Litespeed Vortex

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at ebay-used 1y

Favorite Ride:
Beartooth Pass, Montana

Bike Setup:
DA groupo, except Ultegra BB (less maintenance, more durable). Kysrium SL's, Easton ec-50 seatpost, Speedplay Zero pedals.

Summary:
This frames is AWESOME. 2001 frameseet with carbon fibre forks. I weigh in @ 215# and supports my weight well. Some flex on the BB on the steep uphill grunts, but no worries since I don't race with it. Being a novice rider, it has allowed me to push my mileage out considerably.

Strengths:
Lite-weight, stiff enough for my weight (although I feel I am right at the cusp at how much weight it can handle), no worries for rusting, looks beautifully clean with brushed Ti, metal less likely to weaken with time.

Weaknesses:
Back then, they were painting over the Ti, which was completely unnecessary. Besides, the paint did not stick well and flaked off easily, so I took it off with citrus-based paint remover. Took a few coats, but came off with ease. You don't want to sandblast Ti(That's a no-no). Ti bolts strip easily, so be gentle.

Similar Products Used:
Alum Specialized Allez

Price Paid:  $3600.00 at Built from numerous

Favorite Ride:
Any with my daughter

Bike Setup:
Campagnolo Record
Zipp 404 Tubulars
Deda 215 Shallow Drop
Thomson stem and post
Selle San Marco Aspide Composite (99gm)
Speedplay X/1

Summary:
I had been riding a Kestrel 500SCi for 2 1/2 years on county chip seal roads and had grown tired of the 650 cm wheels and a frame that was a smidge too small. A guy at work just forked out over 4K for a Colnago Master Light w/Chorus and I decided to build my own Vortex. What an incredibly rewarding experience. Despite a few component delays, I would do it again in a heart beat. This bike feels like there is almost nothing under you. Everything I had read about the Vortex and Ti was true and then some. Build quality on the frame should be exhibited in the Guggenheim museum. Welds are the work of master craftsmen. But again, the real proof is in the ride - there is just no way to describe it without being there.

Strengths:
Light as air ride. Immpeccable build quality. Customer service second to none. And a lifetime guarantee.

Weaknesses:
None.

Similar Products Used:
Kestrel 500 SCi

Price Paid:  $1800.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
Molt Hogbacks

Bike Setup:
2001 Litespeed vortex with Bontrager X-lite wheels, Dura-ace groupo, and Speedplay Zero pedals.

Summary:
It was like going from no suspension to full suspesion. I'm 6'3" 210 lbs, and found there is very little sway in the bottom bracket when I stomp on the pedals to climb or sprint. The whole combo of frame and groupo was a huge step up, but well worth it. I was really worried with my weight and possible flex, but the Vortex's geometry more than makes up for my size. The bike has excellent response for the uphill grinds. Descents can be a little twitchy, but I found using my knees to stabilized helps. Also super smooth for our rough Montana backroads.

Strengths:
Incredibly light-weight, but built to handle my size well. Responsive when stomping on the pedals. Wheels' low spoke count is great for all the winds and open plains riding.

Weaknesses:
Wheels creak quite a bit with my weight. I found greasing the spoke flanges took out the sound, but I still need to occassionally reapply. Speedplay cleats need constant supply of dry lube or else you get a lot of noise. I'm in the process of trying different lubricants.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Allez-entry level

Price Paid:  $7000.00 at Sporting Life

Favorite Ride:
L'Alpe d'Huez

Bike Setup:
59 cm with Ouzo Pro aero fork, Record Group, Deda Stem, 3TTT Prima bar, Thompson Post, San Marco Aspide saddle, Ksyrium SL wheels.

Summary:
First off I'm 6'1 and 170lbs. I'm what you would call average weight with good climbing skills and good sprinting skills - a master of neither but acceptable at both. I love twisty high speed descents - the scarier the better.

I wanted to get into road racing last year (I'm coming from a triathlon background). All the research I've done said this is one of the best road racing bikes out there - so I bought one.

The craftsmanship is excellent. It has a nice comfortable ride if you're a mileage maniac like I am. However, I've never been unhappy with the way aluminum rides.

This is where my comments turn towards the negative side. The bottom bracket is acceptable at best, jumping out of the saddle and hammering up a hill to chase down an attack causes noticeable flex from the bottom bracket - I'm not saying its bad - but it ain't good when you're going all out to catch an attack. It flexes more than my Kestrel KM40 triathlon bike in the bottom bracket.

Then there's the flex from the front triangle - which I would call "limiting". Chasing the above attack while climbing out of the saddle you can feel the front triangle flexing like an overcooked spaghetti noodle. I still feel confident when climbing, but you just don't feel like the power is going to the wheel. This is not a good thing when going all out for 3-4 min when attacking the peleton.

Descending is excellent - unless you are going over 65 km/h. Up to 65 km/h the bike communicates fantastic, feels solid, and feels like it is on rails. In my opinion the geometry is fantastic for descending.

Once I hit about 70-75 km/h everything starts to fall apart. A small crosswind on a straight decent can cause a speed wobble - not just a little one, but a significant shake to the entire front end. Holding the top tube with your knees helps considerably, but if you're bent over in a corner, I start to get a little more concerned with holding my line than holding the top tube with my knees.

The worst wobble I had was coming down Whiteface Mountain just outside of Lake Placid NY. Going pin-straight at 80 km/h I hit a little "road snake" (the gooey stuff they use to fill cracks in the road), which set off a real nasty wobble, my knees were already on the top-tube, and I was griping the bars lightly. I gradually applied the rear brake and the wobble got worse, I released the brake and decided to ride it out - as my speed increased to 85 km/h (yes I was freaking out!). Anyway, the road finally leveled off to about 5% and I was able to slow down and check my shorts. Overall, good on “low speed” descents but pathetic on high speed descents.

I’m now in the process of looking for a new bike – I’m thinking DeRosa King or some hi-tech stiff Aluminum bike. Any suggestion is welcome.

Strengths:
Light, comfortable, geometry,

Weaknesses:
Slightly flexy bottom bracket when pushing hard out of the saddle. Disastrously flexy front triangle on fast descents.

Similar Products Used:
Specalized S-Works, Kestrel KM 40, Quintana Roo Kilo.

Price Paid:  $3000.00 at EBay

Favorite Ride:
rolling hills of NW Illinois

Bike Setup:
Record 10 group, Campy Nucleon wheelset, Selle Italia saddle.

Summary:
Excellent bike. Very Stiff. Climbs like a Gazelle. I've been riding Trek carbon OCLV frames for a few years. Trek carbon is not bad, but this titanium is the best. I love how scratches don't show on Titanium. Carbon painted bikes aren't forgiving in this department. I have a Litespeed Pisgah mountain bike also. Titanium is where it is at!

Strengths:
Very stiff, bomb-proof. Sleek, light, fast. The titanium is inherently tough and will take abuse, misuse, crashes.

Weaknesses:
Price.

Similar Products Used:
Trek 5200, Trek 5500, Trek 5900, Bianchi, lots of different road bikes over 20 years