frame

When I started this project I was expecting to go really cheap. With that in mind I purchased a Leader 735 TT Aluminum frame. To tell you the truth, when I built it up it seemed to me to be too harsh. At the time I also didn’t know much about fit and I was simply not in good enough shape to ride aero. So it turned out to be a failed experiment.

When it comes to time trial or triathlon frames there are so many choices, many of which will cost you a pretty penny. As I mentioned in my previous posting, I will be looking at this from a budget persective. I do not want to spend more than $2000 on a bike that will only be used a few times a year. $1000-1500 would be even better. So with that small a budget the choices are fairly limited. It also means that most of the real big name production bikes are not within the budget. I am not looking for a road bike that will be converted to a TT/Tri bike, we are looking for a real TT/Tri bike.

After a very brief and failed experiment with a triathlon style bike last year, it became apparent to me that there are a few limitations that I cannot overcome. One of the big things I cannot and probably will never be able to do is triathlons. First I do not know how to swim. Never learned, never really wanted to either. When I get in a pool I never venture over to the deep end, I don’t like being in water higher than waist deep. I am not afraid of the water, just don’t know what I would do if I was ever in water. The second thing like it is this, I hate running! When I say hate, I really mean I detest running with all my being, every bone jarring stride, every sweat drenched mile. No thanks, not for me.

Okay maybe more than one word, here goes …

This all started out about a discussion of how frames are measured today. Back in the day I had a 57cm Klein Quantum. It may have been a tad large but I was more flexible then and I could ride it for hours on end with no issues as far as comfort goes. So basically the Klein fit well. Now fast forward 18 years and I am ready to buy a more modern ride. I look around and find a 56cm Motobecane. I think to myself, this is good, just a hair smaller so I should be more comfortable. Well for the most part it fit but I needed several millimeters more spacers under the stem to get the handlebars in a more comfortable position. Now I have a PedalForce RS in a 55cm frame size and it is nearly a perfect fit.

For those adventurous souls that like to build up their own bikes, here may be a deal for you. Pedal Force, a bicycle importer from the North Eastern USA is offering a new frame/fork for 2008 at an incredible deal. If you hadn’t noticed on some of the rides Nicole and I do when we are on single bikes we ride Pedal Force RS frames.

So now it is time to chase the threads and install the bottom bracket bearings. Any time you have a frame painted it is a good idea to take it to your favorite local bike shop and have the threads chased. This will help clean out all the paint overspray that might have settled on the threads. Clean threads make the bottom bracket easier to install and minimizes the risk of cross-threading. The right tools make the job go much easier. I am using an External Bottom Bracket Tool from Enduro. It has steel pins that engage the entire length of the grooves on the external bearings. It also has a 1/2″ drive socket on the back side so that you can use a torque wrench to get it tightened properly. This tool works much better than the Shimano tool that comes with their new cranksets, it is even better than the Park tool.