Query:

A fairly bad cycling accident I recently experienced has forced me to significantly reduce my other athletic pursuits (displaced comminuted clavicle fracture) . Solution?: More riding of course. As a consequence, I find myself riding much longer distances than I had previously and setting my sights on several double centuries (and perhaps the Furnace Creek 508). I still ride my old Klein Quantum Pro which I have always liked, but find a bit fatiguing after 80 or more miles, and I am downright begging for a gel saddle and back massage monkey by mile 100 or 125. Some friends recommended the F4:13. As I don't have access to a test ride that I can take for more than 20-30 minutes, I don't really know what this bike is going to feel like after several hours. Are there any F4:13 owners out there who are putting in long hours and might be able to offer me some guidance? Please note: I love climbing and I want to get as much of a climbing machine as I can get in a frame that i can ride all day. (Yeah, I know that is asking for a lot). Also, I am on a budget, so I plan to build out the frame with the 9-speed DA off my Klein.

Grateful for any guidance,

/jg

RX: Properly sized Colnago C50 used or new. It's magic.

RX: Properly sized Colnago C50 used or new. It's magic.

Thanks for the thought. I'll investigate.

Cheers.

with over 5k of climbing. It's definitely a strong climbing bike but I'm sure there are more comfortable carbon frames out there that are a lot cheaper. I think it's a great balance between stiffness and comfort with fairly low weight. I didn't feel beat up at all, but I'm tall and weigh 195 which helps.

If you want a frame that you don't see every day I would highly recommend it, but you can find a Giant TCR to test ride and they have a great value/performance ratio. I owned a 2003 TCR carbon and it's a great all-around frame. My only complaints were that it was a bit noodly in the XL size I had and I also thought the handling was a little twitchy. The F4:13 is stiffer and while it still handles crisply I think it's more neutral.

with over 5k of climbing. It's definitely a strong climbing bike but I'm sure there are more comfortable carbon frames out there that are a lot cheaper. I think it's a great balance between stiffness and comfort with fairly low weight. I didn't feel beat up at all, but I'm tall and weigh 195 which helps.

If you want a frame that you don't see every day I would highly recommend it, but you can find a Giant TCR to test ride and they have a great value/performance ratio. I owned a 2003 TCR carbon and it's a great all-around frame. My only complaints were that it was a bit noodly in the XL size I had and I also thought the handling was a little twitchy. The F4:13 is stiffer and while it still handles crisply I think it's more neutral.

The medium giant isn't perfect too and the sizes are very limiting. At my height 5'11" I was in no mans land on the medium and the bike felt very uncomplimentary.

Depends on your weight. I found that the F4:13 beat me up on rough roads, but I weigh 145lbs during the season. I was able to get in a few rides and it always felt pretty jarring. I have ridden alot of carbon bikes over the past year (C-Dale Six13, Fondriest Carbon Lex, Look 585, F4:13, Look 481SL) and found the F4:13 to be much more of a stiff, powerful, rough-riding bike than any of the others. I am obviously not a guy who needs a stiff, powerful bike at my weight. If you want a Pinarello (and who doesn't), check out the Marvel for a smooth ride, Dogma (standard, you can get a great price on one right now) or maybe the new Paris (sorry, I haven't ridden that one).

Thanks,

I've received a few similar comments from some friends. I think I have been operating on the (uneducated) assumption that carbon frames always offer superior dampening properties. I'm learning that ride qualities vary among carbon frames as much as other construction materials. Consequently, I am leaning towards your advice to pick up a Dogma or a Paris. I'm close to your weight at 158 and am starting to worry about finding the F4:13 too jarring over time.

Thanks a bunch for your advice.

/jg