20 Nov 11 Sram vs Shimano Components
I am an avid Shimano components fan simple because you get the best value for your money. Shimano has been around for ages and you can score some nice used equipment off of ebay. For example I purchased a Dura Ace rear derailleur practically brand new for $60USD.
Shimano components are better looking, more reliable with tighter tolerances. Cogs chain rings pedals, brackets and other parts are very interchangeable between generations.
06 Sep 11 Titanium VS Steel
The main strengths of titanium are its tensile strength to relative weight ratio. Titanium is a harder metal than steel therefore the tubes can be made lighter and stronger. Titanium has another unique property know as “self healing”. When titanium is scratched, the scratched area oxidizes and turns back to the original titanium color. Over time the oxidation gives titanium that dark metallic color.
There are many different grades of stainless steel. Stainless steel greatest strength its it durability and relative price as compared to titanium. Stainless steel is a malleable metal. It can be bent into shape and provide a spring like sensation that absorbs road bumps. Reynolds 853 and 953 (the hardest and lightest of the stainless steel tubes) is compatible to titanium in relative weight and strength.
07 Mar 10 Rivendale Quickbeam
Rivendale is known for making some of the toughest, best quality steel bikes on the market. The Quickbeam is a real value single speed bicycle. Every component on the bicycle is the highest possible quality available. Every component on this bike will last a lifetime. The Noodle bar, Technomic Deluxe stem, and Crystal Fellow seat post are made by Nitto. The crank is a forged Sugino XD2.
The Quickbeam is Rivendale’s singlespeed do it all bike. It features a flip-flop hub, dual chainring, threaded dropouts, 40mm tire spacing, with cantilever brakes.
02 Mar 10 Great Value in a fully lugged steel bike frame: Lincolnshire Poacher
For $399 dollars you get a steel frame that rivals Rivendale frames. The Lincolnshire Poacher frame is fully lugs. The lugs are ornate and well decorated. There is indeed craftsmanship involved in building this beautiful frame. Add Nitto stem, handlebars, seat post, a crankset, and wheelset and you have a serious long lasting lifetime bike. This bike has horizontal dropouts so it can only be used as a fixed gear or single speed. The tire clearance is upto 38 millimeters so you can add fairly wide tires for city transport.
Here are the specifications:
Fork Offset: 50mm
Headset: 1″ Standard A-Head
Seat post: 26.8mm
Seat post bolt: 8.5mm (NOT INC)
BB: 68mm shell, BSA threading
BB Drop: 77mm
Rear Spacing: 120mm
Brake type: Long Reach Caliper
Tyre Clearance: up to 38mm
You can find the bike on sale at Unreal Cycles.
