brake cable stop.
The rear bake cable stop at times rubs my bow legged groin.
Can I cut this off then braise this back on a little farther under
under the top tube with acy tourch ?
