Yamaguchi Road Bike

[El Chorizo]

Here's my new Yamaguchi Team USA road bike. Although I was unsure about the custom geometry drawn by Koichi, it felt natural and comfortable the moment I mounted it. The ride is even better - stiff yet compliant. It "planes" beautifully.

It has a custom stem, CK headset, DA 7800 front and rear derailleurs, Ultegra shifters and a Raceface Cadence cranskset (53/39). The wheelset is Ultegra/Open Pro (36h rear, 32h front).

Although intended as my primary workhorse/training bike, it may see duty as my century/sportive ride.

[mschol17]

Very nice.

[MaestroXC]

Wow, very clean. Was the different geometry because you thought you wanted one thing and he thought differently, or did you get fit by him and the results were different than you expected?

[El Chorizo]

Wow, very clean. Was the different geometry because you thought you wanted one thing and he thought differently, or did you get fit by him and the results were different than you expected?

Koichi is not the most communicative builder in the world; I definately did not get that warm and fuzzy feeling from him. I sent him my fit sheet and the geometry that he came up with was significantly different than what I expected, expecially the angle of the stem. But I deferred to his expertise and the results were amazing. I have never been so comfortable on a a race-oriented bike. I get the sense that his fitting technique is more intutitive than the others.

[HoSS]

Gorgeous.

[bcplouffe]

Is that Yamaguchi's own fork?

[El Chorizo]

Is that Yamaguchi's own fork?

Yes, it is. And no toe clearance issues to speak of.

[Vlad Luskin]

It "planes" beautifully.

Two legitimate questions:

1. What does planing feel like to you?

2. What tubing did Koichi use for this frame?

... inquiring minds and all ...

[El Chorizo]

Two legitimate questions:

1. What does planing feel like to you?

2. What tubing did Koichi use for this frame?

... inquiring minds and all ...

Jan Heine of Bicycle Quarterly describes “planing” as, “… the effect of the rider’s pedal stroke getting in sync with the bike. This enables the rider to maintain a higher output than on a bike that feels as if it was resisting the rider’s pedaling input. Planing requires the rider’s pedal stroke to match the flex characteristics of the bike. In some cases, we have to ride a bike for a while before we are able to adjust our pedaling to get in sync and experience planing.”

In this instance, I definately feel less resistance to my pedal stroke which results in a slight increase in speed. But the real sensation is one of smoothness throughout the pedal stroke. The end result being less effort to maintain my regular cadence and speed. The bike also feels that it absorbs road shock extremely well (though this might be a function of the wheelset and tires). I was impressed with just how quickly I felt these characteristics.

However, planing is genearlly attributed to thin-tubed framesets which, apparently, are more flexible than oversized tubes. Here, the bike is built with custom drawn True Temper tubing. The down tube is 'aero" shaped and the seatube is wider at the botton bracket than at the top. This makes for a relatively stiff frame. I weigh 225lbs and cannot discern any flex at the bottom bracket.

So...based upon the tenor of your questions, I admit that planing may be a subjective sensation brought on by the excitement of a new bike. More likely, though, it may be that Yamaguchi simply knows how to build one hell of a bike.:thumbs_up:

[Vlad Luskin]

Jan Heine of Bicycle Quarterly describes “planing” as, “… the effect of the rider’s pedal stroke getting in sync with the bike. This enables the rider to maintain a higher output than on a bike that feels as if it was resisting the rider’s pedaling input. Planing requires the rider’s pedal stroke to match the flex characteristics of the bike. In some cases, we have to ride a bike for a while before we are able to adjust our pedaling to get in sync and experience planing.”

In this instance, I definately feel less resistance to my pedal stroke which results in a slight increase in speed. But the real sensation is one of smoothness throughout the pedal stroke. The end result being less effort to maintain my regular cadence and speed. The bike also feels that it absorbs road shock extremely well (though this might be a function of the wheelset and tires). I was impressed with just how quickly I felt these characteristics.

However, planing is genearlly attributed to thin-tubed framesets which, apparently, are more flexible than oversized tubes. Here, the bike is built with custom drawn True Temper tubing. The down tube is 'aero" shaped and the seatube is wider at the botton bracket than at the top. This makes for a relatively stiff frame. I weigh 225lbs and cannot discern any flex at the bottom bracket.

So...based upon the tenor of your questions, I admit that planing may be a subjective sensation brought on by the excitement of a new bike. More likely, though, it may be that Yamaguchi simply knows how to build one hell of a bike.:thumbs_up:

Thank you for your response. If you don't mind, I'd like to continue this discussion. I asked what it feels like to you because a number of people believe in planing and just as many laugh at the believers. I've read Heine's many pieces on planing and am fine with the concept. I even think I've felt planing a couple of times, but I think it was only when I was in really good shape. As you said, it may be a sense that's completely individual to the rider. I think we agree that planing traditionally refers to flexier bikes, yet you said you don't discern any flex in your Yamaguchi... so maybe we are back to "I know it when I feel it" kind of thing.

Gorgeous bike, by the way.

Anyone else planing out there? And what does it feel like to you?

[swoop]

oh christ, not planing. please, not here.

[Peter Polack]

So what were the differences between the geometry you expected and that which Yamaguchi came up with?

[Vlad Luskin]

oh christ, not planing. please, not here.

He started it!!!!!!!:embarassed:

[Too Tall]

That bike is so darn nice. Rare and beautiful, you are a lucky man

Hey, I normally have alot of patience for kidding around about J.H., Grant, Koolaide blah blah blah BUT if anyone uses the work "planing" in a sentance with bicycle as far as I'm concerned the joke is on you.

Peace, TT.

[El Chorizo]

That bike is so darn nice. Rare and beautiful, you are a lucky man

Hey, I normally have alot of patience for kidding around about J.H., Grant, Koolaide blah blah blah BUT if anyone uses the work "planing" in a sentance with bicycle as far as I'm concerned the joke is on you.

Peace, TT.

I was only trying to explain my experience on the bike. JH's explanation (or observations) best describe my experience. Is planing a creature of physics? Maybe, maybe not. However, based on the acrimony (sp?) throughout this thread, it doesn't appear that anyone really knows either.

Please note that I also provided some counter-argument to the hypothesis (wheels, tires, tubing, etc.). Heck, maybe the bottom bracket bearings account for some of the perceived smoothness. The point is that none of us can say with scientific certainty that planing does or does not exist. Perhaps the hypothesis should be properly tested.

So, I''ll amend my inital statement and state only that the bike rides really well (almost as if it were planing. :D)

EC

[Rodador]

He started it!!!!!!!:embarassed:

I thought he was joking about that.

[anomaly]

I want a Yamaguchi like no ones business.