So I've been pondering for a while what to do about my next purchase, which will in essence really be my first purchase, after two used c. 1988 bikes (Centurion, Bianchi- both with the dreaded Biopace rings!). Although I've only been riding seriously the last three years or so, it's been like eating tree-bark and wearing rags the last year, especially since the fit on the Bianchi is less than ideal. Thought I could pick up something a little newer and better used, but it seems like demand far exceeds supply and I'm too damn impatient. I'm not too well-versed or experienced with all the new componentry and materials available, but I'm pretty sure I want to stay away from Al and CF. My mind's made up to get a new, custom-fit ride and I've decided I want to go with IF after reading all the posts and reviews and perusing the website. The dilemma is whether to go with the Crown Jewel or the Planet X, and also Ti or Steel. My main riding objectives are long, often hilly road trips (centuries, doubles, light touring, no real interest in racing) but I also want to commute year round and like the idea of being able to throw studded Nokians on the CX bike. In a perfect world I'd just plunk down 10 grand and get 2 Ti bikes, but my budget is probably about half that. My alternatives as I see it are-

1) Buy the Ti CX with decent gruppo (Ultegra, DA?) and extra set of wheels and use it year-round. Most of what i've read suggests that little is lost in performance and handling for road racing compared to the Crown Jewel...My concern: will I still want the Jewel?

2) Ti CJ for 3 season use and cheap used CX bike as becomes available for winter '05 use...My concern: If I can't find a used CX, i'll be tempted to spend 800$ or more on a stop gap new cross bike (Surly or LeMond?) and still want the Planet X...

3) Both frames steel with entry-level components and wheelsets to be added/upgraded as funds allow. This would undoubtedly be over my budget but purchases would be six or more months apart, allowing just about enough time to save up $$. My concern: New $$$teel bike for winter use, compromise on both bikes, never knowing Ti...

4) Oh yeah, keep riding what I've got and hope that a good deal or two from RBR or ebay falls into my lap and meanwhile ignore the aches and pains and self-deprivation of not having a proper bike ...My concern: Not getting any younger, another season in purgatory...

Am I taking too big a leap here, not even having ridden a new, mid $ level, properly-sized bike and contemplating such an investment? I feel like I'm skipping one step in the natural progression of things. I'm liable to prematurely ejaculate the first time I ride something as sweet as this! Do I even deserve this? Or I may not like the feel of titanium....yeah right?

I know whatever I do I can always sell what I don't like but I want to get it right the first time. Anyone out there have any similar situation or experience?

If I had a short commute, and "year round" meant I was going to ride every day regardless of the weather, then I'd be getting a road bike and keeping one of my clunkers for the commute. I don't like the idea of putting my good road bike the abuse of commuting. If my commute was the bulk of my riding, and I lived someplace where the weather was very favorable, then the idea of setting up a nice CX bike for commuting would be pretty attractive. IOW, it depends on your goals and situation details.

as usual.

First off, determine where the majority of your hours are going to be spent......communting or road riding. If you have $5,000 to spend, then allocate $3,500 (or so) to the type of riding you will do the most, and $1,500 to the other. You will have more than enough money to end up with two great bikes.

Get Custom fit for the more expensive bike. If necessary, pay two different people to give you fittings, compare the results, ask questions of each and use it as an opportunity to learn as much as you can about why each fitter made the decisions they made........figure out what makes the most sense to you and order the bike thru that fitter. Learn from the experience, it will help you in all future bike buys.

You have two extremes of choices in spending your money, more on the frame, less on the components and build, or more on the components, less on the frame. If it's me, and I plan to keep the frame, I'd go 50/50 it gives you flexibility. For wheels, (where you can eat up a large part of your budget if you are not careful, Start off with a set of hand built OP's (or the like), laced to good hubs........they are reasonable in cost, relativly light and bomb proof..........You can always upgrade later to something more Cha/Cha but you will always have a good set of backup wheels. For the group, remember that once you get above a certain level of components (105 in the shimano line) there is a diminshing returns in improvements vs cost. For Shimano either 105 or Ultegra are the best buys. Ultegra 10 will be overpriced in the near term since it just came out. You can get a great buy on leftover 9 speed if you shop and this will be more than adequate for the forseeable future. Again, it's an area you can upgrade in pieces as you movethru time.

Make sure you keep the detail spec sheet on your custom ride. Ride the hell out of the custom, tweak your position until it's absolutly dialed in........determine what you don't like about the bike you got, and what you do.......believe me there will be some of each. (I learned in my first custom that I really didn't like having the look of 2 cm of spacers, even though it didn't affect the ride of the bike, consequently, my next bike had the same position on a slightly l"taller" frame). Once you know what the "perfect" geometry is for you, now you are ready to search for your second bike (aimed at the area that you will spend less hours on). Take your time and look used......be patient. Find as many classified sites as you can.

RBR
Spectrum cycles has a great one
The Serotta site has a good one.
EBay if you know what you are doing.
There are many more.

Take your time and you will find a great bike for the remaining money.

One note, if you are doing double, you want a very comfortable bike....look for longer chainstays, slacker angles. A commuter, you want to make sure you have clearance for fenders and bigger tires, and potentially racks.

As to material......that's a personal preference. Maintained steel will last a lifetime....Titanium is bulletproof. Both materials can be mainipulated to be either super stiff or super comfortable or any combination thereof..........However while Ti will be marginally lighter, it will be much more expensive. You will get a much better bang for the buck on a steel buy.

Hope this helps.

Len

Am I taking too big a leap here, not even having ridden a new, mid $ level, properly-sized bike and contemplating such an investment? I feel like I'm skipping one step in the natural progression of things. I'm liable to prematurely ejaculate the first time I ride something as sweet as this! Do I even deserve this? Or I may not like the feel of titanium....yeah right?

I know whatever I do I can always sell what I don't like but I want to get it right the first time. Anyone out there have any similar situation or experience?

Im facing the same dilemma. Im an MTB'er by "trade" and Ive been riding an '86 vintage Miyata TWO sizes too big mostly for morning rides of under 20 miles and the occasional longer journey. Now in in the market for a new road rig and leaning towards going all out on a bike that many (and sometimes my own conscience) would say is "more bike than I need". Know what? I could care less. Its my money. And if Im willing to ride a road bike that is almost 20 years old and two sizes too big for me for all this time, then I sure as s**t feel Im entitled to and dare I say "deserve" a top o' the line spanking new ride.

I've given up on that theory of who "deserves" a better bike and who doesnt a long time ago. I could care less if a newbie shows up on a Sunday morning with a rig that puts the Cat 3 people or the expert downhillers (if on dirt) to shame. As long as you RIDE the damn thing and dont use it as spot to hang your pants, thats all that really matters. If you got the scratch to buy it and the desire to ride it, GO FOR IT....and dont look back.

As to material......that's a personal preference. Maintained steel will last a lifetime....Titanium is bulletproof. Both materials can be mainipulated to be either super stiff or super comfortable or any combination thereof..........However while Ti will be marginally lighter, it will be much more expensive. You will get a much better bang for the buck on a steel buy.

Hope this helps.

Len

My last Ti bike didn't even last 60,000 miles before it cracked. I sure liked the easy maintenance of the finish though. Except for the decals (and the crack of course) it still looked new when it was in the trash heap.

Still 60k miles isn't bad use out of a frame. Nowdays for whatever reason all my road bikes have steel frames with steel forks. That doesn't mean that I will never ride another frame material again though.

I too like the idea of getting 2 bikes on your budget. Just make sure they fit and you will be good to go until the new bike bug hits again.

get the IF Club Racer. Steel of course.

Get cantis only if you need lots of mud clearance. Otherwise the long reach dual pivot brakes should offer plenty of clearance for fenders and bigger tires.

http://www.ifbikes.com/images2/2004/bike_steel_club_racer_large.jpg

http://www.ifbikes.com/frames2/steelclubracer.shtml

QUOTE]If I had a short commute, and "year round" meant I was going to ride every day regardless of the weather, then I'd be getting a road bike and keeping one of my clunkers for the commute. I don't like the idea of putting my good road bike the abuse of commuting. If my commute was the bulk of my riding, and I lived someplace where the weather was very favorable, then the idea of setting up a nice CX bike for commuting would be pretty attractive. IOW, it depends on your goals and situation details.[/QUOTE]

Current commute is only 4 miles each way, so I can deal with the "clunker" for now to get to work; yeah, no way am I taking a 4-5K bike to work, except maybe once or twice to watch 'em drool...
First off, determine where the majority of your hours are going to be spent......communting or road riding. If you have $5,000 to spend, then allocate $3,500 (or so) to the type of riding you will do the most, and $1,500 to the other. You will have more than enough money to end up with two great bikes.

Problem here is Ti Crown Jewel is 3100$ frameset alone. And I couldn't bring myself to put 105 on something like that (steel CX for commuting, fine), I'd be happy with 9 spd cassette though...I might have to get used to buying mediocre components, upgrading later, and then having a bunch of used parts around that would then justify buying another frame, etc., etc.

get the IF Club Racer. Steel of course.

I just knew someone was going to suggest the Club Racer!! Not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just that I'm the type that likes components more than the all-in-one item. Case in point: back in the hifi days I always had to have separate amp and tuner while everyone else just went out and got a receiver and saved the other 200$. Before I got the Club racer, i'd get the other two bikes, then get the Independence or another touring rig.

I guess I'm leaning towards talking myself into the Ti CJ and by the time I would take delivery the weather would be nice and the bike would be paid for and I know once done I wouldn't regret it. As far as "deserving" it, YGB321 is right, especially since I sped past plenty of Litespeeds and Colnagos this past year (I certainly wouldn't want to give the bike a bad name). "Local" BS I went to is in upscale Chestnut Hill area of Philly. Does IF and other custom builders have agreements that all dealers price the same, or do they vary by region, size, etc. (there is another dealer about the same distance away)?
Hope to finish the decision process and start the fitting process this weekend...