An Aluminum Custom Aero TT bike for the most improved DC Tri female 2013

[Smiley]

I told her not to wet her pants when checking out the work only a master can do.

Hummmm, Steel (lugged and fillet and Tig) Titanium and Ti/Carbon and now Aluminum in a aero tube set custom Tri bike. Stay tuned for the finished product.

Its Kelly Bedford's work BTW

[Smiley]

And won't be the last because we plan on having a very good price point for a Triathlete looking for a great fitting machine with no compromises.

Can you say sturdier than carbon fiber for those who travel with their rigs.

[rnhood]

Good to see an independent builder shaping and altering tubes. Apparently not many of them have this skill.

My only somewhat reserved comment about the above frame is relatively large...or fat headtube. This is generally not desirable in an areo frame. Maybe he will change this in the next iteration. Otherwise, I applaud his efforts to step beyond the standard round tube construction.

[Smiley]

its using the tapered steerer required by ENVE with an inset head set. cables will all be internally routed too.

[Climb01742]

Will Kelly be doing road frames in alu too?

[thirdgenbird]

Will Kelly be doing road frames in alu too?

I would like to see a bike similar to above with a level top tube and road geometry.

[Climb01742]

I would like to see a bike similar to above with a level top tube and road geometry.

Me too;) or a variation with round tubes for winter training.

[AngryScientist]

pretty cool!

i love how Mr. Bedford is not afraid to try something new to him.

i think it's a good move on his part, triathlon is becoming more popular all the time, it's not a market to ignore. get those frames under a few big names and it could be very exciting.

keep us posted on the finished product.

electric gruppo i assume?

[Louis]

Smiley, do you have any pics of the ST out of the box, before Kelly did anything to it? For me that's the interesting one.

[Smiley]

And the quick answer is NO Kelly won't build this frame as a road bike. Although he built himself a road bike to get a feel for the workings of the material.

Now e-mail me if you want more of the skinny on the subject matter :banana:

[Smiley]

BTW this is a level Tri bike, when you are as flexible as the woman Tri Athlete who owns this bike, you don't need no stinkin slope or riser stems :)

This bike will travel over seas for TWO Iron Man's next year so durability in packing and shipping was a major concern and hence electronics were ruled out plus the cost to her was out of line and was made up with nicer lighter components.

[sales guy]

I like the seat stays. One thing I've never liked is the seat collar area. How it's step downed. There are ways to integrate the binder/collar.

Looks great btw.

[rustychisel]

Really? Buy an old Giant OCR frameset and the jobs done.

What grade alu is being used?

[Louis]

Really? Buy an old Giant OCR frameset and the jobs done

Some folks prefer a bike that was built just for them, whether for fit or other reasons.

[carpediemracing]

I had a frame similar made for me over 2010-2011, the second from Tsunami Bikes. I'm currently riding the frame it replaced, after having the builder mod the first custom frame (shorten the stays). The black bike has a close-to-level top tube, at least compared to the first bike, but it's still sloping. Geometry-wise it's tri-like but it's meant for normal riding.

The derailleur cables run inside the down tube, exit out the bottom, and then continue to the appropriate part of the bike. The front derailleur cable goes through a small hole in the seat tube to the front derailleur. No problems there. Rear is normal. Rear brake runs through top tube, full housing, I used Nokons so no flex and not much added weight.

I decided on a lark to go with an ISP instead of my original regular post. If I were to do it again I'd get the regular post.

The frame weighed in at 1650g. The round tube frame is 1300 or so, same geo. I prefer the round tube frame at the moment.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TbmplkIYLx8/TRlejcyIyDI/AAAAAAAADEI/_UyjIC40XjA/s800/DSC_0085.jpg

My sketches done on a plane.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TbmplkIYLx8/TRljPMFIobI/AAAAAAAADEQ/HQEcGprjrUU/s800/100_7786.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TbmplkIYLx8/TUniHJSGNBI/AAAAAAAADNc/-DPEEwJ4I24/s800/20110202_Bike.jpg

Tight clearance to the rear tire (700x23 training tire so a bit fat). A credit card won't fit through there easily. A grain of sand will make sound and a a bit of sand will actually slow me down in training. With 23mm tubulars it's fine.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q23AO91FMk8/T9AIDBF1L5I/AAAAAAAAEEg/iCuQrseRiRA/s800/DSC_0613.JPG

The open tubes, downtube and seat tube. It makes for easy cable threading. There doesn't seem to be any loss in stiffness. Apparently the aero downtube is actually lighter than the round one.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TbmplkIYLx8/TUaAG804RcI/AAAAAAAADI4/umdnjkd2C94/s800/DSC_0618.JPG

[carpediemracing]

Also, looking at some of the tubing specs/options, my understanding is that the seat tube comes formed as an aero tube and you get a plate to fill the cut out, welding it in place after carefully making the cut.

[Louis]

my understanding is that the seat tube comes formed as an aero tube and you get a plate to fill the cut out, welding it in place after carefully making the cut.

I was wondering how this was done, hence my question above.

[RedRider]

This custom aluminum frame looks like a win-win for at triathlete or TT racer. Custom geometry will assure the fit and proper position, the material can be engineered for stiffness and compliance all at a reasonable price.
I will be ordering one...

[fatallightning]

Reminds me of my tiemeyer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/DSC_7155.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/fatallightning/media/DSC_7155.jpg.html)

[Louis]

Reminds me of my tiemeyer.

wow - "in the drops" on that bike really does mean in the drops, doesn't it? :)

[fatallightning]

wow - "in the drops" on that bike really does mean in the drops, doesn't it? :)

Long and low, the way I roll.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/12/11/behuzazu.jpg

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[beeatnik]

^Pic of the day!

[dave thompson]

If Kelly decides to build a road bike in aluminum, I'd be very interested in talking to him!

[54ny77]

did that frame even flex a mm under full tilt sprinti? damn!

tiemeyer makes a terrific bike, with tons of history. is a nice guy too.

Reminds me of my tiemeyer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/DSC_7155.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/fatallightning/media/DSC_7155.jpg.html)

[oldpotatoe]

its using the tapered steerer required by ENVE with an inset head set. cables will all be internally routed too.

Aren't you worried about some tri-geeks not liking the big headtube? I mean some TT/tri frames even have a 1 inch headtube for this, mostly 'silly', reason but that's what they look at.

Internal routing, fun...

[Climb01742]

Smiley, three people in this thread have expressed interest in a Kelly made alu road frame. Just curious, why not pursue it? An affordable all weather ride seems like it might have appeal.

[Smiley]

Also, looking at some of the tubing specs/options, my understanding is that the seat tube comes formed as an aero tube and you get a plate to fill the cut out, welding it in place after carefully making the cut.

this will be filled in with a piece to match the opening. This was done for rear wheel drop out clearances.

[Smiley]

Smiley, three people in this thread have expressed interest in a Kelly made alu road frame. Just curious, why not pursue it? An affordable all weather ride seems like it might have appeal.

call me to learn the answer.