Any Calfee owners have their bike "upgraded"?

[dhalbrook]

Originally Posted by bewheels

Making sure I understand the purpose of the 'heads up'...rather than having spacers on top of the headset this creates a "spacer" below the headset. I assume this is primarily an aesthetic thing.

A head tube (even with an extender) is far more stout and less flexy than a 1" carbon steerer. I currently have 40mm of spacers, whereas no more than 20 is generally recommended for 1" carbon steerers. The hope is to alleviate that problem without spending the cash for a new head tube (plus a repaint).

[dhalbrook]

Originally Posted by DfCas

Note that you may not need a full custom to get the geometry you want in the future. Calfee offers seat tube and headtube extensions at a modest upcharge on stock geometry. You could then get a 54 with a taller seat or head tube with the correct height for you.

Yes, a stock 54 with an extended head tube would probably fit pretty well given my current setup. OTOH, once you're spending 3k+ for a frame, an extra $500 for custom geometry seems par for the course, and given my shortish torso, might make sense. If nothing else I wouldn't end up with quite as much seatpost showing. At some point in the near future I'm going to spend a little money with a bike fitter and get their opinion. It's something I've never done -- I've always just gone by feel -- but it seems like it might be eye opening.

[Pete Mckeon]

Originally Posted by dhalbrook

Got my heads up last night. Beautiful machining.

Now if I could find someone who wants to trade a silver 1" King headset for a black one..,,



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[Wakatel_Luum]

Originally Posted by Don49

Big drawback of the early models like ours (with Italian BB) is the chain stay clearance to the chainrings. Campy external BB's and maybe all external BB's will not work with this frame.

Pardon my ignorance but I thought there wouldn't be much difference between a square taper and external bottom bracket? I thought Campagnolo kept things such as Q factor and chainring position the same through the later models?

If anything I can see the chainrings getting a little thinner going from 8, 9, 10 to 11 speed? I would have thought with the chainrings getting thinner there would be more clearance unless they were moved inwards (chain line) throughout the later generations?

I have a Calfee Tetra Pro that needs a repaint but I'm having second thoughts now as previously I used a square taper BB on it...

[bfd]

Originally Posted by Wakatel_Luum

Pardon my ignorance but I thought there wouldn't be much difference between a square taper and external bottom bracket? I thought Campagnolo kept things such as Q factor and chainring position the same through the later models?

If anything I can see the chainrings getting a little thinner going from 8, 9, 10 to 11 speed? I would have thought with the chainrings getting thinner there would be more clearance unless they were moved inwards (chain line) throughout the later generations?

I have a Calfee Tetra Pro that needs a repaint but I'm having second thoughts now as previously I used a square taper BB on it...

I have an older Calfee tetra (actually mine was originally labeled a "Carbonframes" before it was repainted) and tried to put in a Campy external BB. The problem - right/drive-side chainstay is too wide. You can mount the external bb with no problem. But when you install the crankarm, the inner chainring, I was installing a compact with a 34t inner ring, would hit the wide chainstay. I tried to put in a 2mm spacer on the right bb cup to bring out the chainring, but then the crank would bind as it is not designed to accomodate the extra width.

Now, there is a fix. If you're sending your frame in for a repaint, you could ask Calfee to shave down the right chainstay. I asked about a year or so ago and at that time they quoted me about $80 to do it. Not too bad. However, they said it would probably need a repaint and I was quoted $400. They may also ask you to send in the crank you're planning on using to make sure it clears the chainstay.

My Calfee rides great and I haven't had any problems with my square taper bb, other than its really long and heavy compared to the latest stuff. Still, I enjoy riding it and its my go-fast bike for any ride over 40 miles!
Good Luck!

[dhalbrook]

Originally Posted by bfd

Now, there is a fix. If you're sending your frame in for a repaint, you could ask Calfee to shave down the right chainstay. I asked about a year or so ago and at that time they quoted me about $80 to do it. Not too bad. However, they said it would probably need a repaint and I was quoted $400. They may also ask you to send in the crank you're planning on using to make sure it clears the chainstay.

Prices may have gone up a bit. These are from various emails with Calfee:

.. we can remold the HT on that frame ($400) to 1 1/8". We can also replace the BB with an English threaded ($200).

Nude'ing is a pain in the butt, runs $325 for frame and fork.

Typically, we need to strip the frame if going to a translucent or clear coat, which is $250. Clear coat is then $225, including the stock set of Calfee decals.

[Germany_chris]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHINY-Calfee...item27dfac6b84

[bfd]

Originally Posted by dhalbrook

Prices may have gone up a bit. These are from various emails with Calfee:

[ we can remold the HT on that frame ($400) to 1 1/8". We can also replace the BB with an English threaded ($200)]

This is a bit different. What I was referring to was retaining the italian threaded bb, but having the right chainstay shaved down to accomodate the chainring. I was quoted $80.

[Nude'ing is a pain in the butt, runs $325 for frame and fork]

[Typically, we need to strip the frame if going to a translucent or clear coat, which is $250. Clear coat is then $225, including the stock set of Calfee decals.]

So making a frameset nude is $325. If you want a new clear coat its $250 for stripping and $225 for the clear coat for a total of $475! OK, that's more than the $400 I was quoted. Good Luck!

[bobswire]

Originally Posted by Germany_chris

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHINY-Calfee...item27dfac6b84

I saw that one. This is the last frame on my bucket list I've yet to try. So I'm keeping my eyes open for a 54cm top tube Calfee at a bargain price point.
I've seen them go for as low as $450. In fact one listed at this site last year for around $700 I believe. I would love to find one for about $400 without fork and update fork for even better ride.

[dhalbrook]

I'm not going to do any of those things i got quotes for, I was merely sharing the results of my inquiries.

Since this thread started I got a heads-up from Ti Cycles, which I've installed along with a different Calfee-branded fork provided kindly by another forum member. My effective head tube is now 20mm taller but now I have 20mm less stack height. I tried it out yesterday and it feels far more solid.

This will be my first season racing in over 20 years, so if it goes well I may treat myself to a newer Tetra or Dragonfly, but for the moment I'll be contented with my franken-Tetra. Pictures coming soon.

[dhalbrook]

Originally Posted by bobswire

I saw that one. This is the last frame on my bucket list I've yet to try. So I'm keeping my eyes open for a 54cm top tube Calfee at a bargain price point.
I've seen them go for as low as $450. In fact one listed at this site last year for around $700 I believe. I would love to find one for about $400 without fork and update fork for even better ride.

I won mine a few years back for just over $400 so it's totally possible, but it's a rather old Tetra (#543) with a 1" headtube. If you came across a newer model with 1 1/8" HT I'd probably be bidding against you

[Wakatel_Luum]

Well after doing nothing for so long I started rubbing my Calfee Tetra-Pro down tonight...I started on the chainstay with 400 grit where there was a minor gouge from a chainring...this is going to take ages...

[weisan]

Aesthetic sensibilities out the window, and adopting a more pragmatic approach. There are two workable solutions other than the ones already mentioned.

1)

2)

Carbon steerer poses zero problem.

[dhalbrook]

Thanks, but I already found my solution in the heads-up.

[Wakatel_Luum]

Almost finished rubbing back both seat & chain stays today...