David Singlespeed Unrau

(last updated 2007-05-06)

I’m currently riding one of our prototype full carbon, full custom road frames.

The frame is fully customized to me, both in terms of geometery and stiffness. The frame weighs 2.5 lbs and the bike as built weighs in at around 15.5lbs. The current details are:

• Frame - custom carbon road frame, 3K weave over unidirectional with kevlar reinforcements. Titanium bottom bracket insert. Aluminum dropouts. Non-structural, electrically isolated aluminum surfaces for headset reaming and facing.
• Fork - Colombus Muscle full carbon.
• Groupo - full Campagnolo Chorus. 2007 shifters, carbon Ultra-Torque cranks, derailleurs, chain and cassette. 2006 (non-skeleton) differential brakes as I like the old ones better!
• Wheels - Campagnolo Zonda’s -stiff, reasonable weight and descent price.
• Extras - FSA Energy bar, FSA OS-115 stem, FSA Orbit X OS headset, Cadence carbon seatpost, Schwalbe Ultremo tires, Michelin lightweight tubes, Speedplay X/2 pedals. White SLR Gel-Flow saddle and white Cinelli cork tape. Elite stainless cages.

Having returned from ~25hrs of climbing and descending in South Carolina, I can report that the bike rides amazing. The frame and crank are stiff around the bottom bracket and working out of the saddle. However, the vertical stiffness is not excessive and the bike rides comfortably and descends with great confidence. I hit 85kph a couple of times, and the limiter was the either the road or the 12T top end I had on. Even at these speeds, the bike turns confidently and holds it’s line perfectly over road imperfections.

Custom joints are constructed around preformed tubes in a fashion that gets around a number of the limitations of conventional molded and lugged construction techniques.

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