#46
|
||||
|
||||
I bought a Tetra Pro years ago, primarily based on recommendations from this very forum.
My options/question was, "Calfee Tetra Pro or Look 585?". The substantial consensus was, "Tetra Pro". I was very happy with that frameset, and as a nice cherry Calfee CS re: inquiries, etc. was always excellent ime. No complaints at all. The quality, track record, customer service are all excellent, and I like the distinctive aesthetics. One could do much, much worse than a Calfee when looking for a carbon frame. Plus, Craig even named a model after his dog. . |
#47
|
||||
|
||||
Not that there is no love for Calfee, they definitely were talked up a lot in previous years. I think its just that a lot more builders have swelled the ranks of well built rides since then. Imo of course.
William |
#48
|
|||
|
|||
Never had one but love the look of them. Would love to give one a try some day.
|
#49
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Dave's fillets are second to none.
__________________
Io non posso vivere senza la mia strada e la mia bici -- DP |
#50
|
|||
|
|||
Don't have room for this in the garage, but is this a good example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/CALFEE-TETR...M/152981417296
It seems not all Calfee frames came with Calfee forks? I see a lot of them with Ouzo Pros.. Did Calfee use different tubes based on customer requests (like a MeiVici)? Or was it more model-specific?
__________________
Io non posso vivere senza la mia strada e la mia bici -- DP |
#51
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
|
#52
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Quote:
The "Technical Papers" (under the "Inside Calfee" tab on the website) are always interesting. . Last edited by cadence90; 04-13-2018 at 02:42 PM. |
#53
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
I would highly recommend an old tetra pro if you can get a good deal on one. I bought mine off of craigslist for $500 with an 8 speed record group that I sold on ebay for more than that. Rebuilt it with 10 speed shimano. At this point I've ridden it for a few years and thousands of miles. You have to run a longer bottom bracket (Italian thread) for the inner chaining to clear with the square taper cranks, I haven't tried a hollowtech but I think it's possible a compact would work. I am going to try at some point although I like the 7410 cranks. It's not the stiffest bike ever but it climbs efficiently and the ride quality is incredibly good. It feels better than any of the best steel bikes I've ever ridden as far as climbing and ride quality. The handling is on the conservative side but I've had mine up to 59MPH and it was fine. I've managed to fit full fenders (with 23c) on mine with custom brackets I made for the front dropout. I end up riding the bike a lot because of the fenders. The frame is pretty much the old broken in pair of running shoes - of bikes. It doesn't have the edge of a newer and stiffer high end racing frame but even though it's old I'd contend it's better than any aluminum frame, any steel frame, and most other carbon frames. Just in my opinion. I honestly didn't expect to like the bike as much as I do. Sorry to write a novel and guess what it's time for pics! |
#54
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Some other photos: . Last edited by cadence90; 07-28-2018 at 03:27 PM. |
#55
|
|||
|
|||
The Calfee ride is solid. I still like it. But like another person said, it is hard to compare a 20 year old frame to something much newer. In contrast, the Madone is really light. The tubing is really hollow sounding and since it is di2 compatible, I'm using etap, there are holes where you can see how thin the tubing is, which is kind of trick.
Btw, I bought my Trek Madone used. The frame looked brand new as the previous owner said he didn't ride it much because he couldn't get his power meter to work with it....seems like a weird excuse, but I got it cheap ($1k for frameset/hs/brakes), so I'm not complaining! It is a 2013 and has the u-brake that mounts under the chainstays. Kind of a PIA to work on, but it works. My Madone is a 7 Series and says it is Made in the USA in Wisconsin. So while not quite California, it is still made here in the US. Of course, some people don't consider California part of the US, so there's that.... Good Luck! |
#56
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
1. yes, my calfee with Campy 9 weighs in around 18lb, the Trek Madone with etap is about 16lbs with fairly heavy wheels. 2. I don't know what Calfee's current lightweight frame (Dragonfly?) weighs but I'm pretty sure it is heavier than the Trek's Emonda frame is like 650g. Bianchi has a frame that is like 680g and I'm sure Giant has one around that weight. I suspect Calfee's lightest is more like 800+g, which isn't really heavy. 3. My Trek Madone 700 says it is made in Wisconsin. Not quite California, but closer than say the Giant factory in Taiwan.... 4. Yes, my Trek has the pressed in oversized bb bearing. It works. In contrast, my old Calfee has the wide Italian threaded bb. I try putting on a Chorus carbon crank with the outboard bearings a few years ago and couldn't get it to work. My Calfee has a Phil Wood "carbon" ti bb with TA Zephyr square tapered crankset. Definitely isn't as light as the Chorus, but the bb is smooth. Btw, I really like the trek with etap! Good Luck! Last edited by bfd; 04-13-2018 at 06:44 PM. |
#57
|
||||
|
||||
true
Quote:
Last edited by wallymann; 04-13-2018 at 10:30 PM. |
#58
|
|||
|
|||
Carbon, or metal-carbon?
The earlier bikes basically just had their bonded-aluminum tubes substituted for carbon tubes. |
#59
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
bill |
#60
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
where do you draw the arbitrary "carbon bike" line -- tubes? lugs? bosses/inserts? dropouts? it's a different point in time for each. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|