|   Steel is SO real! | Ska!
Mar 27, 2002 9:08 AM | | Well, It's all done. It has been for a number of days actually but I thought I'd post a brief list of my thoughts thus far.
After riding nothing but a major STIFF aluminum GT for the past 5 years, jumping on this Dekerf really was odd. At first I kept looking back as it felt like I had a flat, or suddenly, my back rim was flopping around. I honestly could feel the frame flexing under me, the whole frame, not just the soft-tail. At first it made me very nervous as I'd never experienced any movement whatsoever (those who have ridden any aluminum GT hard tail will know what that's like (REV?)) and was surprised. I'd been told by a few to get ready for a big change but, man! I didn't expect this.
After a while I started to get used to it. Admittedly, at first, I went easy on the trails as I studied the way the frame reacted in different situations. Then I thought to myself, "This must be normal" and hammered down. When I did I immediately felt a HUGE performance difference between this ride and my GT and I fell in love with this beautiful machine.
It hugs the corners and handles tight twisty stuff without stuttering. NO bouncing rear end (which used to cause me to have to slow down at times) like its aluminum predecessor. The 1" (1 and a half maybe?) of travel soaks up just enough to encourage me to travel faster, and I do. It's not long before I get used to the flex and can no longer feel it. This frame is FANTASTIC! I have since ridden it every day since I finished putting it together and enjoy it more on every outing. I've never lost my passion for riding but this bike really makes me CRAVE getting out on it. So in three words, what do I think of my new ride? I LOVE IT!
I don't have time to type more than that even though I really want to. I have soooo much to say about it and it's all good. Guess I'll have to leave it for now (sorry).
All the parts were stripped from the GT, cleaned and put onto this bike and yes, that includes my trademark "ape-hanger" riser bars. ;-) The spare parts in the basement will be put onto the GT which will then be converted into my new commuter bike.
I'm sure the Dekerf will inspire a million passionate stories to write soon enough.
Cheers.
Ska! (Chip and others are right. Steel is most definitely real)
p.s. The bike is no longer that clean ;-) |
| Cool! | kristian
Mar 27, 2002 9:15 AM | | I'm glad to hear that you like it Ska! I can't wait to read your first passionate ride recap generated from your new muse! |
| GT hardtails stiff? Its your imagination.... | Rev Bubba
Mar 27, 2002 9:19 AM | | Best of luck with the Dekerf. Glad it rides so well. I'm looking forward to experiencing the feel of steel. I've had lower end steel bikes and even there I could feel the difference when I went to the Zaskar in '98.
If the schedule is kept, my frame should be in just after Easter. I spend Sunday cleaning up the parts to move over. |
| Are those Nytex carbon cranks? | 2melow
Mar 27, 2002 9:21 AM | | I remember a bunch of those floating around about 4 years back...
That is a sweet ride. Your back tire is pretty much bald unless there is some type of zipper tread i'm not seeing...
Brett (wouldn't trade my steel IF for anything) |
| Syncros and Conti Twister (nm) | mac
Mar 27, 2002 9:28 AM | | nm |
| D'oh! | Ska!
Mar 27, 2002 9:36 AM | | Was searching for a good pic of the cranks and posted, then saw this. Oh well.
Later, I really gotta fly.
There it is mac. |
| Sweet! I guess... | mac
Mar 27, 2002 10:05 AM | | you are glad you never outfitted the GT with purple ano accessories now huh?
Black...it goes with everything...and is slimming at the same time. |
| No, tires aren't bald. | Ska!
Mar 27, 2002 9:34 AM | | They're Conti Twister Pros., kind of a cross between semi-slicks and knobbies. Great tires though, I like them. My crummy camera just didn't pick up the fine details (small knobbies along the centre). I'm ready to toss that piece of junk ;-)
Thanks for the kind words 2melow!
As for the cranks/rings Syncros aluminum. |
| didn't the twisters slip in front? | weather
Mar 27, 2002 7:42 PM | | i got some serious slipping when i had one up front. switched back to wg lite s and the combo's been working fine since. |
| Only when met with a bag of chips! ;-) | Ska!
Mar 28, 2002 7:08 AM | | Sorry, it's a reference to an old post of mine ;-) In answer to your question, no I don't get much slipping really. Conditions (for the most part) around here are great for this tire and I must say I'm very happy with them. I think the only area they may lack performance is in the loose pebbly stuff. When conditions I'll be riding in change dramatically, so too do my tires.
Ska! |
| Very sweet....... | celly
Mar 27, 2002 9:27 AM | | I definitely want to own a DeKerf some day. The ST is about as good as they get.
Enjoy! |
| "At first I kept looking back as it felt like I had a flat"... | Biking Viking
Mar 27, 2002 9:49 AM | | LOL, that's exactly what a softtail gives you.
Beautiful bike.
BV |
| neat-o | Howard Roark
Mar 27, 2002 9:52 AM | | That bike is COOL! Welcome to the steal world (ha ha, real world, steal world, i'm funny). I wonder what my '98 Fisher would be like with a rear shock...
HR |
| 853 bebe! | francis
Mar 27, 2002 10:06 AM | | That's what I'm talking about. Welcome to the club. I think it's the perfect material for hardtails. You might have not even needed a softail since you were coming from a really harsh bike.
Congrats and enjoy the ride. I love the handlebars btw!
francis |
| 853 hoooo-weee! | Mike T.
Mar 27, 2002 10:34 AM | | I had a custom 853 frame (with 853 stays) and it jack-hammered me. The rear end would skip on slightly rough climbs. The builder now only uses 853 stays when requested.
I went overnight to a Ti Seven Sola and like Ska I was looking around for flat tires and wobbling rear wheel. So for me, Ti is more perfecter than that steel.
Mike (three years later, still happy) T. |
| you're right... | francis
Mar 27, 2002 11:29 AM | | My bike and most good steel bikes have columbus rear triangles and 853 fronts. I've had a Dean ti bike and a Titus ti bike and were ok. A bit flexy, not very pretty.
Seven is another story though as I hear from you and the gang. Is it called seven since you can build a $7k bike???
francis
photo: This bike was built on Saturday and raced on Sunday. Soooo nice. |
| Oh...so you're saying that I don't have a "good steel bike"? | kristian
Mar 27, 2002 11:42 AM | | I've got 853 stays on my bike and they are pretty damned stiff for a steel bike--it feels a lot less compliant than my old OX Gold Fisher does. Still, it's way better feeling than any aluminum hardtail I've ridden and the stiffness in the rear is easily offset by a Ti seatpost and a DH tire.
I would go full Columbus if I were to do it again, but hopefully I won't have to for another 8 to 10 years! (and when I do it will be on Steamboat Springs welded Ti...) |
| No, you have a stiff steel bike... | 2melow
Mar 27, 2002 12:37 PM | | ..most steel bicycle manufacturers like to use Columbus Nivacrom rear ends for a bit more compliance.
Columbus tubing is easier to manipulate and work with than 853.
853 is stiff stuff, your Fluid probably rides like a cannondale. Just kidding.
Francis, no belt-drive single speed? |
| They.............. | Mike T.
Mar 27, 2002 12:12 PM | | .....should be re-labled Ninepointfive then when they are exported to Canada ;o) |
| Very, very nice | Jive Tolkien
Mar 27, 2002 10:13 AM | | In ferrous veritas (or something). |
| MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM DeKerf | Pat T.®
Mar 27, 2002 10:28 AM | | I built up one of those for a guy, man they are sweet frames. Very nice ride man :o) |
| Very, very cool. Congrats. (nm) | -Chip.
Mar 27, 2002 10:36 AM | | |
| I hate it. | Stick
Mar 27, 2002 10:51 AM | | just kidding, of course. Looks great, Steve. Congratulations!
-Stick ('Thumbing nose in the face of popular opinion since 1975' ;) |
| Nice.... veeerrry niiiice! (nm) | ®andyA
Mar 27, 2002 11:09 AM | | . |
| Sweet! | Goat
Mar 27, 2002 1:24 PM | | But, please clue in the clueless here (me). How...I mean, what ta....well....is that thing some kind of integrated shock on the rear? Does the rear triangle flex that much? How does this thing work. Educate this here sheltered hick, please.
It looks like a sweet ride, regardless. Niiiiiice color. |
| Yes, shock. Called a softail. Pivotless rear suspension. NM | CraigH
Mar 27, 2002 1:32 PM | | nm |
| That concept has been around for years, but... | Biking Viking
Mar 27, 2002 2:21 PM | | ...not many steel frames have it.
BV |
| Aiiiggghhh!!! | Dr.Faustus
Mar 27, 2002 1:58 PM | | I am having incredible bike envy (well, other than the color 8*P) right now! The worst part is that a new bike is at least a year off for me. So I'm stuck riding a jack-hammer aluminum HT for another year. I'm really going to have to stop reading these NEW BIKE posts! AIIIGGHH!
Dr.(buying a house instead)F. |
| Gorgeous! | Mary Ann
Mar 27, 2002 3:09 PM | | That's a great bike. Congrats!
I'm wondering where all the snow is though! Your picture has dry grass in it. Do you still have that?
Mary Ann (still shovelling out from yesterday's record-breaking dump) |
| Which one is it? | Endo Calrissian
Mar 28, 2002 5:47 AM | | I went to the DeKerf site but wasn't able to find the soft tail. They do have a FS and a bunch of HT, but no ST. Do they still make that?
Y |
| DeKerf Team ST (history)... | Ska!
Mar 28, 2002 6:56 AM | | I'll try to get this right. If I'm wrong, in some regard, I'm sure someone will chime in (and feel free to do so as well). I know I'll give you the general idea at least.
Here goes.
This particular frame is one of the last full 853 steel Softtails DeKerf made. It sat for a long time before I finally picked it up. The 853 Softails were known for their great handling and durability and the more I ride this thing the more I agree. DeKerf used to have Ritchey supply (? Perhaps build? That's the part I'm not 100% on) the tubing for the chain stays when they were doing the full 853's but, due to issues with huge delays at Ritchey, DeKerf decided to drop them and make the move to Ti chain stays. The rest of the bike would remain the same. Unfortunately, DeKerf didn't really get the 853 to Ti bonding right at first and the new model Softtail (with Ti chain stays) was prone for cracking/snapping. ;-( Very sad as DeKerf is very well known for their top-notch frame building/designs and they were not accustomed to that type of performance. They got it right in the later models after some reinforcing but I think the damage had been done by that point. After a recall on the new Softtails and a million returns, rather than make the change back to full 853 where they had great success, I think they opted to just pull the plug on the softail. |
| do you find it.... | fireboy
Mar 28, 2002 6:14 AM | | "twitchy"???
I borrowed a buddy's DK one day and after high siding it twice, begged to switch bikes back with him...lol...seems it has a pretty short toptube..and this one had a long stem. I guess "genesis" (bwahahaha) geometry has jaded me.....
terry |
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