I built up one of the sample frames I had made for me in Taiwan.  I took it on a good ride, and I feel confident offering the other five frames and forks I have for sale at this point.  After these five are gone, I will be taking pre-orders for my first big order of these frames.

I designed the 2XLT specifically for folks 6'4" to 6'10" (I am 6'6").

Here are frame specifications and my thoughts:

Frame Geometry:

"Virtual" Center-to-Top Seat Tube Length (assumes horizontal top tube): 68cm

Top Tube Slope:  Up 5cm from seat tube to head tube

Top Tube Length, Center-to-Center, Measured on the Horizontal: 63.4cm

Wheelbase: 1089mm

Chainstay Length: 43cm

BB Drop: 6.5cm

Head Angle: 73°

Seat Angle: 72°

Fork Steerer Tube Length: 400mm

Materials:

Frame: 7005 High Strength Aluminum with Replaceable Drive-Side Dropout

Fork: Carbon Fiber with Aluminum Dropouts

Eyelets, Etc:

Frame – Eyelets and inserts for a rear rack and rear fender plus two water bottles

Fork – Single eyelet on each dropout

Weight:

Frame: 1676g (3.69lb)

Fork: 612g (1.35lb)

Maximum Tire Size: 700C X 32mm, front.  Rear tire could be wider.

Headset Requirement: Cane Creek IS2 Integrated headset, or equivalent

Brake Requirement:  Brakes must have at least 56mm of reach

Fit:

I built the frame up with all the headset spacers I could fit on the uncut steerer tube.  These totaled 3.3" (84mm), and they brought the handlebars up to about 1cm below my saddle height (I have a 37" inseam).  I was using a 140mm stem with 7 degrees of rise.  If I cut down the steerer tube and flipped the stem down, I am guessing the bars would have been about 9cm below the saddle.

Even though I generally try to get the most stretched-out position I can on a bicycle, I have never been THIS stretched out.  During the first few miles of riding, I even (gasp) thought about putting on a shorter stem.  However, as I relaxed into the extra stretch, I realized that I LIKED IT!  By the end of the ride, I had a big smile on my face.

Ride:

Most really large frames have very steep head angles.  I bucked this trend with the 2XLT.  I kept the head angle at 73°.  I knew that the relaxed head angle, combined with the long top tube and chain stays would make for a smooth, stable ride, and I was curious to see just how smooth it would be.  I had ridden my "proof of concept" frame, built from steel tubing, for many miles.  It had essentially the same geometry, but it was a bit heavier (at 3.7lb, I consider the 2XLT frame to be light, but not too light.  It is plenty sturdy enough for us big folks).

I was pleasantly surprised by the responsiveness of the 2XLT frame.  It was as stable as I had hoped, but it cornered like a champ.  The frame was plenty stiff, although not quite as stiff as my first-generation Cannondale, circa 1985.  The carbon fork did not seem to feel substantially different from the steel forks I have ridden in the past.  Perhaps I am not as tuned in to the subtle aspects of ride "feel" as some other folks.  Perhaps my 28mm rear tire and relatively soft saddle are cushy enough to override the small differences created by different frame materials.

Overall Impressions:

I have the bike set up for fast sport-riding, and it has risen admirably to the task.  I have not yet mounted a rack and fatter tires, but I am looking forward to seeing how the behavior of the bike changes when I have it set up for touring or the urban jungle.

I am also looking forward to taking the bike on some looooong rides through the mountains of Southern California.  It will be a new and exciting experience for me, doing some extended rides on a thoroughly modern bicycle that actually fits me!