Origin: 'Old' NOS KHS Alloy 7005 Frame
A few years ago I've bought a 58cm 'KHS' 7005 alloy frame with carbon rear and chain stays as an NOS (New Old Stock) without guarantee from an official dealer. After an initial cheap prices I've negotiated to an even lower price for NT$1,700 or ~US$ 62.00 at the time I am writing this.
The bike was built up with some 9 speed parts which worked well. Even the ride quality was a little harsh with the carbon stays, I had a lot of joy and took some tours to the South of Taiwan. I even rode some bike challenges on it and was very satisfied with the overall feel and handling of the bike.
Unfortunately, the frame developed a cracking noise from the front chain wheel and I've decided to buy a new bottom bracket. The noise did not stop after the replacement and I had to have a closer look for the actual reason. Further investigation with a flashlight revealed a hairline crack right above the bottom bracket which let the shell move slightly up and down while pedaling. After only one additional ride this originally nearly undetectable fine black line spread throughout the whole seat tube beyond reasonable repair for this original cheaply bought frame.
As an avid rider at heart I went online and searched for a cheap replacement which would accept most (spare) parts from my older 'broken' bike. The head tube inner diameter should be the same 1 1/8', the bottom bracket should have the widely available and good quality BSA (or JIS) thread. Above all, the frame should be reasonable priced.
Continuation: 'New' NOS Fastrax Scandium Frame
I've discovered a NOS (new old stock) 'Fastrax' 56 cm (both center-center seat tube and c-c top tube) Scandium race bike frame for a very reasonable NT$2.500 (~US$90.00) plus shipping. All of my older parts could be used except for a new headset and a seat post. It grew from the older 27.2 mm to a newer beefed up 31.6 mm diameter.
I've never heard about this frame material, so I've made some research. Scandium is a silvery-white rare earth element. It is an expensive but very light metal which is a potent grain refiner that can increase yield and tensile strengths of alloys up to 30 percent (!), depending on the material (pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The result is a lighter but stronger frame with less rigid ride qualities than a comparable aluminum frame without scandium.
After receiving my order, the scale showed a very respectable weight of 1.200 grams for the 56 cm frame. I contribute this to the addition of scandium in the alloy and the improved construction quality.
1st Life
I've built up the frame with a carbon fork and 'old' Shimona Sora R3000 9-speed group, rode on the old Shimano RS010 wheelset. The overall ride quality was 'softer' than the previous 7005 alloy frame with carbon stays. Even the position was more aggressive, I've made some nice tours and had a lot of fun with the bike.
Hestitations
Don't get me wrong, the Sora (R3000) parts worked well. But unfortunately, I've built up another 'Italian Style' bike using Shimano 105 (R7000) parts. Comparing both systems, I found that the Sora's felt slow and sometimes unreliable. Especially when downshifting the front derailleur uphill under some load missing shifts put me in some odd situations.
While I continued riding my red 'Italian bike' I've decided to transfer the Sora parts, Deda handlebar/Ritchey stem combination and Shimano chain wheels from my Fastrax to my more leisurely Wheeler mountain bike. The frame and fork were sitting 'lonely' on Shimano wheels somewhere in a corner...
New Life
Jumping on my red Italian 'Peoloton' bike let me feel 'at home' immediately. Everything just fit like a glove, the ride was comfy, stable and subsequently fast. This is the result of an own bike built, you can freely choose whatever part fits your size, color, purpose etc. and, most important of all, you wallet.
But I've noticed one significant difference comparing both bikes: the red Peleton's wheelbase is around 5 cm longer, putting it in the Gran Fondo (long-distance road cycling) category. The white/blue bike is more a true racer, the shorter base makes it very agile; downhill and through tight twists it feels 'lively', the rider has to work more on and with it.
I missed these physical and mental challenges especially during long rides on my red bike. After some serious considerations, I've decided to rebuild the scandium bike with some modern upgrades.
Ride carefully,
Gerhard
A Word of Caution
Always ride with a helmet and in a way that you are in control of the bike and not the other way around. Ride responsibly and defensively, be prepared for a worst-case scenario! It is senseless to gain some seconds but spends weeks to recover in a hospital and/or at home for a stupid action! You, your body, your parents, your family, and friends will surely appreciate your precautions before, during, and after a bike ride.
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