"Jay Beattie" <
[email protected]> writes:
> "Tim McNamara" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:m2llipu9l1.fsf@Stella-
> Blue.local...
>> Eurastus <
[email protected]> writes:
>>
>> > You asked for the best? Richard Sachs, without a doubt.
>>
>> Wonderful frames. But the best without a doubt? Well,
>> that's not so clear. Chris Kvale, Richard Moon, Bilenky,
>> etc are all great frames and rival Sachs.
>>
>> > As for me, I lusted after one for several years (like
>> > 20+) but when it came down to it, I couldn't stomach
>> > the 2 1/2 year wait. I went with a Ritchey Road Logic
>> > steel frame/fork instead. Not custom made, not lugged,
>> > and not made in the US (though finished and painted
>> > here). It set me back $929 with custom paint and took 2
>> > months from order to delivery. That's a little longer
>> > than normal for them, but Ritchey changed shop
>> > locations and warehouses in the middle of the order.
>> > Normally it's 4-5 weeks.
>> >
>> > Couldn't be happier. It's a dream ride (some say it
>> > rivals the Sachs) and actually weighs less. Tthe paint
>> > and finish work are nice, but not Sachs/Bell quality.
>> > I'm satisfied for the money I spent.
>>
>> I have a Ritchey Road Classic (all fillet brazed) which
>> used the same tubes and geometry at the time it was built
>> (Tange Prestige drawn to TR's specs). I bought it used
>> from the guy TR built it for. I'll second Erastus'
>> comments: a superb handling frame, almost telepathic,
>> very sure around twisty turns, over bumpy surfaces and
>> yet stable. A nice balance of handling properties. IMHO
>> you couldn't go wrong with a TR frame.
>
> Tim, you are getting a little too zen here. Let me say it
> again with even more emphasis than usual: it is just metal
> fabrication. Two bikes with the same material and the same
> geometry are going to ride the same.
You seem to be reading something into my comments, Jay, that
isn't there. I'm just commenting on the Ritchey's ride and
noting that it is the same geometry and tubes as the Logic
frames- however, mine is old enough that it was made with
Prestige tubing whereas the new ones are made with different
tubes, since Prestige is no longer available. FWIW the
choice of frame material has little if any effect on how the
bike rides (a horse that's been thrashed many times
already). TR's mass produced frames ride just the same as
his handbuilt ones.
Ritchey's geometry shows his years of experience yielding
the best riding bike I've ever ridden- far superior IMHO to
any Reparto Corsa Bianchi, any Colnago, any Fondriest, any
Trek, any Cannondale, etc, that I've ever ridden or raced
on. It's the best handling bike I've ever ridden, bar none.