Why go Friendly's when you can eat Ben & Jerry's? Why tolerate Bud American Ale if you can splurge on your favorite local microbrew? Why endure another year on another carbon frame when you can ride a Lynskey?
Wait! Lynskey, you say? Don't they make titanium frames? And isn't titanium so, you know, the year 2000? Answer: not any more it's not. Behold the second coming of titanium glory and fix your eyes on Lynskey Performance Designs' newest frame, the Helix OS!
This is a racing machine.
Lynskey has been around the bike biz for decades, originally as Litespeed in 1986 and 20 years later as Lynskey Performance Designs. Each frame is beautifully crafted, whether custom or stock sized.
While the company has remained true to its traditional titanium frame building roots, it has really popped the cork with the unveiling of the Helix and Helix OS. Made from 3al/2.5v, this signature frame has twisted top and down tubes as well as seatstays, which provide greater stiffness without adding weight. This, of course, is the mantra that gets fed to bicycle consumers year after year: more stiffness; less weight. The Lynskey Helix, however, cuts through the marketing fluff and has created a product the family from Chattanooga, TN, can easily say is an incredible racing bike.
Available now, the Helix OS ratchets stiffness and performance levels to even greater heights with a beefy oversized headtube and the soon-to-be-industry-standard BB30 bottom bracket shell. I've built my frame up with an Edge 2.0 fork, a Cannondale Hollowgram SL crank, and a smattering of superlight Sram Red and Bontrager parts. Since I worked at Fit Werx in Waitsfield, VT, which is one of the most respected boutique bicycle shops in the country, I've ridden dozens of high enders: Serotta Meivicis and Legend Ti, Parlee Z1s, Guru Geneos, Cervelo R3SLs, Trek Madones (5 and 6 series). All of these brands are highly respected and make fantastic products, each with their own unique characteristics. I've also been riding and racing since I was 15 and I've got to say, that even with all of the carbon featherweight frames out there and all of the aerodynamic test results shooting from the pages of Velonews, my Lynskey Helix OS is my favorite bike of all time.
For me, this frame represents balance. Now for the superlatives. It's sublimely smooth and stable. It's also quiet. At 145 lbs., you'd be ill-advised to bet on me to be your go-to source for bicycle stiffness. I can offer to you though, that it feels stiffer than a Trek Madone 5 series with Dura-Ace 7800 cranks I had two years ago. It won't leave you speechless with its weight, but it isn't portly, either, at 14.5 lbs with my Edge 38 race wheels. It's snappy, crisp, and agile, and SO fun to ride.
The Helix OS represents the pinnacle of titanium craftsmanship. It's stunning to look at and even more fun to ride. I can't praise this bike enough.
I switched from Carbon to Titanium on the recommendation of a friend. And I have not looked back since, especially on the not so great British roads. Ti bikes are much more comfortable and won't break in a crash.
I owned Litespeed Tuscany and Siena first and liked them but found out that they did not really fit my measurer after attending a Serotta Cyclefit session.
Lynskey's Helix did and had received great reviews. I bought the Helix race geometry (prior to OS) in 2010 and can only agree. I have never enjoyed cycling more.
Unfortunately it was stolen last week.
I have put an order in for another Helix OS today and can't wait!
Similar Products Used: Litespeed Siena and Tuscany
Bike Setup: Campagnolo Super Record 11speed. Alpha Q GS40. Campagnolo Shamal Ultra. 3T Ergonova Team bars. 3T stem. Lynskey ti seatpost. Fizik Arione saddle. Speedplay pedals (all stolen 13/5/2012 - get in touch if you are offered that bike!!)
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Submitted by
Mark
a Recreational Rider
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2012
Strengths: The key strengths are Lynskey titanium in the shape of Helix twisted tubes with oversized headtube, downtube, and bottom bracket.
The Helix OS geometry is tight, aggressive, and stable. But, the bike is still malleable enough to be customized to fit your needs - I opened up the geometry of the bike a bit with 25mm of headset spacers and also 25mm of seat set back. The bike still feels very tight and stable at speed.
The Helix OS is advertised as having a stiff frame but I think that stiff is not a good enough description. The bike is stiff but not harsh - I would describe the bike as sharp and tight. The minor, high frequency road buzz is absorbed but I can still feel the bumps and turns in the pavement. The sharper edges of the bumps are rounded off so there is no jarring. And, the bike is super responsive - when I had to sprint off the saddle to pass, the bike just took the watts and accelerated. I think that this is both the Helix and the OS of the bike shining through.
I got the simple, classic bright-brushed finish with etched logos - the welds and finish are top notch.
Last but not least, customer service at Lynskey is helpful, direct, and honest.
Weaknesses: Be prepared to wait for your Lynskey - I ordered mine in October 2011 and took delivery in February 2012. Hand-crafted workmanship from Tennessee takes time.
Bottom Line:
I built my Helix OS with the 2012 SRAM Red and put on a set of custom-built HED rimmed wheels = 15.7 lbs, including pedals, bottles cages, computer, everything.
This is a bike that just begs you to push harder and push faster; a bike that is stiff but not harsh; a bike that absorbs road buzz and chatter, a bike that takes the sharp edges off the road but handles so sharply and tightly; and a bike almost too much for me.
Well, I will just have to ride more, get stronger and ride faster.
Bike Setup: Frame: Lynskey Helix OS Size S Bright Brushed, Etched Logo, Etched Name
Bottom Bracket: SRAM PF30 Endura 3 Ceramic Bottom Bracket
Brakes: 2012 SRAM Red AeroLink Brakes
Cassette: 2012 SRAM Red XG-1090 11/23 Cassette
Chain: SRAM Red PC-1091R Chain
Crank: Cannondale Hollowgram SISL 34/50 170mm
Front Derailleur: 2012 SRAM Red Yaw FD 34.9mm Clamp
Fork: Enve 1.0 43mm Rake
Tape: Lizard Skins 2.5 mm Black
Handle bar: ENVE Compact Carbon 44 cm Handlebar
Headset: Chris King 1-1/8" InSet Headset Red
Shift/Brake Levers: 2012 SRAM Red Ergodynamic DoubleTap
Pedals: Speedplay Zero Stainless Black
Rear Derailleurs: 2012 SRAM Red Aeroglide RD
Rimstrips: Velox 17mm Cloth
Saddle: Fizik Aliante Carbon Double-Rail
Seatpost: Fizik Carbon Cyrano 25mm Setback 31.6mm (ENVE backordered to May)
Stem: ENVE Carbon 100mm
Tires: Continental Grand Prix TT 23 mm (actual measured width on the wheels are ~25.4mm!)
Tubes: Vittoria Ultralite Presta 48mm
Wheels: Prowheelbuilder custom-built HED C2 White Industries Ceramic Endura3 Sapim CX-Ray front 28 double-crossed rear 32 triple-crossed
Skewers: USE Titanium Spinstix
Bottle cages: King Titanium
Computer: Cateye Strada Double Wireless
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Submitted by
Joseph Glauda
a Triathlete
Date Reviewed: December 27, 2011
Strengths: The entire bike!
Weaknesses: none
Bottom Line:
The Helix OS is the best bike I have ever owned. It is worth every penny it you want a solid comfortable stiff ride. It is good for racing and long century rides. Great bike nothing more to say.
Weaknesses: Maybe weight if you're a weenie, but 16lbs 6oz is pretty respectable considering the setup.
Bottom Line:
I'll keep this short. I am 5'6.5", just under 200lbs, ride a small frame, and roll 23mm tires at about 120psi. The frame is stiff, the handling is tight, and the ride is sublime. Every time I swing a leg over this bike, there is Christmas between my legs. Every time I kick, this bike roars.
Similar Products Used: 2007 Specialized Roubaix
2005 Trek 2100
1985 Centurion Le Mans RS
197X Stella
19XX Schwinn Varsity
Bike Setup: SRAM Force groupset; Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheelset; Continental Grand Prix 4000S tires; Michelin AirStop tubes; EDGE Composites 2.0 fork, 3T Ergosum Pro bar; 3T ARX Pro stem; Fizik glossy bar tape; Cane Creek 110 ZS headset; Lynskey seatpost; Fizik Arione CX Carbon saddle; Speedplay Zero Titanium pedals; Zipp bottle cages; and Garmin Edge 500 computer with cadence sensor.
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Submitted by
Big T
a Recreational Rider
Date Reviewed: December 7, 2010
Bottom Line:
For an atypical rider at 275lbs., I was looking for a new ride and I certainly wasn't going to put a pile of plastic between me and the pavement. From the first ride, the Helix smoked anything I have ever been on. Even at my size, I can still get after it a little and when I do, the frame doesn't skip a beat. When you get tired of mediocrity, buck up and get the bike of your dreams.
