On May 17, 7:19 am, Ozark Bicycle
<
[email protected]> wrote:
> On May 16, 8:30 pm, Sir Ridesalot <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Hi there.
>
> > The message I sent earlier about this frame has not appeared yet. I
> > hope this one appears quickly as time is short.
>
> > I have a chance to get a Vitus frame circa 1980s that looks to be in
> > excellent shape. I remember these frames with a great deal of
> > fondness. It includes the bottom bracket and headset.
>
> Other than an historical aspect, there is very little to recommend
> these frames, IMO; they are not particularly light, particularly
> durable nor particularly attractive. In it's time, it's claim to fame
> was it's lightweight, but it is not light by modern standards.
You mean the modern standard of a $2000 CF frame? Other than that,
they're still pretty light and they're more comfortable than a
contemporary aluminum frame, or even a 20 year old Cannondale. My bike
is about 18lbs, but I do use lightwieght parts on it such as
lightweight tubulars and old school rims. Most of the other parts are
also on the lighter side.
> Also, at 180lbs, you are at the upper limit as a rider for these
> frames. Failures can be 'spectacular'.
Are you saying that at 180 the OP is likely to push the bike towards
its upper limit, with the probability of a "spectacular" failure? Is
the probability of spectacular failure higher than that of a CF frame
with a few years on it? My gut feeling is that the probability of a
spectacular failure is lower than a CF frame or fork; debonding of the
tubes is the most likely failure, which is probably not catastrophic.
Nevertheless, there are some legitimate questions about this bike such
as high speed handling. I haven't noticed a problem but I don't push
it down mountain switchbacks. I would definitely recommend the bike to
someone my size or smaller looking for an inexpensive way to build a
light, comfortable roadbike. For 180 lbs, I don't know- not for
racing, but it could be a good way to build a bike that is very
comfortable to ride for a fraction of the cost of titanium or CF. I
don't think classic steel frames in the same price range would match
the Vitus for comfort. It's definitely more comfortable than my 70s
Colnago or PX10.