so to speak--i have decided what i want is a 953 bike so i can enjoy the rain in seattle area and enjoy being a dad (3 and 3 mos) so can leave the bike wet and get to it at midnight or next week, etc.
Essentially i miss steel--i have TI and it is not the same to me.

so i am going with ionic--anyone advise against it?

also any things you wish you had done after the fact (i like the way my look 585 rides so was going to duplicate that geometry) may do a 1cm HT extension so can run less spacers.
thanks
jim

Another one comes to The Light.

Amen!

Does that mean that us that like carbon are "in the dark"?

If you want a 953 bike, I would definitely recommend getting a 953 bike. But don't use "I want to be able to get it wet" as part of your reasoning. I get my non-953 steel bike wet all the time, and I'm not worried about it rusting away into vapor in my lifetime.

Also, headtube extensions are good things. If you need one, get one.

Does that mean that us that like carbon are "in the dark"?

Nooooooooooooooooo. I was referring to the subject of his flip/flop - custom.

Plenty of custom options out there in Carbon-land. :D

soalso any things you wish you had done after the fact (i like the way my look 585 rides so was going to duplicate that geometry) may do a 1cm HT extension so can run less spacers.
thanks
jim

Really be honest with yourself about what you want......both in terms of looks and in terms of ride. Ask the builder what you will be giving up by your choices. Make sure you understand the tradeoffs.

As to Paint......make sure you get something that you will like in a year. The bifggest mistake I see with custom is trying to be so unique with the paint that they go over the top. With a great custom builder.....less is more...subtle is better than garrish....IMO

Good luck.

Len

i have had several steel--and if i don't take care of eack chip, don't flip it and drain it, frame saver it, pull and grease areas etc then rust shows up. i used to have the time--in fact i can spend all day stripping and building a bike--but my new job and the new baby means i won't.

and i am heavy into carbon--have 7, but will get down to 2 or 3. i am going to revisit steel--getting a NOS moser tk2, my choice in production eom 16.5 (because pinarello stuck a carbon monostay on their opera). am selling my r33 because it was not made for me and the TT is 1 cm too long--i can ride it of course, but i notice it is not perfect for me. and i am trying a NOS serotta classique in 853, because once upon a time as a kid all i wanted was a serotta with s-bend stays. after the summer, when the rains return, either the moser or serotta will go, and the ionic will be there for rainy days.

thanks for feedback
jim

As to Paint......make sure you get something that you will like in a year. The bifggest mistake I see with custom is trying to be so unique with the paint that they go over the top. With a great custom builder.....less is more...subtle is better than garrish....IMO

Good luck.

Len

I agree...almost fell into that trap with my custom.

My custom is on the way, flat black with a matte clear coat (power coat) from www.sycip.com Give them a call.

My custom is on the way, flat black with a matte clear coat (powder coat) from www.sycip.com Give them a call.

My custom is on the way, flat black with a matte clear coat (power coat) from www.sycip.com Give them a call.


When that shows up, you must spend some time getting some decent pictures. That paint job sounds very intriguing.

Is 953 a fragile tubeset? I know its strong but thin. Does it dent easily?

Is 953 a fragile tubeset? I know its strong but thin. Does it dent easily?

Not as far as I can tell - it looks to me to be pretty tough stuff.

I know its strong but thin.

It is not strong but thin. Its strength does not exceed that of any other comparable, apples-to-apples steel tube. It's is hard - so yes, it's very dent-resistant, but that doesn't contribute much to overall strength. While I don't see that it has any advantages over S3 or similarly lightweight tubesets, it would be a great choice for a lightweight steel hardtail mountain bike. The corrosion resistance is nice in this regard, too.

I agree...almost fell into that trap with my custom.

But then you went with that awesome Lazer Copper color, no? :D

Jim

Columbus has a new stainless steel tubeset out now

Columbus XCR
http://www.bikelugs.com/tubingspecs.html

Columbus has a new stainless steel tubeset out now

Columbus XCR
http://www.bikelugs.com/tubingspecs.html

i don't have the materials/engineering background to compare it to 953?
jim

I saw a picture a while back on a different forum of a Pegoretti built up with the new Columbus stainless tubes. Looked nice although this one had a crazy paint job. Very expensive I'm sure. You might be able to search it up.

Ionic is interesting, and their $1,500 price doesn't seem to bad for a 953 frame (did I just say that?)