I’ve gone and sent my deposit off to Crisp Titanium for a future new bike (he purposely avoided talking about lead time in his initial email to me, so this could very well be a retirement project) and I assume I’m now in the queue. I’m glad that I have a lot of time to wait because 1) I can find some way to put money aside for it, and 2) I need to make some crucial decisions. Maybe you can help.

Rim or Disc Brakes

I’ve already tested this question out on a couple of friends, so I think I know what answers I might get from the rest of you. I’m not against the though of disc brakes TOO much, but it’s still a question I have – and an important one, I think. Once the frame is made for one, I’m not sure it could be changed to accommodate the other (Crisp doesn’t do it, according to his website).

I still dislike the look of discs, for the record.

Mechanical or Electronic Shifting

This one is a bit easier. I think I would consider electronic, mainly because I know more about it and am comfortable that it’ll work. It’s also clean looking and probably doesn’t add much weight (or is it lighter?).

And if I go that extra step, is it wireless?

Compact or 1X

This is probably the only bit of tech that I’m on the progressive side of, perhaps because it simplifies, rather than complicates, things. We are finally coming to the day where road bikes can be ridden with one chainring and by the time I actually get my bike, it could be even more realistic. I still love the idea of not having to shift the front ring, no matter how easy it would be with electronic shifting.

Tire clearance

This one is only important if I think that tire widths will reach ridiculous proportions, which seems to be the way things are going at the moment. I’m still riding 23s on the Colnago, so even going up to max 28 would make me feel like I’m riding on a sofa, but I’d be tempted to go further. My fear here is esthetics – I don’t generally like the look of bikes with massively wide seat stays. Maybe max 30?

Whatever I decide on, if the finished product rides well and looks something like Darren’s latest creation, I’ll be happy. Poorer, but happy.