MAGAZINE OF THE MARCO POLO CLUB Spin ... - Cathay Pacific

BESPOKE
26 THE CLUB
WEBSITES
www.sevencycles.com
www.ventanausa.com
www.titusti.com
www.serotta.com
www.ti-bicycle.com
www.xacd.com.cn
Seven Carbon
VII road bike
www.victorycycling.net
www.fl yingball.com
with,” he says. Heung says that being honest with yourself about
how and where you ride is critical.
“In many cases people would like to think that they would use
the bike for [a certain purpose], but many times end up riding it
just a few times because the bike is not sized or designed for what
they really do with it.”
In a sense, buying a custom bike is like choosing a spouse – you
want to be sure you’ve got the right one before you make a commitment.
Like dating, you want to determine as much as you can
about yourself fi rst – your tastes, passions, quirks and personal style,
before looking for a match. When you fi nd the right bike for you,
the marriage can be similarly rewarding.
KEEP THE RIGHT FRAME IN MIND
Without getting too deep
into metallurgical science,
there are a few factors to
keep in mind when choosing
a frame material. Important
considerations for a frame,
other than ride quality, are
durability, corrosion resistance,
weldability (important
for touring) and fatigue life.
Steel is susceptible to rust
but can be easily welded
back together if you have
an accident when you’re
trekking across continents
where bike shops are few
and far between. Aluminum
resists corrosion but has a
shorter fatigue life and is
usually painted or anodized
(coated with a protective
layer). Carbon-fibre frames
come in many qualities and
varieties, so it is best to stick
to well-established designers
with a lot of experience (and
a solid warranty policy).
Titanium is by far the
most popular choice for
custom frames as it is the
most scratch-resistant, has
an excellent fatigue life and,
depending on the alloy mixture,
is also very corrosion
resistant. Riders say it has
a smooth feel compared
to aluminum frames and
surface scratches are easily
brushed out. It is also the
most expensive.
Philip Sung, who works
at Hong Kong’s Flying Ball
bicycle shop, says that for
many customers, once you
choose titanium you never
go back.
“Most people [who order
custom] buy a titanium bike,
and it will be the last bike they
ever buy,” he says. Flying Ball
does measuring services for
both Seven Cycles and Titus,
using specialised equipment.
The US-based frame builders
will then interview customers
to get exact specifi cations.
Jonathan Speelman, who
bought a Seven mountain
bike hardtail from Flying Ball,
believes titanium was worth
the investment as it will last
a lifetime. “It has a longevity
that is appealing,” he says.
But he warns that with
such an expensive material,
“getting the fit right is
critical as you age because
your back, legs and arms will
complain if the fi t is out after
a long ride”.
Photo: Brandon Kirk