Its my 40th soon. I want one, and I deserve one.
Am going to research the hell out of this before I jump in. Planet X, Lynskey, Merlin, Indy-fab I know about.....wont need to be bespoke or painted a nice colour. Whats my other options? See Singular have their's built in Italy by Nevi, who I hadnt heard of.
Lets pretend (laughably) that if need be money no option....
indy fab or enigma would get my money
I'd want one to be "special" - not necessarily by a boutique brand, but if getting a "cheap" one, I'd want to make sure it wasn't comprimised (seems P-X aren't).
Sunday (sorry, Sabbath now)
Greg is a good guy to deal with and I think they will do custom sizes.
I have a silk road which is nice. Never ridden a bike as much as this one.
My 456 cost £1k.....hard to fault from a performance point of view but not exactly a pretty bike despite the flame graphics. Road bikes have to be pretty though....they just do, and thats going to cost.
Check out Van Nicholas too. Their Mistral and Euros frames are pretty nice looking, and the Mistral got a cracking review in this months Cycling Plus.
Is it just me or does the Lynskey in the link above not look rubbish with those rear dropouts ?
mcboo are you a race-snake or more subtantially built? I've a couple of mates who are big powerful riders who haven't got on with Ti due to flex and have gone back to carbon. Ti is nice to ride but not the ultimate for a ride if you are bigger.
Litespeed - though will set you back a few grand
I'm 85kg, 6'3 so not small. Agreed I def wouldnt be wanting anything too flexy at the back. My On-One is pretty stiff really, just has that nice washy feeling over the bumps, still nice and rigid when I kick. I just like the idea of having a road bike that I can live with for years and years. Am going to start doing Marmotte/Etape type things....might be wrong but Ti just feels like the right way to go for that kind of event.
40 HahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHahaHaha 
Am going to start doing Marmotte/Etape type things....might be wrong but Ti just feels like the right way to go for that kind of event.
In which case, do what all the Brits do - turn up on something expensive, and then find yourself in the balai.
Be careful you don't buy something that absolutely has to be your "forever" bike. Buy something because it's a great example of what it is and because you are treating yourself for your birthday.
MM has 5yrs on me but doesnt like riding with me at the moment.....have been kicking sand in his face ever since 92kg > 85kg this summer.
have been kicking sand in his face ever since 92kg > 85kg this summer.
that's even more funny than you being 40!
MOOTS
That's what I'd have 
I'd go for a Seven.
If I had the money I would be looking at Seven, IF, or Serrotta over any if the other American Ti builders
At the other end of the price scale it would be an Enigma - about half their Ti range is now made in the UK and they are also talking about sourcing UK Ti tubing. They are also looking to use 6/4? rather than 3/2.5 or whatever it is which will increase the stiffness.
The price premium for an Enigma over the likes of Sabbath and Van Nicholas is not that great and the workmanship and finish is much higher. Not knocking Sabbath and Van Nicholas but they are quite industrial in their design and finish.
I would also be tempted by the Engima XCR stainless steel jobbie if you want something of timeless beauty.
I agree with GJP
top end - Seven
middle - Enigma
cheap end - VN
Not knocking the cheap stuff though. I've got an Airborne (pre-VN) and I love it. Well made, good design and lovely and supple.
we need some in the flesh pics really, there are a few ti road bike owners on here aren't there?
my vote is for indy fab, love em never owned one. ifrider.com for gratuitous pics
In 2005 I bought a Merlin CR6/4 (only took 5 months to arrive from ordering). I've been doing Marmotte type riding on it as well as Tour of Flanders type riding and its been equally good at both. Its survived an unpleasant crash (on the 07 Ibbo ride) now with new forks & bars, is still comfy and will be doing Tour of Flanders again next Easter.
If its lucky in about a year it might get treated to 11spd Ergos.
im very happy with my sabbath september
I have ridden a few Ti road bikes. They have all ridden differently.
The Sabbath I rode was a Mondays child and it was really tidy. The welds were really neat on it. It looked pretty much as nice as the fancier ti bikes I have seen. I loved the ride on it. It is a stiff bike but I did not find it in the least bit harsh. Greg was really good to deal with and I was going to buy one but in the end the timing was just a bit wrong.
My bike is a Planet X ti pro road. It has a short head tube which is perfect for me but not everyone. Its very like the Sabbath to ride most of the time but a little less stiff when you go for it. Its my favourite bike maybe just because its the one I have spent the most time on.
I have ridden a Lynskey Helix. This is a totally different bike to the others. Its fast and sharp feeling and it goes round corners somehow better than other bikes I have tried a bit like its on rails. When pootling along it is ok, maybe a bit harsher than the others. When you ride hard it is stiff feeling and rather fun! I dont reckon its finished any better than the sabbath, maybe a little better than the planet x. The welds look the same on all three. All of which looked better than a VN I saw- I have a helix frame waiting to be built up.
This is mine. Not the best picture and also not been ridden for so long now perhaps since summer 08. Looking for an excuse to buy an Enigma but very difficult to justify one.
GJP - what size is it ?
my mate is selling his 52cm with 54cm eff tt sabbath september its the one with sram rival on thats £2200 new and he upgraded to brushed ti finish extra £100 and paid extra for reynolds solitude wheelset. also has carbon look sks guards on it hes ridden it once for about half hour and decided he didnt like it on the road ;-( dumbass lol hes looking for around £1200 im going to put it up on classifieds in a few days for him when hes sorted pix out for me if your interested at all (it looks like mine above but his has black graphics rather than the green ones on mine)
cheers mick
merlin merlin merlin merlin merlin
they are just beautiful
the_lecht_rocks - Member
GJP - what size is it ?
Its a medium -size 55cm. Same geometry as the current Enigma Ti range.
mcboo 6-3 and 85kg isn't too bad. I guess that you'll be looking for a 59-60cm frame. That will be somewhat flexy. With my friends 59cm Litespeed Archon you could hold the bars and move the seat side to side. Litespeed took it back and built him a custom with an O/S top tube, but he still hated the flex and swapped it for a carbon Cannondale. I'd really say try before you buy. If you are a smooth sitting down pedaller you may love a Ti frame.
Depends on how nice you want and the quality of tubing and workmanship, if you want the best, Moots, Kish, Serrotta, IF. Then seven, lightspeed and merlin.
If you want bottom of the pile, enigma, vn, on one etc...
Another vote for Sabbath / Sunday Silk Road.
Be sure you want a Ti frame for its qualities and not just 'cos of the "I'm 40, I need to treat myself to a Ti frame" syndrome.
I used to have a very high end Ti bike and was really proud of it, spending ages getting it perfect, convincing myself that it the nicest bike I'd ridden.
Then one day it broke, and I had to pull my old Cannondale CAAD 5-with parts bin-equipment out of storage, and the 'dale was lighter, stiffer, would corner way better, and actually felt way smoother.
I'm not sure I'd look at a Titanium road bike when there are so many nicer expensive carbon or cheaper aluminium frames out there.
( heresy caps off)
I have a Litespeed ('07 Ardennes - custom builed up)and well recommended. However another brand not yet mentioned and roadie thoroughbred... De Rosa, assuming Ti is still in their range oh and Titus!
...lots of very good suggestions IMO.
Does it have to be Ti? If we are pretending money is no object then what about a Crumpton?
Bike frames are like suits; what looks great this year will look dated and tatty in 5-6-8 years time.
Ti is nice, but is waaaaay over-rated as a frame material. I'd go carbon in the latest up-to-the-minute spec, then review the situation in 4 or 5 years.
Custom....Nah. Unless you are a monkey with extremely out of the ordinary proportions, custom is a very expensive way of riding a bike.
Money no object? Get a Scott carbon with Di2 or whatever the Shimano electric groupset is called.
Money getting a bit tighter? Get a high end carbon Colnago/Scott/Pinarello/insert flash manufacturer with the top of the range Shimano or Campag groupset on it.
Currently contemplating either a Sabbath or an Enigma road bike. I already have a couple of US made Ti frames (Cove Hummer and Ibis Silk Ti) while my missus has an Airborne. To be honest, the Airborne looks and rides just as nicely for a lot less money. I'm about to send back a Cove Hummer as an aluminium insert was used in the frame construction and Litespeed have offered under warranty to reinsert the insert if they can save it or cut out the head tube and charge me for the privilege. Cue one shortened top tube and one very unhappy customer. Frankly, I'd rather have a Taiwanese or Chinese frame builder who turns out a higher volume of frames build my bike than a yank who'll charge me more for the privilege. 
A mate has a custom DeSalvo crosser- lovely bike painted up by Spectrum but the clearances for the discs are paper thin.
Of course, if money is no object, there is always Robin Matther if you want a full custom UK made machine. His steel creations are mighty fine. I would expect his Ti ones to be equally as nice.
Cheers
Sanny
Titus makes some very lovely Ti road frames, amongst other the Solera.
Have a look on their website.
And speaking of Titus, if you are lucky enough to fit a 54cm frame, Fattreadbikes have one Solera on sale for £700!!!!!! (down from £2000)
It is the 07 frame, mate built one up and it is superb.
http://www.fattreadbikes.co.uk/offers
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