Cycling and bicycle racing discussion forums.   View New Forum Topics
Today's Forum Topics

Set as homepage


Go Back   Cycling Forums > Tech Corner > Cycling Equipment
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Welcome to CyclingForums.com

You are currently viewing our website as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions. You will have to register before you can post to this thread.

By joining our free online community you will have access to post new topics, communicate privately with other cyclingforums.com members (PM), respond to polls, upload photos and access other special features like product reviews and classifieds.


Thrilled with my new bike

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 12-04.-2008, 01:58 AM   #1
rplace13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Baltmore, MD
Posts: 18
Default Thrilled with my new bike

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.

rplace13 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 02:02 AM   #2
rplace13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Baltmore, MD
Posts: 18
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Seeing if I can post multiple pix in one message.




rplace13 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 02:06 AM   #3
rplace13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Baltmore, MD
Posts: 18
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

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.

rplace13 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 03:03 AM   #4
benkoostra
Registered User
 
benkoostra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ballard, WA
Posts: 342
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Beautiful bike. Congratulations!

But it looks like there isn't room for the chain on the inner ring...
benkoostra is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 03:46 AM   #5
Solanog
Registered User
 
Solanog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Costa Rica
Posts: 203
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by benkoostra
Beautiful bike. Congratulations!

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

Great looking bike, congratulations.
If the chainring is that close maybe you can get a different bottom bracket that puts some distance in there.
Solanog is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 04:44 AM   #6
rplace13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Baltmore, MD
Posts: 18
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by benkoostra
Beautiful bike. Congratulations!

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

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.
rplace13 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 04:56 AM   #7
Powerful Pete
Registered User
 
Powerful Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 3,619
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

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!
__________________
De Rosa Planet
Campagnolo Per Sempre!
PAOLO BETTINI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO x 2!
Powerful Pete is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 05:37 AM   #8
benkoostra
Registered User
 
benkoostra's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Ballard, WA
Posts: 342
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by rplace13
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?
benkoostra is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 05:50 AM   #9
rplace13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Baltmore, MD
Posts: 18
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

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.




rplace13 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 06:09 AM   #10
dhk2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Huntsville, AL, USA
Posts: 658
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

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.
dhk2 is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 06:23 AM   #11
Powerful Pete
Registered User
 
Powerful Pete's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Rome, Italy
Posts: 3,619
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by dhk2
....they just replaced it with a brand new frame without asking the customer to pay anything.
Impressive. Now that is customer service...
__________________
De Rosa Planet
Campagnolo Per Sempre!
PAOLO BETTINI CAMPIONE DEL MONDO x 2!
Powerful Pete is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 07:26 AM   #12
Lama
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Just North of Sydney
Posts: 74
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by Powerful Pete
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!
Lama is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 07:37 AM   #13
TheDarkLord
Registered User
 
TheDarkLord's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: The land where the shadows lie
Posts: 3,768
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by dhk2
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).
TheDarkLord is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 12-04.-2008, 10:40 PM   #14
Peter@vecchios
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 599
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

Quote:
Originally Posted by Solanog
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.
Peter@vecchios is offline  
Reply With Quote
Old 14-04.-2008, 11:13 PM   #15
rplace13
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Baltmore, MD
Posts: 18
Default Re: Thrilled with my new bike

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

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.
rplace13 is offline  
Reply With Quote

Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump



All times are GMT +10. The time now is 05:50 PM.


Powered by: vBulletin Copyright © 2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2001 - 2006 cyclingforums.com

Links to websites we like:
Pezcyclingnews | Cyclingnews.com | Wine Zone | iinet