Fat Chance feedback for a friend.

[d_douglas]

Yes, he’s realizing just how many people build w Titanium these days - unlike 20yrs ago. I’ve already suggested Strong, Desalvo, Sycip and a couple of others within the mid-price range. He knows about Baum (as an example) but I don’t think he knows about the price!

He lives in Calgary, Alberta, so driving to Montana is a distinct possibility…

[Louis]

Originally Posted by d_douglas

He lives in Calgary, Alberta, so driving to Montana is a distinct possibility…

IMO that should clinch the deal.

[Waldo62]

Originally Posted by Peter P.

You can't go back. And neither can your friend with a Slim Chance.

The vibe is gone as is the segmented road fork.

But it's his money; don't sweat HIS choices.

Segmented fork is available as an option. I had an early '90s Chris Chance road bike that I loved dearly, but it was totaled in a deer encounter last July. My Slim Chance, which I received in January of this year, is different from my old bike, but it's a great riding bike, and, yes, it has a segmented fork.

[sailorboy]

I also got one of the slim chance 2.0 frames last year NOS and from the original purchaser. He also requested Etap only fittings, which wouldn't have been my first choice but it's growing on me.

I really like the ride with the slightly longer chainstays and pencil-thin seatstays. It has just enough snap for hard efforts but is noticeably comfortable.

I picked up an original slim back in the 90's secondhand and found it to be more flexy than most of the steel frames I've had. I sold it fairly quickly as a result. This 2.0 version is a significant improvement. I'm in the process of having Chris provide a segmented fork as well since mine came with a carbon enve. Not sure how much of the hands-on production, if any, that Chris is actually involved in but it is a nice bike and the price isn't terrible even on a new one. The website only lists disc-specific bike at this point but I believe you can contact him and get rim brake only if you want.

[buddybikes]

Chris custom built a frame for good friend in 1982, green and gold, the brazing/lugwork was stunning. Wonder what happened to that bike, our friend is long gone

[woolly]

https://www.hampsten.com/

[C40_guy]

Originally Posted by d_douglas

For reference, he would ride a 50-52cm bike and weighs maybe 140lbs.

Perfect. After he rides it for five years and moves on to something else, I'll buy it.

[d_douglas]

I think he has all but decided to wait 18months and have Chris Dekerf build him the frame. Complete envy here!

He has a patriotic streak and said that, all things being equal in terms of frame quality, he wanted a Canadian builder. Only Naked and Dekerf work at this level in titanium, so he went with Chris.

[pdonk]

If he wanted to keep it local he could have gone with rollingdale cycles (https://rdcycle.com/) out of Edmonton.

Going with Chris will lead to an amazingly constructed bike.

[jkbrwn]

Originally Posted by d_douglas

I think he has all but decided to wait 18months and have Chris Dekerf build him the frame. Complete envy here!

He has a patriotic streak and said that, all things being equal in terms of frame quality, he wanted a Canadian builder. Only Naked and Dekerf work at this level in titanium, so he went with Chris.

Way cooler choice IMO.

[kiwisimon]

Originally Posted by d_douglas

I think he has all but decided to have Chris Dekerf build him the frame. Complete envy here!

Good choice.

[d_douglas]

Originally Posted by pdonk

If he wanted to keep it local he could have gone with rollingdale cycles (https://rdcycle.com/) out of Edmonton.

Going with Chris will lead to an amazingly constructed bike.

He considers Dekerf local. He comes to Vancouver for work from time to time.

He also owns a completely OG Dekerf race bike from 20 years ago. 8spd Record, 140mm stem (on a 50cm frame!!!) and 23mm tires so he is going with whom he knows...!

[pbarry]

Good choice!

[blakcloud]

For other Canadians looking for homegrown product, there is T-Lab out of Montreal and True North from Bellwood, Ontario. No. 22 is built by Americans but the company, to my knowledge, is owned by Canadians. Even Marinoni has a titanium model but I don't know if they are locally made or not. As the OP says there is DeKerf and Naked. Lots of titanium builders in this country.

[merckxman]

A photo of my DeKerf (in steel) here, segmented fork and seatstays: https://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=275410
A long way from home in NJ.
Has anyone built segmented fork in Ti?