Custom steel road bike (Rychtarski !)

Ask @hulsroy @Konga and other über steelwork brazers

@coldharbour might also be able to share an opinion on the matter.

I have a full Max Rychtarski and isnt a harsh ride for my 60-65 kgs. Plus Max is oval shaped therefore more bling so obviously choose that

a layback seatpost might also remove harshness ;)

Thanks - can you share the geo? Also what is your wheel/ tyre choice?

Lolwut, don't get me redrawing this thing! I'll go mad.

They have more Columbus tube sets in stock, so the choice is between :

Life
Zona
Spirit
Max

Or a combo of the above. Think I'm gonna have a late night deciding.

He's right, they genuinely do, can't remember where but someone did a test and it's quite a big difference.

Changing the geo would literally be a case of changing the ST angle though, not a big deal, you could even argue that it'd make the Seatstays longer, therefore more vertically compliant ;)

I'd go with what @drøn said but with a reversed max top tube, if Cannondale's "with metal, having a strong top tube is actually the key" thinking* is true

*this may not be a direct quote

http://velonews.competitor.com/2012/12/training-center/technology/from-the-pages-of-velo-getting-the-most-from-your-post_267560/3 maybe?

that's the one, that said, with the size of this frame it may end up looking a bit odd; still, if this is a all-road bike, I'd be willing to make the sacrifice

Following on same theme as @laner .. 42c tyres would take out all the harshness too .. and long drop brakes/disc brakes and full 'guards ;)

FWIW I rode Rychtarski Max straight after CAAD10 and no matter how 'stiff' steel gets its not as harsh as alu. Go for all Max everything.

This frameset. 55 effective TT, 50 St. 75° ST and 75° HT.

Has been ridden with TB14s and 25s as well as 19mm rims (Ellipse and carbon clincher as shown) with 23s. Wider TB14s are definitely more comfortable but neither feel too harsh

Edit: Also has a fat wishbone stay that Im not sure would make it stiffer or less stiff?

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I don't know why but my thron road bike seems more harsh than alu frame+ fork track bike. Both about same size and same wheels.

Or a combo of the above.

I vote combo. Using one tubeset does mean you can put a tubeset sticker on it. Otherwise though isn't it more custom and better fitting for a 'nice' bike to have a custom mix?

I'd go reversed Max top tube and Max chain stays, then lighter tubesets for the rest. I could come up with a rational if you want, but the truth is it is based on looks more than anything.

Ask builder again to choose the right tubing accordingly to your weight and riding style.

Mainly so it'll feel normal when you have rack and panniers on it.

Max down tube and chain stays, spirit OS everything else.

After some intense discussion, I have decided.

I am going for Columbus Spirit everything (other than forks, which will be max with a lugged crown).

So in true LFGSS fashion, after 11 pages I have chosen the same tubes as my inspiration bike from the first post. [facepalm]

The rationale, other than it's my bike so I can have whatever I want, is:

-Geo is most important and I have that dialled, so whatever tubes I choose it'll be good
-Spirit is arguably the most advanced tubeset available now, and I hear it's plenty stiff as well as mega light
-I doubt I need the extra stiffness of max, not in the rear triangle anyway
-I have heard Spirit dents easier than other tubes (e.g. life) but Spirit has a 0.38mm wall thickness in the middle of the top tube, while life goes as low as 0.4mm, so I don't see it being a significant difference
-I reckon I'd regret not getting the 'best' steel tubeset available [I am aware that best is very subjective given rider style and use, etc etc yada yada]

-I was considering max main tubes and spirit chainstays and seatstays, but see above for reasons why I've decided this would be overkill. i'm keen it's not too stiff. Plus light is good for a summer road bike.

Anyhow, I'm excited! Building should start imminently...

I definitely prefer MaX chain stays , although spirit are certainly different.

They look a bit chunky to me - the main draw of max was the out-of-plane main triangle stiffness, but as I said at 70 kg and 5'7" without megawatts of power it seems overkill.

Thanks for all the input btw y'all, it has been an intense day of thinking, but I'm excited about the result.

Wenn nur alles so leicht wäre

Beim Uppsala verwenden wir den extrem leichten Spirit-Rohrsatz von Columbus. Auf Wunsch nutzen wir ein ovales Oberrohr, das eine höhere Seitensteifigkeit bei gleichzeitig höherem Komfort leistet.

Das Unterrohr ist im Tretlagerbereich queroval für eine höhere Seitensteifigkeit und am Steuerrohr hochoval, um die Bremskräfte besser aufzufangen.

Das Ergebnis ist ein sehr leichter und stabiler Rahmen, der alle Möglichkeiten des Rahmenbaus maximal ausnutzt.

Very good decision you weight weenie! Just get the bi oval down tube vertically oval for absorbing braking and horizontally vertical for no noodly pedalling.

Oval top tube might again be less noodly with more comfort.

How much cheaper then this Geman build out of interest? Maybe go with XCr chain stays as well?

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