Ellsworth Handcrafted Bicycles Flight

Price Paid:  $0.00 at purchaced used

Favorite Ride:
Ellsworth Flight

Bike Setup:
Flight, Dura-Ace, FiR/Edco wheels

Summary:
A really nice frame. A no-nonsense road frame with good blend of low weight and nice ride. An all-around bike.

One weakness- the headset is the integrated type, just not the best design (on -any- frame), it creaks. Check the Chris King site for good analysis against integrated designs.

here

To the earlier poster with copmlaints about finish, fit, etc.: I have not had any problems with frame straightness, and the finish is good--simple anodized aluminum looks great, wears well.

Strengths:
weight, ride

Weaknesses:
integrated headset (weakness of many new frames)

Similar Products Used:
Rocky Mountain Turbo

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Markleeville Death Ride

Bike Setup:
2000 green 59cm Flite, AME Alpha-Q carbon fork w/42mm rake, Cane Creek headset, FSA Carbon Pro crank

Summary:
I have at least 7000 miles and 40 century rides on this frame and it still looks new (including the stickers). It is a joy to ride each and every time. Steering is quick, yet stable at high speeds. The ride is plenty comfortable for centuries, yet it is stiff in the bottom bracket and chain stays for maximum energy transfer. As setup, it weighs in at an honest 16.9 lbs including pedals, cages, odometer, and 23mm clinchers (16.5 lbs would be easily achieveable with lighter pedals, stem, seatpost, saddle, etc). I have often switched between the Flite and my similarly equipped '99 Trek 5500 USPS. They are astonishingly similar in ride and handling characteristics... which seems amazing considering the difference in frame material. The Flite has a bit better road feel but transmits slightly more vibration than the Trek at higher speeds. The Trek weighs about 1 lb more (about half of which is due to the frame). I have yet to find any other frame in the same price range that beats the Flite's combination of low mass with excellent ride and handling. Why anyone would pay nearly three times as much for a Colnago C40 frame that actually weighs more beats me. The Trek 5900 frame weighs a tiny bit less, but will cost you at least $1K more. The only thing I worry about is the remote possibility of denting or creasing the tubes of the main triangle at their midpoints where they are the thinnest, which is generally not a concern on carbon fiber frames.

Strengths:
Very lightweight; ride is firm but not harsh; responsive handling; anodized finish is very scratch resistant, durable, and low maintenance

Weaknesses:
More vulnerable to impact damage than carbon fiber

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5500

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Hills

Bike Setup:
Dura Ace, Mavic Classics Pro, Reynolds Ouzo Pro

Summary:
Nice bike, as long as your not a perfectionist Italiano/Euro convert. Had the same prob. As Dave above; Rear triangle too tight too fit wheel. But I took the unorthodox approach of trimming down the chainstay bridge (which in my opinion is a vestigial structure any how) And all is well. Steers sharp. And having surpassed 54 mp/h on this baby, I can vouch for it's stability.Vibration was seriously killing my feet and crotch till I switvhed the Era saddle to a WTB comfort zone, and the spd pedals to Be-bops and Carnac shoes. Alleviated the jarring. Be sure you can handle alu. before you buy. This bike will sprint and corner on rails, but avoid it if you need a cush-tush ride.

Strengths:
Carves corners perfectly. Frame strength- Took a head-on 18mp/h crash-Unscathed.

Weaknesses:
Still carries aluminums achilles heel- tad rough.

Similar Products Used:
Litespeed Ultimate, Merlin, 753.

Price Paid:  $2400.00 at dome los alamos,nm

Bike Setup:
ultegra components mavic open pro rims panaracer stradius tires reynolds ouzo pro fork look 206 clipless pedals terry fly y saddle forma 3t handle bars

Summary:
for a casual rider this bike really performs. i live on rough streets and it handles all the bumps. i weigh over 220 and it shoots me down the road with speed and stability. i liked the service at dome they really educated me on the components. i liked selecting the components to fit my style and riding charcteristics. this bike makes riding a joy.

Strengths:
manufacturing engineering strength performance handling all in one package

Weaknesses:
none. the bike came in silver with the stick on ellsworth decals. i was told this is the look for 2002?

Similar Products Used:
trek gt

Bike Setup:
dura-ace; ksyrium/helium

Summary:
I purchased this bike because of the excellent job Ellsworth does with their mtn bikes; however, they clearly are mtn bikers and their road bike should be considered a work-in-progress. The first frame I received had a rear triangle that was too tight to accept a wheel/tire when the tire was inflated; also, the frame was very unstable on fast descents. This frame was replaced by Ellsworth with one with a longer rear triangle; this generally rides very well except on fast descents where it also shakes-you must grab the top tube with your knees to keep it stable. The stability may be related to the internal headset that is required for this frame, as suggested by this quote from Bicycling Magazine..."The problem with internal headsets is that the frame's gotta be damn near perfect for the thing to work right. The top and bottom bearing races have to be perfectly parallel (meaning the head tube needs to be perfectly squared-up at both ends) or the bearings won't adjust properly--which can lead to a nice speed wobble, or they'll bind up at certain points or make a horrid clicking noise or just suck so bad that you won't even want to ride."

Smaller quibbles I have include a lack of front derailleur braze-on and chain hanger; the anodized finish is much less aesthetic than a good paint; cheap stickers (on the silver frame they still use stickers, not laser) which have peeled...Bottom line is I am sure that Ellsworth will get things right but at this time they clearly focus on mtn bikes and need to make substantial changes to the road frame to get it to the level they've proven for mtn bikes. There are many better road frames for the money.

Strengths:
Light weight

Weaknesses:
Stability, design, finish

Similar Products Used:
Many; tomassini, serrota, mercian