this is by far the most hilarious quote i have ever seen on fixed dot org! bravo!
This is clearly ‘your’ best frame, but it’s not everyone’s best frame, and it’s certainly not the ‘best frame in the world, period’ by a long way.
Likewise, straight blade forks are not the be all and end all of frame design. Hundreds of years and millions of bikes prove otherwise. An elegant curve close to the dropouts with fine blades will absorb road shock very well, without the weight or complexity of suspension. You can make a fork (or frame) as stiff and as non compliant as you like, but handling/traction, power application and rider comfort will suffer.
(I have better bikes than you. And I’m not kidding myself.)
I’m not.
What’s the point of discussing it given “anyone else would be kidding themselves if they said their bike was better.”
In any case, Colnagos are overrated IMO. THere are plenty of frames that are as good as, and better than Colnago. Especially since better is entirely subjective.
alright lets try this again, as it didnt work before.
i didnt make myself entirely clear and so yes i can see the stupidity in my comments.
all my comments were in reference to similar large scale produced lugged steel frames of the last 30 odd years. to compare a bike that comes in factory sizes to a custom made by yates would be pretty stupid now wouldnt it.
and atnan, principia?:
cant be that good if you can buy it off PBK
This is my favourite bit:
Don’t worry bro, you seriously don’t look like a show off.
The fact that you ride a 1998 hybrid with Shimano doesn’t really suprise me.
If you’re going to show off, at least make it worthwhile. Like a Confente or something. I’d say there are many many bikes owned by f.dot.org users that are ‘better’.
I notice a difference between every new race bike I get EVERY year. Advances are very clear.
+1
No disrespect but . . . soz babe.
Thank god for other people.
A Confente really would be showing off.
Don’t be so daft. It’s an old spare bike now.
Colnago, Meh
Its a bike for 45 year old bankers with a paunch who ride on Sundays.
If somebody put a 1998 Hybrid Giant, a Merckx and a Colnago in front of me, i know which one i’d take.
Precious much? :lol:
On the topic of shipping… I got a frame and fork shipped from Miami, Florida to Melburn city for lik 90 us dorrars. Seemed pretty good to me. took about 10 days to get here.
yep, frame and fork can go usps no problems, and the weight is low. is that the method that you used?
come on folks. this was an interesting discussion (especially for one who occasionally races on a bike that was last relevant in the 90s), but now it’s just namecalling. i know it’s the internet, but lift your games.
Ok. As far as old equipment being ‘competitive’, here’s my cutoffs:
Clipless vs clips/straps: No contest, Greg Lemond may have been a holdout, but these permeated through the peleton incredibly quickly due to the vast improvement in power application.
Indexed shifting: Not such a big deal until STI/Ergopower was introduced. Major advantage given to crits / sprinting.
Steel / Alu / Carbon frames: Lighter / stiffer, sure, but the advantages of the latest CF frame to an excellent steel frame (eg Max / 853, built by a skilled builder) will only really become clear at Open A Grade / Pro level.
So, a good steel frame with 8sp STI rolling on handbuilt wheels (eg Ultegra/Open Pro) with open tubulars (Veloflex, Challenge etc) is just as competitive for the vast majority of racers, the rest is fitness and technique. Plus, the frame won’t fail catastrophically (carbon) or by fatigue (aluminium).
A few items that don’t really provide significant performance improvements (IMHO, for 99% of riders)
9/10/11 speed. External BBs. CF rims, ultralight wheels. Ceramic bearings. 31.8mm bars.
Disclosure: I race/ride an alu/carbon Felt F55 with 10sp Dura-Ace on the road, and a Columbus Brain Kenevans with a mishmash of Record, SRAM, Shimano on the track, but have a great appreciation for handmade steel and ‘obsolete’ running gear.
Yeah, but what about Aerospokes and Spinergy’s? 
I don’t often disagree with you Blakey but the above points you are way off. I invite you to come and take my road bike for a ride any time to prove my point. The difference of a ‘top end’ carbon road bike running carbon tub wheels with ceramic bearings is like going from a Datson road car to highly strung V8Supercar etc Chalk and Cheese. Tight, stiff, harsh and responsive and some of the words I’d use to describe my race bike.
its a bit odd to talk about what is and what is not an acceptable technological advancement when we are a forum that is built around people who insist on riding track racing bikes as commuters 