Alchemy KVA MS2 Stainless with Di2 + hidden battery @ 14 lbs

Who are you (no off-topic talk please)

Moderators: MrCurrieinahurry, maxim809, Moderator Team

Post Reply
CippoForLife
Shop Owner
Posts: 1357
Joined: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:35 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada
Contact:

by CippoForLife

Here is my custom KVA MS2 stainless steel beauty built by Alchemy for Blacksmith Cycle...

Frame: KVA MS2 stainless, graphics designed by me
Fork: Enve 2.0 - simple, stiff and light
Group: Shimano Di2 with Icarus hidden battery and Mini-USD charger plug
Wheels: Tune Schwarzbrenner Tubular wheels
Bar and Stem: 3T Rotundo LTD with Tune 4-bolt
Saddle: Tune Kom Vor full carbon
ISP capper: Tune Cappy
Cages: Arundle Dave-O
Weight: 14.1 lbs in a very tall size

This bike was actually t-boned by a d1ck-head on a commuter, and I'm lucky to be in one piece. Even luckier that Alchemy was able to replace the top-tube for me, which was taco'd, and get me back on the road. I've since switched to a Pro Vibe carbon front end, since the 3T was destroyed, but otherwise she remains pretty much as is. Great thing about stainless is you can ride all winter - Toronto winter is the real deal - without any worry about the finish getting ruined.

Image

I am seriously impressed by the stiffness and ride quality...much snappier than any steel bike I had ever ridden previously. Geometry was my own design, so I basically looked at all the bikes I've enjoyed in the past and came up with my ideal numbers. All in, I have been very pleased. Given that we sell these framesets for under $3-k with custom geometry in my shop, our customers have had good things to say about the overall package. As you can see, I am really the ideal custom geometry candidate...this bike has a 55 cm top-tube with a seat-tube and head-tube befitting a 61 cm bike. I am weird, but this bike fits me to a T.

Happy to field any questions here, or just email me!

Best,
Mike

User avatar
Elrey
Posts: 557
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:13 pm
Location: Denmark. Yeeees

by Elrey

:thumbup: I like it.

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



User avatar
LouisN
Posts: 3510
Joined: Mon Feb 19, 2007 3:44 am
Location: Canada

by LouisN

CippoForLife wrote: Toronto winter is the real deal - without any worry about the finish getting ruined...



If it wasn't for the mayor :lol: (joke) :

http://www.cyclismas.com/2012/12/embatt ... -the-year/

Nice bike BTW

Louis :)

nspace
Posts: 308
Joined: Fri May 21, 2010 3:08 am
Location: Milton, Canada

by nspace

Man I would be worried about road salt on everything else! I am out in Milton but can't bring myself to bring my ti bike out on the salty roads.

bonedpwinkle
Posts: 61
Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 8:39 pm

by bonedpwinkle

Beautiful! Love my Alchemy as well. Super product out of those guys.

CippoForLife
Shop Owner
Posts: 1357
Joined: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:35 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada
Contact:

by CippoForLife

Thanks, guys...yeah, our FORMER mayor is a real a-hole, and the primary reason I didn't vote for him was his anti-cycling stance. Luckily Toronto remains a cycling hotbed nonetheless.

As for road salt, Di2 is pretty damn robust, as evidence of its regular use in CX racing.

Not only do I love the ride of this bike, but I also dig steel's lower carbon footprint as well, something I've been thinking more and more about lately.

Best,
Mike

nspace
Posts: 308
Joined: Fri May 21, 2010 3:08 am
Location: Milton, Canada

by nspace

Definitely a dick mayor. I was very happy to get out of the city!

kattanm
Posts: 29
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:52 pm

by kattanm

Beautiful. Though the 7900 Di2 is almost 1.5 lbs heavier than SRAM Red, isn't it? Worth it?

http://www.totalcycling.com/component-weights.html

CippoForLife
Shop Owner
Posts: 1357
Joined: Tue Jan 23, 2007 4:35 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada
Contact:

by CippoForLife

Well, that's a tough question, especially on weightweenies!
I would say that I do prefer Di2 to Red, even the newer version of SRAM's group.
Why? Better shifter ergonomics, cleaner rear shifting, and more definitive front shifting.
But I am also not as weight obsessed as I used to be. :shock:
I know, sacrilegious to say around here, but at my height, if a bike is sub-15, that's about light enough for me.
Am I going to be run out of here with pitchforks now?
If I was going to go mechanical, I'd go Campy Record, btw...I prefer the feel to the other mechanical groups. New Dura Ace would be a very close second, in a virtual tie with Red.
But this is way off topic now, isn't it...don't mean to start a groupset flame war!

by Weenie


Visit starbike.com Online Retailer for HighEnd cycling components
Great Prices ✓    Broad Selection ✓    Worldwide Delivery ✓

www.starbike.com



Post Reply