Dreadhead

Here it is: http://www.roadid.com/p/the-FIXX-ID We'd have to see if they'd add our logo. They did it for my club NCVC but I'm not sure if there is a minimum order etc. There are other much cheaper options that look pretty good: http://www.etchplus.com/dogtags.aspx

So are you guys still interested in something "Head Case"? I was thinking a Head Case Road ID would be cool. The only type they do custom art work on is their dog-tag version. I also found a bunch of cheaper dog tag options with custom art work. Any interest? I could probably organize it. I'm less interested in the jersey because I have to buy at least 1 jersey and shorts a year anyway through my club. That said if someone chooses to setup an order I'll probably buy one.

Ben wakes up for a feeding most nights around then and I couldn't get back to sleep so I pulled out the Nexus 7 and read some Head Case and the news. This happens a lot, I'm usually up for about an hour, not a big deal for me though. I knew someone would call me out on it

Sorry Mike. I appear to have been let down by Chrome on my tablet because when it rendered: http://2013.handmadebicycleshow.com/about-nahbs/nahbs-award-winners/ It put things in the wrong spots (it is still rendering it wrong, had to take it to Skyfire) so I was just quoting what I saw there. I should have wondered why the format looked weird. Still stand by my personal impressions. Anyway sorry for my confusion. I guess I should have used an ipad

Click on the model then on the right hand side there is a list of types, click on those and you get a pop up with the geometry.

Brent I had read that and I have seen lots of posts of amazing paint jobs on Calfee bikes but I don't think you can judge the quality I am talking about from pictures. I probably spent about 5-10 minutes looking at every detail of these bikes at NAHBS (Calfee only had a repair, tandem and bamboo bike) to come to those opinions. I probably spent a total of an hour drooling on the Ellis that won best road bike.

Yup. I am not saying that they are bad and the paint on them is very good (eg my comment about the Speedvagen that used to show up at the Sunday rides) but I have seen them in person and I was not that impressed. I was honestly surprised when you guys posted that he had a 5 year wait list. I also note that it appears that the only awards they have ever won at a NAHBS is best paint and and best new builder. Edit: this "fact" is incorrect. I was let down by a tablet browser (see below) Not that my curmudgeonly opinions matter but I loved detail and finish in the Kirk work that I saw. He was in my top 3 at the show that's for sure. Vicki made the right call in my opinion. Also, lest I come off as biased, Vanilla or Kirk (or many other builders) finish quality are better than my Calfee but I want raw unpainted carbon which is never perfect (it is very close though). I have never seen a Calfee after paint so no comment there.

Just because something is rare doesn't mean it is worth it. They are good at marketing over there though....

Vicki I have done 3 rides on it and I am still in love. It's a great bike. I am very happy with the whole package but I should be with a bike worth/costing well north of $10k. I am just shaking out the last bugaboos with the seat post slipping (adjusting on the fly is a bad idea) , headset tightness and brake toe in (some pulsing on the front brake), and a cable issue to do with the SRAM Red brake free floats alignment (which is an awesome thing). All these are fixed and I put my name stickers on yesterday. Looking forward to another ride next weekend if I don't take a day off before...

Ride the snot out of them: I rode up a mountain on my Giant including 5 miles of loose gravel unpaved road which was awesome. I'm hoping to do that ride again this spring.

To me artificial rarity doesn't make a 6 year old frame with 15k miles worth $2300 . The Vanilla bikes I have seen (10 or so at NAHBS) were nice but not any nicer than a lot of other bikes I have seen by people with a lot more bikes produced. I will never own one but if I was doing steel Ellis would be it if build quality was job #1.

Not that impossible to get but it would take patience. A Sachs is impossible to get as best I can tell.

In my opinion that bike is massively overpriced.

Good luck

I love my Sidi Ergo3 when compared to the Specialized I used to ride. I will likely go to Bont for my next shoes though I will have to adjust my saddle height because the soles are thinner.

Calfee builds bikes with race handling. Call it what you want but can feel "twitchy" to a lot of riders and is why everyone and their uncle is doing slacker geometry bikes for "century" or "epic" type rides. Add to that a short stem and some may find the steering too quick. I don't personally mind the race type geometry for long rides. Vicki it really sounds to me like you should be able to make it work. It's then up to you if you enjoy the handling and ride you get.

Good idea Vicki with the fitter

Your concept is right but my point is that what matters to you leg flexion is where the saddle nose (assuming the same saddle) is relative to that bb and the seat angle is basically irrelevant to that. To get that number the same the 8mm will need to be taken back out by setting the seat back.

I would not use the old 9 speed Dura Ace myself. Your Ultegra is a better group for the use you describe. As far as setback seat posts go the FSA 32.5 mm one should give you enough. If you are going to buy it I would be happy to work up some math on the fit for you once you do some simple measurements.

The issue is that the final saddle setback between the saddle and the bottom bracket has to be the same for the bike to fit so the difference in angle just means she will need a setback seat post. This will mean that you will end up with a shorter stem anyway. Your plan to take your bike for comparison is a good one.

Sorry I should have been clearer that a short stem plus aggressive steerer angle usually means twitchy... For crit racing sure but distance cruising that you do it is probably less than ideal.

Vicki you could probably make it work but with a very short stem and the Calfee frame steerer angle is pretty aggressive "race" geometry.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

First ride was great other than needing to put carbon paste on the seat post because it kept slipping. The bike is amazing. I would compare it to the Giant as I would imagine a Ferrari vs a Lamborghini. Both are very fast one is just more refined. Very happy with the purchase. So stiff but forgiving over the bumps.

Sorry... A couple more