Let's face it, I have really ridden one bike from nearly every manufacturer (see past bikes link in my signature.) Overall this Litespeed is the best all around bike I have ridden... Until this, the only two metal frames I had ridden were my first bike: Cadillac RLE 1.8 (Heavy and Harsh) and my Scott Speeder (Lighter but not as harsh), but both were aluminum frames that really made me loose faith in the world of metal frames once I got onto a carbon bike.
I needed a wet weather bike and something I could race in a crit and not worry about crashing it so I began looking at aluminum frames again. One of my buddies recommended I find a Ti frame but i knew the expense involved. I then found this Frameset in pretty rough shape with the look fork and Cane Creek Headset listed for 450 on eBay. I offered the guy 400 shipped and we made a deal. It literally took me 3 hours and 2 bottles of machining oil with about 10 maroon scotch brite pads before i was happy with the finish on the frame. For the money I bought it for, I tosses the other fork in my pile of spare parts and ordered the Easton and the chris King, a set of Easton Circuits, and an Ultegra 6700 Group.
Rather than tell you the story of acquiring the bike and the builds I went through I'll get right to the ride review. The Litespeed Frame is flexier than I'm used to but I love it for long rides or rough roads. It seems more vertically compliant than laterally flexy so I think it's a nice balance. Not to mention, nothing compares to the finish of a brushed Ti bike, I LOVE it! The front end was flexy to start with but has been stiffened up quite a bit with the addition of the OS-115 stem and EC90 SL fork so flex is minimal. COuldn't stand the Ultegra Group so I sold it in favor of Campy... Again. The wheels are something else that just make the bike. Dt had it right with the mon-chasserals for anyone under 180, but at 220, I added the deep-v rear and now they're stiff as nails!
Overall, this is one of the greatest bikes I have owned and it will be in my stable for years to come!
2001 Litespeed Arenberg Frame
-Easton EC90 SL (cut 33mm above top bearing race to accommodate 35mm stack height of Stem)
-Chris King Headset
-FSA OS-115 120mm White Stem: Set up +6
-BBB Fiber Race Ergo Handlebars: A bit flexy in the 44cm but for the $69.00 Shipped I paid, I'll live...
-Fizik Microtex white handlebar tape
-Campagnolo Record Shifters w/ 2nd generation White Soft-Grip HUDZ (Thx Lance!)
-Campagnolo Record 3-Piece Aluminum Crank in 175mm 53-39 w/ record carbon BB
-Campagnolo Record Carbon CT Front Dérailleur (Shifts better than Standard IMHO)
-Campagnolo Chorus Rear Dérailleur
-Campy Record Ti Brakes
-Ultra low friction cables
-Centaur Cassette: 12-25
-Wheels: DT Swiss Mon Chasseral 28h wheelset rebuilt in the rear with a velocity Deep-V and Black DT Competition Spokes with Red alloy nipples to match (Great Stiffness!)
-Selle SMP Pro White Saddle
-168gr. Full Titanium seat post (Post, hardware, and cradle are full Ti)
-Vittoria Open Corsa Evo CX White 700x23 tires
-KMC DX10SC
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