Going to go look at (and possibly buy) a 2011 Giant Defy 3 tomorrow.

Video from yesterday's impromptu bike park session.

^^ Nice.

It's looking like I'll have time to get out for a good ride on Sunday. Need to try adjusting the shock air pressures before that to see if I can cure the clunk.

Spoke to Mike DeSalvo who despite having received the tubes for my road bike will build me a Ti hard tail 650b frame if I prefer. I have about a week to decide.

So the cable guide that was rebonded to the carbon on my downtube has come undone again today. It doesn't really have much of an impact right now as the tension on the cables keeps it in place but it is obviously a frame defect so I decided to drop if off again at the LBS so they can send it back to Specialized. Hopefully they'll give me a new frame this time but I doubt that because I think they should be able to rebond this piece properly just like it was done so when they first manufactured it.

Looks like about two weeks without a bike again but I should be able to ride at Sebring. On a positive note, I'll be well rested and dangerous come the Sebring ride

That's a bummer raffy. You are not getting out of Sebring that easy. I've been practicing my sprint finishes.

In that case, I will escape during the last few miles and make sure you can't catch me

You know that will never happen.

True but only because I do not like riding alone esp. in unfamiliar places.

Btw the Specialized demo truck will be in town tomorrow. Hopefully they have a small Tarmac or Venge for me to try.

Sorry about your bike issue Raffy. That just means you need a second backup bike (or 2).

Mike, good luck with the decision. I would probably just stick to a road frame that will last forever and then buy a non custom mtb but I am sure others would disagree.

I'm kind of torn but I do have a very nice, comfortable Gunnar that I can ride until I can save up for a nice Crumpton or Calfee.

If you don't think it's a "forever" bike that does make the call harder.

I had thought you were not into carbon I will let you know on Wednesday about the calfee but I expect to be wowed and don't expect to replace it for a very long time unless technology changes or something. I feel even better about it because my shop decided to become an official stocking dealer out of it.

If I went Ti road it would be a forever bike (forever is very relative when I am involved). I saw a couple Crumptons recently down here and I kind of like what I see. At $4,000 plus it would be a while before I made that move. Before I put my deposit down on my DeSalvo, I was thinking about a custom Landshark carbon frame. My thinking is if I go Ti mtb, I'm buying one more bike instead of two more bikes.

That just means you need a second backup bike (or 2).

I approve of this statement. The mission is to turn the Roubaix into a backup bike in the next 2-3 years (or sooner) and get a "lifetime" bike. So far, I've been lusting over the Colnago C59 or the Dogma 65.2. Truth be told I secretly prefer the Dogma but it's not Made in Italy nor does it have the prestige associated with a Colnago.

I was looking at C59 but it turns out that their largest size is still too small for me. My coach loves the Dogma but I am not sure if he still rides it now he got a Super Six Himod.

Mike you've got some great thinking to do. Probably made harder by the fact you are choosing between 2 awesome options.

Edited November 17, 201213 yr by Dreadhead

My deal with the C59 is that it has a slightly tall head tube for me. I have really short legs and a long torso for my height. To get the fit I want without cutting a significant amount of steer tube I need a HT of around 100-110. I can make the C59 fit properly but I will probably end up with only 15 mm of spacers under the stem which means I will have to chop a good amount if steer tube. It'll end up with a nice fit albeit a little "slammed" and my worry is resale value for a really small slammed bike. However, I realize this may be a moot point as the C59 should be a lifetime bike (or at least a very long time bike).

OTOH, the Dogma will give me a lot more flexibility fit wise and will require minimal steer tube cutting if any.

Raffy Fyi Calfee will make the bike with an extra long head tube for no up charge. The Calfee is about the same as those two as far as cost goes

Edited November 17, 201213 yr by Dreadhead

Raffy Fyi Calfee will make the bike with an extra long head tube for no up charge. The Calfee is about the same as those two as far as cost goes

Actually I need a super short head tube

I've trying to convince him to go Calfee or Crumpton instead of Colnago, etc.

They do that too Raffy

Go old school steel, but with a twist. Firefly Bicycles makes a custom road bike with Columbus XCR stainless steel tubing. Seriously good bikes, the company's run by guys from Independent Fabrication, they have a long history of making innovative kickass bikes.

http://fireflybicycl.../road-stainless

And just to make your life even more fun, Seven Cycles 622 SLX. Carbon tubes with titanium lugs and chainstays. I saw one this summer when I dropped into the shop I used to work at, I'm indifferent towards carbon bikes at best but with this one I went "shit, if I did road riding and had the cash, I'd buy it no question". Well, I would if they didn't make the Axiom SLX.

I've been following the firefly thread on paceline and really loving the way their bikes look.

I lust after firefly and IF bikes but for me the Roubaix is probably a forever bike. In Jekyll news I bled the rear shock last night and redid the setup process. The clunk appears to be gone but I want to give it a quick spin around the yard later to make sure. Here's to hoping.

Never even heard of Firefly but the IF stuff I have seen is nice. Around here it is Serrotta, Seven, Pegoretti, Guru and Speedvagen. The Speedvagen I saw was downright amazing.

Firefly's are beauties but pricey. Mike DeSalvo does the welding on many of the Speedvagen bikes.