"There's nothing ""unreal"" about a ti bike. It's low maintenance, won't rust, is light and strong.

I had one, which I ordered through Sid's on 34th Street. It fit well, rode well and I got many compliments on it. No complaints whatsoever. I put a lot of mileage into it, racing and training. Very comfortable.

It's not flashy, like some other bikes in the same price range, but it is unique. It's not a bike you see coming and going, especially beyond the East Coast, which is important to some people. I'd say read the IF website to get some info about the company. If their boutique-y, slightly ""alternative"" nature appeals to you, it may very well be the bike for you.

"

My Litespeed Tuscany (titanium) is my favorite bike. I also have a Trek 5200 (carbon) and previously, an aluminum. The TI handles well, is lightweight and STRONG! It was the bike I was riding in my November crash and has been blown around on my roof rack! There is no damage on my frame and I've had it since 4/2000. I believe it will last me a lifetime. I commute to work over potholes and cobblestone ... have ridden it through three Bike New Yorks at the front line.

I feel safe on the bike. I don't know if the Trek would hold up as well. Having been fit properly helped in the comfort of the bike as well. There is no vibration when I ride it and I ride many miles at a time.

It reigns supreme!

Also, if you travel alot, a titanium bike doesn't need to be painted. You won't have to worry about a new paint job. Cleaning is also easier.

Besides Robin, I know others who ride IF and they love them. In choosing a bike manufacturer, I believe geometry differs. Tom Kellog is a great frame builder who has a special deal with Merlin ... Tom measures you and Merlin builds the frame (I was told this last weekend actually). Tom's shop is in PA. A friend is having a bike built by Tom and bringing it back to the UK.

diane goodwin

"I would say that IF does nothing more (or less) than any other custom frame manufacturer at similar price range. Last I knew the ti welder and business manager came from the original Merlin family, others came from Chris Chance. I think their design philosophy favors a slightly more slack seat tube angle, but since they do full custom it's basically up to your fitter to get it right.

Reasons I went with IF: Full custom. A little more esoteric than some other selections. the shot-peened finish is indescribable and (mind you, this is only my personal opinion) the best damn looking welds I've ever seen on a ti frame. Employee owned operation. I really liked the logo design.

Only thing I would do differently is get a slightly sloping top tube (just for aesthetic reasons)

Recently VeloNews visited both the Seven and IF factories. Their distinguishing difference: ""When we were given the factory tours, at seven we were handed a pair of safety gogles, at IF we were handed a tall, frosty pint of beer."" Based on that alone, I would go IF"

sorry, double-post

"In regards to a custom bike, the framebulder's job is to create something with the best possible fit, suited to the rider's type of riding and personal preferences. If the framebuilder does the job right, the person it was made for should love it.

The two things to condsider are:
1) Fit. The best reason to go custom is that you can't find a stock bike or frame on which you feel comfortable. I had this problem because I have long legs; every bike shop pointed me towards a bike with a long seat tube, which meant it would also have top tube too long for me. The smaller frame would be fine for the top tube but would feel too small under me. A custom fit solved this.

2) Ride characteristics. Assuming you can find a bunch of bikes/frames that actually fit you in terms of seat tube and top tube, how do you want it to ride? Do you feel beaten up after a century? Do you want lightning-quick handling? If you only fit a handful of stock bikes, your choices are limited.

So a custom bike can help you work these things out. If you've never owned a bike that had ""perfect"" fit with ride and handling characteristics that you really wanted, a custom frame is probably the answer. I'm convinced that matching these needs is far more important that what material your bike is made from. There's no point in a $7000 carbon/Ti/Al2 dream machine that weighs 15 lbs. if you're not comfortable--you'll just ride better on a bike that fits you properly (would you buy a pair of shoes that were too big/small but looked great?)
"

As the person who has sold more custom Ti IF’s than anyone on the planet, let me share some of my insight.

I agree that the primary reason for purchasing a custom bike should be to assure that the fit is as close to perfect as possible. Finding a builder (and shop) that understand the principles of geometry, as it relates to fitting, it of the utmost importance.

Equally important is to make sure that the builder has the accurate information concerning your riding style, preferred handling characteristics, and comfort requirements. Let me explain.

Questions that effect the final design can be some of the following:
Your weight and physical dimensions? (tube diameter, wall thickness, geometry)
Do you prefer to climb seated or standing? (do you need a stiffer frame for out of the saddle climbing and sprinting?)
Do you peddle through corners or coast? (toe to front wheel overlap/head tube angle, fork angle)
Do you prefer a more stable bike, or faster handling? (wheelbase, head tube angle, fork angle)
Performance vs. comfort? (lower handlebar height for decrease in wind resistance, Wider bar for more leverage)

These are just a few of the things that need to be considered. Other considerations by the builder might be:

Wheel size (650, 700)
Bottom bracket drop (the location of the bottom bracket from the ground)
Top tube slope (sloping top tubes decrease the amount of material and increase stiffness, but are a poor choice for a heavier rider who climbs in the saddle, due to seat post flex)
Seat stay shape and size (effects vibration damping)
Fork material (carbon fiber or steel, steel has excellent damping characteristics)


Ti VS. Steel

Firstly, steel and ti actually weigh about the same. Ti is stronger, therefore it can be machined thinner. That is where the weight savings comes from.

Ti is also extremely resistant to denting, scratching or rusting. Good custom steel frames are very thin, and will rust unless you are very careful to treat them often with an internal rust inhibiter. They are also very likely to get dinged up in a crash.

Ride quality: You would be hard pressed to notice the difference between a good custom ti or steel bike. Although the ti bike might be lighter and have slightly better vibration dampening.

What about Seven, Merlin, Serotta? All great bikes. I think the most important thing is to choose the builder that will build you YOUR bike, not THEIR bike.

Do you need an IF ti? NO! no one does. But as the owner of one I will tell you, you do not buy a bike like this because you need it. You buy it because you love to ride, and want something that matches your personality. I would recommend one to anyone with money to burn, and a desire to have something made just for you. Call it what it is, self indulgence. But boy does it feel good!