I have ordered a fire sale size large F5 Pro from RANS. I’ve been casually looking at new bikes since my Corsa hit the 25,000 mile mark. Aluminum frames aren’t known for lasting forever. I’m plainly not as hard on equipment as many riders, but I’m no lightweight rider, either (my weight ranges from 183 to 191 pounds). I hadn’t expected to buy anything this quickly, and to be honest, until Paul posted in rbent about the RANS garage sale, the F5 wasn’t on my radar at all. My new bike was always going to be another high racer, but the F5 is probably the least sexy high racer I could have picked. It looks like RANS is going to discontinue the it in favor of the Rifle. The more I’ve thought about it though, the more sense this size large F5 makes for me.
A major consideration is the rougher roads I find myself riding on since I moved to Gun Barrel City. A steel frame, with a slightly longer wheelbase than the Corsa, and 700C wheels, is bound to provide a bit better ride. An F5 isn’t any heavier than a Corsa, and I should be able to achieve a very similar riding position, so the new bike shouldn’t slow me down any. And the price I gave RANS for this bike was too good to pass up.
One criticism of the F5 is the added flex that its 2″ round main tube has over the 2″ x 2 1/2″ ovalized tube of the Bacchettas. I have no doubt that for a rider of Kent Polk’s strength, this kind of flex would be a major negative. I’m strong, and there’s no doubt I could flex the bottom bracket for a few seconds but, lung damaged old f*rt that I am, it would only be for a few seconds. Then, I would be back to the easy spin that is standard for me. I always favored spinning over mashing, anyway, so I don’t think the flex of the F5 frame will be too much for me at all.
I had always favored a medium size high racer frame over a large. I’m within the range that will fit either size. I’m 5′ 9″ tall (almost two inches shorter than when my spine wasn’t shaped like a mountain trail), but have long legs and arms for that height (Greg alternately calls me a gorilla and spider). My xseam is ~43″. But the Euromesh seat I love is a tall seat, and with a 700C high racer, seat height does become a major consideration. With a large frame, a rider ends up further forward on the bike, and on a stick frame high racer, that equals higher off the ground. But a large frame does center your weight better between the wheels, and that plus the fact that a large has a longer wheelbase, improves the ride.
This F5 has no seat or wheels. It is also missing the v-clamp and seat angle. I ordered those two parts with the bike. I’ll start out with the Euromesh from my Corsa as a seat, and see how that works out. It’s a tall seat. If it proves to be too tall on this 700C bike, I may get something else for it.
As for wheels, I plan on getting or building some which have the Velocity A23 rims. These rims are 23mm wide, 4mm wider than the standard 19mm wide road rims, and improve the profile and ride of 23mm tires enough that I’ll likely start out running them. Imagine that, being able to take advantage of all the shopping deals you can find on 700C 23mm tires. I love the 559 A23 wheels I built for the Xstream (that are actually on the Corsa right now). With an odd size like that (MTB rims on road spaced hubs), I just ordered the parts and built them, but with 700C wheels, there are such great deals to be found on already built wheels that use the A23 rims, there are some you can buy for less than you can build a set, so I may buy already built wheels.
I’m presuming the F5 comes with a RANS B-41 handlebar. I also own a RANS three way adjustable high racer bar. I’ve always liked the narrower Bachetta tweener bar better than either of these though, so I may buy one. This bike should go very well with my new Team RANS jersey, too. LOL. I’m not sure what model year the bike is. Perhaps the serial number will tell me that. I’ll post more after I get the bike.
An image of an F5 Pro from RANS’ website.
