Re: [CR] Speedwell? Was: A view of Teledyne Titan bikes from a long perspective

(Example: Framebuilders:Mario Confente)

Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 10:05:19 -0800 (GMT-08:00)
From: "Marc St. Martin" <marc.stmartin@earthlink.net>
To: jjandkk <designzero@earthlink.net>, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] Speedwell? Was: A view of Teledyne Titan bikes from a long perspective


Hello Listmembers,

Here are pics of two early titanium bikes; Speedwell and Flema Titan:

Look 'em up by frame size (small)

http://www.speedbicycles.ch/

By the way, this is an excellent site.

Regards,

Marc St. Martin Livermore, CA

-----Original Message-----

>From: jjandkk <designzero@earthlink.net>

>Sent: Nov 22, 2006 8:44 AM

>To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

>Subject: Re: [CR] Speedwell? Was: A view of Teledyne Titan bikes from a long perspective

>

>Jan Heine wrote:

>

>How about the Speedwell? Obviously, if Ocana used it in the TTs of

>the Tour he won, it can't have been all bad. Was it better than the

>Teledyne? Is the Teledyne then simply a flawed design, one of the

>"could have beens" if they had done it right?

>

>Does anybody have information about the Speedwell? Production

>numbers? Ride quality? Durability? All I've seen are a few fuzzy

>photos and Rebour drawings of details.

>

>

>

>Having ridden both way back in 1974 here are my two pennies.

>

>The Speedwell was lighter, but not by much, of "normal" tube outside diameters and was much more whippy than a Teledyne. The fork was configured in a way that made it a bit more rigid fore and aft. Titans flexed much just beyond the crown under even moderate braking, one was best to brake prior to a corner on a Titan.

>

>The Titan had a doubled tube cuff at the seat cluster to handle the seat stays and provide a bit more meat for the welded on seat post binder ears. The Speedwell did not, and the one at the shop tore just beyond that weld quickly. Speedwell did make a number of minor running changes to their frames, the one I experienced was from later 1973. So, Speedwell was "first".

>

>The Speedwell came in a brushed, almost polished satin finish, the Titan was annodized except for a small number near the end that were painted.

>Those painted frames were offered at a reduced price, we suspected that they had cosmetic flaws that only paint could hide. I would give the Speedwell the nod in the visual appeal deptartment.

>

>One had to adapt to get the most out of either, but they provided a comfortable ride, the Speedwell a bit more as its geometry was more conservative. Both bikes "climbed" well, the frame flex felt as if it rebounded at a harmonic that assisted the pedal stroke, being lighter did not hurt either.

>

>Ron Skarin rode both a road ant track Titan to good effect, picking up many National Championship jerseys on his.

>

>John Jorgensen

>Torrance Ca USA