The Other Cyfac XCR

Who are you (no off-topic talk please)

Moderators: MrCurrieinahurry, maxim809, Moderator Team

notsoswift
Posts: 176
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:00 am
Location: Melbourne

by notsoswift

When I say other I mean this one:
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=100331
Also coming to an Australian Member.

OK, this year I turned 40 and like any self respecting MAMIL * my thoughts turned to rewarding myself with a suitable present - a new frame.

*MAMIL - Middle Aged Man in Lycra

Now, I am a big fan of LOOK and well as Time bikes, I like the way they ride, they are compliant, a little lazier in the geometry and you can do long distances and not be buffeted around, and besides - everyone has Italians, so these were both high on my list. My current ride, soon to be my wet bike is a circa 2003 KG 461Hr that I purchased "New Old Stock" from the local distributor for a bargain price in about 2006/7 (can't really remember now) By then it was a discontinued model, indeed an entire generation old, and they had pulled the fork for something else and so I got a great bike at a bargain price.

Picture coming but:
59cm KG461Hr
DA7800
DA7700 Brakes
Initially FSA SLK cranks, but swapped out for some compact Deda "D-Power"
Deda Fork
Deda Cockpit and
Had a Deda seat post, but swapped it out for a LOOK one
Look Keo's
Training on Reynolds Solitude with Gatorskins and Racing on Reynold Attack with Vittoria CX Tubulars
Sella Italia Thoork Saddle
Bottle cages and CS200Cad

It is a reasonably big bike with Classic geometry, proper 100% "hand made in France" lugged unit, it isn't a light frame but it is reasonably solid under my 195cm 90kg frame, it rolls at about 8.3 kg or well below 8 with the Tubs
Definitely good enough to race on and I did for the last few years.
But... The Bike is actually too small for me, I am cramped and that will some times show up in my breathing, especially where you cramp in the solar plexus
Also, being a sprinter, being tall (with lots of leverage) and reasonably heavy and powerful (1400W or so) I could definitely get a good sway into the bottom bracket and I know the bike was actually ready to be retired from racing. Fine for Training, Fine for a Wet bike, but just time

Initially the idea was to get a new Light modern stiff bike (maybe with a entry groupset) and transfer the gear I wanted to keep. Then I started looking and the bikes I wanted were actually still too small... and If I was going to pay out $5k plus on a frame that was unacceptable.
The 695 was a prime candidate, (and in Mondrian - thank-you very much!), but with the proprietary stem and shorter Top tube length than my current 59, I know it just wasn't an option (The XXL is 585mm, and the full extension of the stem is 120mm) 586SL would actually have made more sense
TIME's come up to 58 cm long, although at least the stem could be swapped for a 140mm
It was researching the TIME's that another French manufacture came up, some one I have heard of, but never seen in Australia - until now - CYFAC

And now Cyfac has an Australian distributor, and a retailer with Dan at Artisan Cycles ( artisancycles.com.au )

I quickly convinced myself i needed a custom bike, 20 years ago I had a custom Cecil Walker, but sadly they are a shadow of the old days
I started looking around at local builders (after all Baum, Llewellyn, Gellie are all top tier internationally) and some internationals, but came back to the romance of a French frame and Cyfac (this is not logical - i know)

Custom Carbon Fibre is attractive, almost unique, but way too dear for me, so the decision came down to Aluminum or Steel, with Carbon rears possible as well. As a race bike Alloy would be more logical, but it seemed more disposable, and once again romance has an effect... Once I saw this bike:
http://cyfac.com/Pages/Products/Product ... ctId=15042
I knew I needed to get XCR

The decision was made, the measure was done, the paint was chosen, then I had a big accident in a race so everything was delayed - bummer
I came off sprinting for the win in a local Handicap, 3 of us I was the fastest, pretty much a sure thing, then down hill at over 60kph, chain dropped and I went over the bars, broke my clavicle in 3 places, coarse open chip roads also tore the crap out of my hips, knees and shoulder (which is still causing issues because it is delaying the surgery) and not to mention my head, which now has a bald spot that previously didn't exist... lucky I had a helmet on. This resulted in the order going in just before Christmas, as opposed to the beginning of December.
The original intention was for me to pick the bike up in France as I was going on 6 weeks holiday, but delays (above) at my end and the factory put it about 8 weeks behind, ah well, this is a long term love affair anyway!
I DID however get to visit the factory meet some key staff, including Bernard, who would be welding my frame, just like he did for Pantani, Indurain, Viranque...
Oh and the paint shop is impressive with their detail

Here are pictures of the frame in build:
Image
Image
Image
As you can see the rear has literally just been brazed in those pictures

I loved the polished look, it wasn't done in house, they send it out and there is a small surcharge for it.. though nothing like Lynskey charge for polish!
I also wanted a little bit of extra colour, to tie in some of the accessories and highlight some of the silver and braze (gold) BLING!
Image
I am not 100 sure the while with black writing works as intended, the writing doesn't stand out enough, once the seat goes on it will change from this, though
Image
Image
Image
I thought about having the cyfac solid (like on the rear stays) but think the outline is better in this size
Image
My favourite detail, by far
They then put a clear coat over everything, purely for longativity

I am also getting a custom painted fork, cages, and seat post, but will post those up later, again, the detail is it key

The delay has allowed a bit of change to my build, as I was able to save (6 week euro holiday notwithstanding!)
I am now swapping out to Campagnolo, and Chorus 11 was chosen as a balance between performance, weight and cost. I bought it at an obscene price while in Italy around 30% less than PBK/Wiggle/Ribble/anyone else
I had to convert my Hubs for the Tubs, which Reynolds sell a kit for. I had a spare seat, I won at a club raffle, pedals (Speedplay CrMo)were at a silent auction for very cheap
So the only thing to go are the Bars, which I have gone for 3T Rotundo LTD, I am over shallow bars,
Lastly the stem, which I am tossing up, The shop has a few sizes for me to try out but limited to 120mm on the Arx LTD, while the Team is available up to 140mm, if I get the Team it will be in Stealth/Black

Wow, monster post - More to come

Geoff
Posts: 5395
Joined: Sat Dec 13, 2003 2:25 am
Location: Canada

by Geoff

Ok, that's nice.

by Weenie


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

www.starbike.com



BornaRuffian
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:00 pm

by BornaRuffian

Wow, I can't wait to see this built up :thumbup:

veloryan
Posts: 39
Joined: Sun Aug 22, 2010 11:56 pm

by veloryan

I think it's sooooo cool to see a brazed bike in the raw!

jz4nyc
Posts: 666
Joined: Sat Aug 30, 2008 7:07 am

by jz4nyc

THAT IS STELLAR.

Just beautiful. I want a frame finished in exactly this manner one day.

Can't wait to see the complete bike.

Hope it rides as good as it looks! :beerchug:

jghall
Posts: 102
Joined: Fri Sep 14, 2007 6:53 pm

by jghall

Big Cyfac fan here. That sure is pretty. Can't wait to see the final build pictures.

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

by CippoForLife

Gorgeous! Though I'm partial to my custom stainless bike, the Cyfac build quality is outrageous.
Congrats!

notsoswift
Posts: 176
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:00 am
Location: Melbourne

by notsoswift

The level of my expectation goes up every time I look at the photos!

I know a lot of this isn't rational, but as a racer of a certain age I also know the motor is more of an issue than the rolling stock... so I may as well make the thing make me tingle every time I look at it!
As for keeping it clean, lets not go there

tarz
Posts: 316
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 4:42 am
Location: Great southern land

by tarz

Awesome!
But then again I am biased; thank you for the shout out.

I was very much set on my paint job that I decided on but remained firm that if/when I get bored I would strip it back and expose the welds like you, which look fantastic!

Chorus will look as perfect as dura ace that is going on my frame.

Cannot wait to see yours built up, that said, I cannot wait to see mine built up either!

notsoswift
Posts: 176
Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:00 am
Location: Melbourne

by notsoswift

Teaser

Image

tarz
Posts: 316
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 4:42 am
Location: Great southern land

by tarz

THAT'S WHAT'S UP!!!!!!!!!!

User avatar
Tinea Pedis
Posts: 8614
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:08 am
Contact:

by Tinea Pedis

Very, very nice mate.

But...you have to lose the red saddle and Team red stripe from the post. Black would really tie it together better :beerchug:

tarz
Posts: 316
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 4:42 am
Location: Great southern land

by tarz

Need I bring up the Deda stem :shock: ..... haha

I would tend to agree with Tinea, but I also understand you were most likely trying to bring out the red in the frame itself by going with the red saddle etc...

Interesting to hear your thoughts on the frame, there are a few slight differences between our setups.

Also interested to hear your thoughts on the strength/stiffness of those LTD bars...

And of course final weight....

User avatar
Tinea Pedis
Posts: 8614
Joined: Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:08 am
Contact:

by Tinea Pedis

With an incredible looking frame like this, and it is a stunner, just let the frame do the talking.

You can remove the red stripe from the 3T Team gear. Deda stem is harder, as that is under the clear coat (unless that's changed). So if you can match it up awesome, otherwise try and tone it down and bring all the attention to the frame.

As all that saddle and post do is try and drag your eyes away, and I don't want my eyes dragged in that direction :beerchug:

by Weenie


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

www.starbike.com



musk3t
Posts: 38
Joined: Thu May 10, 2012 11:43 am

by musk3t

Zero100 stem black stem has never had clear coat (only the painted white). The stripes are easily removed with a little acetone and rubbing. Do it early though, before UV light fades the surrounds, leaving a light negative.

Or simply polish it up completely.

Post Reply