I've rolled about 11,000 miles on my LeChampion ti since purchasing it in the spring of 2010. 30 minutes after opening the box, I was rolling!
I'm quite happy with it and have no complaints.
After some initial adjustments (flipping the stem, putting another seat on it, etc), I've found a fitment that works well for me for commuting and centuries. Last year brought a lot of riding...several centuries including the Six Gap Century in north GA.
I've crashed it a couple of times...one of them resulted in a tweaked RD which I didn't notice until I got back on and cranked on the pedals....."sssnap" went the RD hanger. Luckily, BD stocks them and I had it in a couple of days (available on the BD website). I bought a replacement RD from the LBS.
I put a set of MagicShine lights on which are brilliant and well made. I ride quite a bit in the dark and having a quality set of lights helps out.
The stock Mavic Aksium wheels are high quality...I had them trued last year and the technician said he only made minor adjustments. I just ordered a set of Reynolds Solitude as replacements and will use the Mavics as spares.
After having flats every few hundred miles, I switched to Schwalbe Ultremo DD tires and haven't flatted in several thousand miles. In fact, the front tire I just changed out had not flatted since I put it on over a year ago...about 7000 miles. I just moved to 700x25 on the advice of more experienced riders. I like the bigger tires/lower pressure!
As noted in the above pic, I ran a Specialized Armadillo rear tire for about 5000 miles...no flats and I was happy with it but it was a tough tire to mount..in the end, I decided to got with Schwalbe again.
The Cane Creek brakes are great and worked well, even during the thrilling descent down HogPen Gap. (not my video). I have changed the front pads once...I replaced whatever came on them with Kwik Stop salmon pads (before the Six Gap).
I've not serviced the BB. The drivetrain gets wiped down and lubed every 150-200 miles and major cleaning (degreased to like new condition) every 500 miles or so.
The FSA big chainring (mine came with a compact double: 50/34) is worn out...a replacement is on the way.
I have not adjusted the FD and made just a few tweaks to the RD barrel adjuster.
The original chain lasted about 7000 miles, I replaced it with a 105 chain..a new one is on order (may as well swap out the chain when I do the chainrings).
I made my own bike stand which makes some things easier.
Until this week, and other than routine maintenance and cleaning, I've not had to make any real adjustments or replace worn out parts except as noted crash damage.
I've been quite happy with the gearing (50/34 front, 11T-28T rear cassette) although it was tough on some of the Six Gap climbs (I never walked!). I've explored putting a more "mountain oriented" gearing set on...but can't quite find a combo that will work without changing out the chainrings and cassette (can't quite justify the cost since I do just a few hundred miles of mountain riding per year). This year, I'll be riding the Mountains of Misery Double Metric Century, the Savannah Century and the Six Gap. I mention these rides on account of the forum riders who go on and on about this bike or that bike is necessary to do well on a century/crit/group ride. IMO, the bike matters maybe 5%. Rider training is the other 95% of whatever you're doing.
I wish it was easy to get the decals off (or there was a decal delete option when ordering) as I'd rather have no markings on it save for the stem badge.
During a group ride, I had a guy on a Lynskey (a fine bicycle btw) wax on and on about the benefits of Ti and how I should spring the coin for it, blah, blah, blah. He thought my bike was aluminum I reckon (fine by me!). Other than that, I've not had any bike snobs say anything about my mail order bike (I'd tell them to shove it).
I highly recommend this model and don't be put off by the "assembly"..it took just a few caveman tools and 20 minutes of light work to get it rolling out of the box (unpacking took 10 minutes).
I'm quite happy with it and have no complaints.
After some initial adjustments (flipping the stem, putting another seat on it, etc), I've found a fitment that works well for me for commuting and centuries. Last year brought a lot of riding...several centuries including the Six Gap Century in north GA.
I've crashed it a couple of times...one of them resulted in a tweaked RD which I didn't notice until I got back on and cranked on the pedals....."sssnap" went the RD hanger. Luckily, BD stocks them and I had it in a couple of days (available on the BD website). I bought a replacement RD from the LBS.
I put a set of MagicShine lights on which are brilliant and well made. I ride quite a bit in the dark and having a quality set of lights helps out.
The stock Mavic Aksium wheels are high quality...I had them trued last year and the technician said he only made minor adjustments. I just ordered a set of Reynolds Solitude as replacements and will use the Mavics as spares.
After having flats every few hundred miles, I switched to Schwalbe Ultremo DD tires and haven't flatted in several thousand miles. In fact, the front tire I just changed out had not flatted since I put it on over a year ago...about 7000 miles. I just moved to 700x25 on the advice of more experienced riders. I like the bigger tires/lower pressure!
As noted in the above pic, I ran a Specialized Armadillo rear tire for about 5000 miles...no flats and I was happy with it but it was a tough tire to mount..in the end, I decided to got with Schwalbe again.
The Cane Creek brakes are great and worked well, even during the thrilling descent down HogPen Gap. (not my video). I have changed the front pads once...I replaced whatever came on them with Kwik Stop salmon pads (before the Six Gap).
I've not serviced the BB. The drivetrain gets wiped down and lubed every 150-200 miles and major cleaning (degreased to like new condition) every 500 miles or so.
The FSA big chainring (mine came with a compact double: 50/34) is worn out...a replacement is on the way.
I have not adjusted the FD and made just a few tweaks to the RD barrel adjuster.
The original chain lasted about 7000 miles, I replaced it with a 105 chain..a new one is on order (may as well swap out the chain when I do the chainrings).
I made my own bike stand which makes some things easier.
Until this week, and other than routine maintenance and cleaning, I've not had to make any real adjustments or replace worn out parts except as noted crash damage.
I've been quite happy with the gearing (50/34 front, 11T-28T rear cassette) although it was tough on some of the Six Gap climbs (I never walked!). I've explored putting a more "mountain oriented" gearing set on...but can't quite find a combo that will work without changing out the chainrings and cassette (can't quite justify the cost since I do just a few hundred miles of mountain riding per year). This year, I'll be riding the Mountains of Misery Double Metric Century, the Savannah Century and the Six Gap. I mention these rides on account of the forum riders who go on and on about this bike or that bike is necessary to do well on a century/crit/group ride. IMO, the bike matters maybe 5%. Rider training is the other 95% of whatever you're doing.
I wish it was easy to get the decals off (or there was a decal delete option when ordering) as I'd rather have no markings on it save for the stem badge.
During a group ride, I had a guy on a Lynskey (a fine bicycle btw) wax on and on about the benefits of Ti and how I should spring the coin for it, blah, blah, blah. He thought my bike was aluminum I reckon (fine by me!). Other than that, I've not had any bike snobs say anything about my mail order bike (I'd tell them to shove it).
I highly recommend this model and don't be put off by the "assembly"..it took just a few caveman tools and 20 minutes of light work to get it rolling out of the box (unpacking took 10 minutes).