FTW Industries XC dream bike

[novekili]

I posted some pics of this bike last year,

http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/postin ... &p=1221418


Now, however, it's a completely different beast.
The Kilo fork is still there, I wouldn't change it for anything else, but now it sports new wheels, with White Industries hubs, a modern carbon crankset which I sanded to have a raw look, and the fabulous new Brake Force Ones stoppers.

The frame needs no introduction. A friend of mine had a batch of 6 light XC frames built by FTW. Full story in the link above. Alu is a mix of Columbus and Easton pipes.

Brakes and fork are handmade in Germany, are quite expensive but worth the price, IMO. Brakes, in particular, are completely different from anything else, having them a closed system with no reservoir. The brake modulation is better than anything else but you have to get accustomed to them because braking is not so immediate, since the first part of the lever travel is only to make pads touch the disc. Braking takes place after this phase and stopping power is very good even with those one finger levers, which are made in carbon.


In one word, the perfect race frame. Neutral, precise, no excuses.

 

[novekili]

other pics

 

[wynne]

I like the evolution. Those brake levers look fantastic. Where did you get them and are they very expensive?

I think my 650b Spooky is a very similar frame. I've been riding it with some Easton Haven carbon 29" wheels for the last few months. Clearances are, unsurprisingly, a little tight, but it makes a fast rolling bike.



Rich

 

[novekili]

Gorgeous... how come you've swapped to 29" wheels? It seems the same tubeset as mine

BFO brakes are imported by a friend of mine... they are really expensive, around 800 Euros, but as I say theu work great and are very light.

 

[adri.75]

this bike is really cool!

I tested it this summer in Tuscany, a great bike,

my compliments, it is even more beautiful

 

[Mickey]

Know what's cool?

FTW is helping to design tubes for a new tubing mill down in Connecticut.

Starting next week all of our tubes will be designed by us and made by us down in CT, a mere 160 miles from where we weld the bikes.

New Dream Bikes coming soon!

 

[novekili]

can't imagine what will come out! Frank was complaining about the little tubeset choice he had; it really limited the possibility of frame design.

I'm really curious about the outcomes!

 

[nik_h]

Wowsers - that's a big bag of awesome right there

Nik

 

[novekili]

next step will be a decent crankset. Unfortunately White INd dosn't build 22-36 rings...