columbus spirit, xcr or titanium
papajimbo
Posts: 61
Following an enjoyable few hours at Enigma during which it became apparent a made to measure frame was my best bet I'm faced with deciding whether to a. stick to budget (an Elite - steel frame - columbus spirit), b. go over budget (an Esprit - British built Titanium), c. blow the budget (an Extensor - xcr stainless steel).
The only bike they had that was anywhere near a good fit and therefore worth taking for a test ride was a titanium Echo so I have NEVER ridden a steel frame (since childhood anyway) and therefore can't make comparisons.
I'm an 'enthusiast' living in Devon with no intention of racing, the bike will be for club runs - 50+ hilly miles, local sportives and good weather commuting (15 mostly non urban miles each way). I don't need to carry luggage.
This is supposed to be a long term best bike purchase rather than something just for the next couple of years.
My question is:
The cost of each step up is about £400, are these extra £s spent worth it and what am I likely to notice in ride experience?
The spec is the same per build and I'd rather not compromise on groupset, wheels etc to make the more expensive option cheaper - I don't want to be upgrading in 12 months.
The only bike they had that was anywhere near a good fit and therefore worth taking for a test ride was a titanium Echo so I have NEVER ridden a steel frame (since childhood anyway) and therefore can't make comparisons.
I'm an 'enthusiast' living in Devon with no intention of racing, the bike will be for club runs - 50+ hilly miles, local sportives and good weather commuting (15 mostly non urban miles each way). I don't need to carry luggage.
This is supposed to be a long term best bike purchase rather than something just for the next couple of years.
My question is:
The cost of each step up is about £400, are these extra £s spent worth it and what am I likely to notice in ride experience?
The spec is the same per build and I'd rather not compromise on groupset, wheels etc to make the more expensive option cheaper - I don't want to be upgrading in 12 months.
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Comments
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that's a damn shame you weren't able to take the xcr out for a spin papajimbo, cos i guarantee if you did you wouldn't be on here with this question.0
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Well, I suppose that was the answer I imagined I might get and was probably hoping for. The xcr has a longer waiting time and wont be ready for my 1st 100 miler in June but at least my Caad9 will get the swansong it's earned.0
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I have two standard Enigmas an Esprit and an Etape both with Sram red full group. both bikes are a fantastic ride. My suggestion would be if you do the riding you mentioned is to look a a design based around their more compact frame.
I am lucky enough to have 5 road bikes in total but if I could only have one it would be based around the Etape geometry. The Esprit is really my best/race bike and is setup really light (6.8 Kg in 64 cm) but if I was going fo a one off I would I think base it around the Etape geometry without mudgard mounts etc. I should add I did not intend to have the etape originally, should have been an Echo. The Etape set up is 7,2Kg.
Ti is the way to go in my humble opinion
Good luck with you choice
Mrip0 -
I have an Ethos and Elite. I rode an XCR when's I went for a test ride but just couldn't afford it at the time. I always lusted after the XCR as it felt so stiff and responsive and I described the bike like an urgent sports car wanting to be hammered on every pedal stroke, but now I have the Elite I don't miss it. The Elite is just as fun but has more comfort and I can ride that for 100+ mile rides back to back without feeling beaten up. It's been up mountains aroundn the world, back to back long days across the Pyrenees and the UK etc and I love it! I'd like to try an XCR frame again but Jim at Enigma told me he rides an Elite for that extra comfort factor and I see why now.
So I guess it depends exactly on how you plan to ride it? Have fun though - all great choices!Your Past is Not Your Potential...0 -
Sorry to slightly hijack, but I wonder if someone can answer a question.
I too have lusted after an Enigma XCR frame, but for various reasons if I ever got one it would probably have to do duty on the indoor trainer during the winter. Is stainless steel sweat-proof in he same way that Ti is, i.e. could it put up with indoor use for months without being cleaned and still look brand new after a decent hose-down?0 -
well I'm still gassing for an XCr ever since I tried one a couple of years ago, you don't forget the feeling of a great frame, and the Extensor had everything I want in a steel frame.0
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I actually logged on to start pretty much this exact thread.
Thanks for the feedback fellas!0 -
So, indysmith, what do you reckon you'll do?0
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Yay! Just landed meself a steel frame. Now to painstakingly choose what bits to build it up with. If I like it a lot, I'm selling my Cervelo R3...Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
ABCC Cycling Coach0 -
Titanium or Columbus Spirit, My frame builder does not recommend Stainless steel for a lugged frame
Of the bikes I have tried I prefer steel to titanium.0 -
Personally was underwhelmed by the extensor. Didn't have the life to it of other steel frames. Would be interested to try some of their other bikes.0
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Mine is Columbus TSX, head is spinning as it was an impulse purchase. Picked it up tonight. It's a 1990ish Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra in Tutti Frutti, I think it would be somewhat distasteful to build it up with Sram Red....
Can't wait to have a go though so it may well be built up at first with modern stuff!!
Insta: ATEnduranceCoaching
ABCC Cycling Coach0 -
One person's lively frame is another person's noodle... Despite all of the rubbish that is talked about frame stiffness etc, I'm pretty convinced that lateral stiffness under pedalling is mostly responsible for how a frame feels to ride (on the flat at least), but it's not as simple as stiffest=best. I think you adapt your pedalling style to the frame, different people would probably get on ideally with different levels of stiffness, and there is always a trade-off. A frame that feels just right and "lively" when pedalling at tempo in the saddle will feel too flexy when climbing hard out of the saddle. I think this trade-off is pretty universal, and where the rubbish comes in is when the manufacturers try to convince us that we can both have our cake and eat it.Evil Laugh wrote:Personally was underwhelmed by the extensor. Didn't have the life to it of other steel frames. Would be interested to try some of their other bikes.0 -
I think there is certainly something in what you say.neeb wrote:
One person's lively frame is another person's noodle... Despite all of the rubbish that is talked about frame stiffness etc, I'm pretty convinced that lateral stiffness under pedalling is mostly responsible for how a frame feels to ride (on the flat at least), but it's not as simple as stiffest=best. I think you adapt your pedalling style to the frame, different people would probably get on ideally with different levels of stiffness, and there is always a trade-off. A frame that feels just right and "lively" when pedalling at tempo in the saddle will feel too flexy when climbing hard out of the saddle. I think this trade-off is pretty universal, and where the rubbish comes in is when the manufacturers try to convince us that we can both have our cake and eat it.Evil Laugh wrote:Personally was underwhelmed by the extensor. Didn't have the life to it of other steel frames. Would be interested to try some of their other bikes.
As for me, I quite like Columbus Spirit. I've a Pegoretti and an Enigma made from Spirit and love the way both ride and feel...0 -
neeb wrote:Sorry to slightly hijack, but I wonder if someone can answer a question.
I too have lusted after an Enigma XCR frame, but for various reasons if I ever got one it would probably have to do duty on the indoor trainer during the winter. Is stainless steel sweat-proof in he same way that Ti is, i.e. could it put up with indoor use for months without being cleaned and still look brand new after a decent hose-down?
my shiny bike is made of xcr steel (cinelli), i ride it year round, plus on the turbo, it gets rinsed with clean water after a wet ride, of which it's had plenty (plus all the salty spray in winter)
after over 18 months, no corrosion, even inside the bb shell all is finemy bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny0 -
I get what you're trying to say Neeb. We are conditioned to believe that stiffer is better when in reality we want the right level of stiffness or flex for our own weight, riding style and handling preferences.
My experience with the Xcr was that I didnt get anything back from it and it felt heavy when pedalling. I wasn't too keen on the way it transmitted the feel of the road, it was a very "cold" bike. I was so set on buying one when I went to test but it left me wanting.
In contrast my c59 and also my girlfriend's extreme c have this lovely spring in their step. Thy feel so light on the pedals. My raw steel bike also carries this trait but at the expense as you say of being a comparative noodle so can't be really pushed. The Colnago conversely can handle anything i throw at it. Obvioulsy you need enough rigidity in the frame to handle the forces you're going to put through it when descending/cornering/sprinting whatever you want to do and this is where it is important to find the right frame with the right balance for you.
I'm yet to ride a steel frame that can offer me this balance between nice handling and nice ride but with carbon I can have my cake and eat it.0 -
Dear god!Evil Laugh wrote:Personally was underwhelmed by the extensor. Didn't have the life to it of other steel frames. Would be interested to try some of their other bikes.0
