Thrilled with my new bike

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After 15+ years of my 7-speed down tube shifting Kestrel 200sc I finally got the itch for a new ride. I put it together over the winter and now have about 300-400 miles on it including a 50 mile ride and a metric century. All I can says is wow, why did I wait so long. The thing climbs effortlessly. It is fast and nimble but requires you to pay attention. I'd guess it is about 5 pounds lighter the my old Kestrel. I am really digging this new bike and feel like a kid again. Oh, I don't think it looks to bad either...but then I am sure I am a bit biased.

Enjoy the bike porn...I got several more if you want to see them, just don't want to bore you.

http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke0.jpg

Seeing if I can post multiple pix in one message.
http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke3.jpg

http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke1.jpg
http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke2.jpg
http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke8.jpg

I posted a message a few months back about how close my crank was the the bottom bracket. Can you believe the bottom bracket is so stiff it does NOT rub? I was amazed.

http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelCrank2.jpg

Beautiful bike. Congratulations!

But it looks like there isn't room for the chain on the inner ring...:o

Beautiful bike. Congratulations!

But it looks like there isn't room for the chain on the inner ring...:o
Great looking bike, congratulations.
If the chainring is that close maybe you can get a different bottom bracket that puts some distance in there.

Beautiful bike. Congratulations!

But it looks like there isn't room for the chain on the inner ring...:o
Sort of hard to explain. That picture is from below the BB looking up. When you are off the bike looking at the crank the chain is on a chain wheel form 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock position...make sense?

In the above picture you are looking at the chain ring and chain stay about the 9 o'clock position. So no chain on at that position...still it is wicked close and I figured it would cut right into the stay during a climb. I cannot believe how stiff the bottom bracket is on this bike. Not a single scratch on the chain stay and I have been on some steep climbs and really mashed on the crank. Wanted to make sure while it is still under waranty.;)

I could not get a different bottom bracket for it because it is a Campy UT crank with outboard, integrated BB cups.

No problems, so I am happy.:)

Congratulations! That is a very nice bike, and you selected the correct group, so I am even more impressed!

Post more pics! All that carbon fiber goodness needs to be shown to the world!

Sort of hard to explain. That picture is from below the BB looking up. When you are off the bike looking at the crank the chain is on a chain wheel form 12 o'clock to 6 o'clock position...make sense?

In the above picture you are looking at the chain ring and chain stay about the 9 o'clock position. So no chain on at that position...still it is wicked close and I figured it would cut right into the stay during a climb. I cannot believe how stiff the bottom bracket is on this bike. Not a single scratch on the chain stay and I have been on some steep climbs and really mashed on the crank. Wanted to make sure while it is still under waranty.;)

I could not get a different bottom bracket for it because it is a Campy UT crank with outboard, integrated BB cups.

No problems, so I am happy.:)Got it!
Is that frame a 56cm?

Frame is a 54. I am 5'10" about a 34-35 inseam. I like a small frame and a lot of seatpost/stem.

Here are some more pix.

http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke5.jpg
http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke6.jpg
http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke7.jpg
http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke9.jpg

Nice bike, and you certainly didn't cheap out on the gruppo! My buddy has an Evoke in all clearcoat CF which looks great as well. Just a quick plug for Kestrel:

Like a lot of bikes with CF rear stays, the dropouts have a joint which is held together with a small flathead screw. Last spring that screw failed on the drive side on his first Kestrel, an '03. The Kestrel dealer LBS couldn't get the broken screw out since it was locktighted in. Kestrel said ship the frame back so they could look at it.

About 2 weeks later a brand new 07 frame arrived with no questions asked. They didn't blame the broken screw on abuse, improper cleaning, wear and tear, or an other warranty exclusion, or drill and tap the hole for an OS screw....they just replaced it with a brand new frame without asking the customer to pay anything.

....they just replaced it with a brand new frame without asking the customer to pay anything.Impressive. Now that is customer service...

Impressive. Now that is customer service...
Its the way it should be.....

I had to have 4 (boarderline shouting) arguments with my LBS & 1 30min 'assertive' discussions with the GIANT rep before I got my frame replaced under warranty due to paint lifting on the frame. Needless to say I dont buy anything from that shop or from Giant any more..... now if they had simply replaced the frame without question, they would both have my business again!

back on subject - yeah you should be thrilled, really flash looking steed you have there, enjoy!

Nice bike, and you certainly didn't cheap out on the gruppo! My buddy has an Evoke in all clearcoat CF which looks great as well. Just a quick plug for Kestrel:

Like a lot of bikes with CF rear stays, the dropouts have a joint which is held together with a small flathead screw. Last spring that screw failed on the drive side on his first Kestrel, an '03. The Kestrel dealer LBS couldn't get the broken screw out since it was locktighted in. Kestrel said ship the frame back so they could look at it.

About 2 weeks later a brand new 07 frame arrived with no questions asked. They didn't blame the broken screw on abuse, improper cleaning, wear and tear, or an other warranty exclusion, or drill and tap the hole for an OS screw....they just replaced it with a brand new frame without asking the customer to pay anything.Good to know that there still exist companies with good customer service. Too often, one hears about how companies use any excuse possible to deny service (if they give any service at all that is).

Great looking bike, congratulations.
If the chainring is that close maybe you can get a different bottom bracket that puts some distance in there.

Not on UT crank with outboard bearings. Don't think it's a problem tho.

Thanks for the kind words about the bike. I Got another 40+ hilly ride in on Sunday and the shifting, even under heavy load, is nothing short of amazing. Also the drive train is very quiet. So fary very impressed with Campy evolution over my old C-Record stuff.

As for Kestrel's customer service I can't say one bad word. They were great. When the shop installed the crank and was concerned about the clearance they got Kestrel on the phone. Lots of back and fort between the shop, me and Kestrel. The frame/crank when back to Kestrel and they put it through the wringer with 3 of their engineers and they said it was good to go. They said if there was any problem it would be covered under warranty. I talked to real people on the phone every time and it was always the brand manager for the entire Kestrel...no low end minions. So either they really care about the customer or they only have one guy working at that joint:eek:

I loved my Kestrel 200sc for over 15 years and this Evoke just seems to everything and then some. Nice to see a company that cares about the little guy these days.

Not on UT crank with outboard bearings. Don't think it's a problem tho.

Are there any spacers or something for adjusting this?

After 15+ years of my 7-speed down tube shifting Kestrel 200sc I finally got the itch for a new ride. I put it together over the winter and now have about 300-400 miles on it including a 50 mile ride and a metric century. All I can says is wow, why did I wait so long. The thing climbs effortlessly. It is fast and nimble but requires you to pay attention. I'd guess it is about 5 pounds lighter the my old Kestrel. I am really digging this new bike and feel like a kid again. Oh, I don't think it looks to bad either...but then I am sure I am a bit biased.

Enjoy the bike porn...I got several more if you want to see them, just don't want to bore you.


I always enjoy bike porn. What would REALLY be great bike porn is if you posted side by side pix of our old Kestrel with the new one.

Sweet bike

Not on UT crank with outboard bearings. Don't think it's a problem tho.
Can't you put a spacer between the cup and the bb shell?

--brett

For anyone wanting to see the old guy put out to pasture here ya go. Early 90s Kestrel 200sc with a mix of C-Record and DuraAce. I know that is not cool, but Campy just did not have the indexed shifting figured out in those early years.

For its day it was quite light around 18 pounds (depending on wheels) pictured with 32 hole hubs front and rear laced radial in the front and 2X in the back DT double butted spokes and alloy niples. Campy Crono tublar rims. I still love the wheel set...wish I could find a way to run them on the new ride...but with an actual freewheel they are a bit dated.

Still a great bike and to date my all time favorite. Lots of crits and road races on that guy. I feel bad not riding it.

Any homebrewers out there...that is my grain mill in the background with the "V" on it.


http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke%2010.jpg

http://mantistech.com/beer/KestrelEvoke%2011.jpg