Cyclocross - Steel VS Ti

Weight aside, for those of you who have ridden or owned both steel and Ti, which do you prefer and why? I have lots of experience on steel bikes. I was looking to consolidate my stable or even sell off most of them and buy one really nice ride. Never been a big fan of Al or CF. So, I'm sticking with steel but could be talked into Ti.

I've had/have both and as far as ride, they are pretty much the same in my experience. Durability is better with Ti in respects to corrosion. Weight isn't a factor really since you can get some high dollar steel frames that are comparable in weight to similar priced Ti frames.

I have a couple of steel road bikes and a titanium road bike. I take care with my steel bikes but the paint still manages to get dinged from time to time. Even though I live in a very dry area and don't have to worry about rust much with my steel bikes, I enjoy the bare metal look of my titanium bike.

If you regularly ride on the beach, you can worry about rust in 10 or 20 years. Otherwise, it's a pretty baseless argument.

Think about why you have several bikes--can you do everything with one? I often daydream about going down to one, but usually I have a bike set up with fenders and racks, one with a fixed gear, a mountain bike, one undergoing some project, etc etc. Yes, I could do all that with one bike, but it would mean spending a lot of time in the garage shifting it from mode to mode.

Eric
currently 3 steel and 1 scandium, but I had a steel MTB in the past as well

Weight for Weight, Ti is lighter vs Steel. Comparable steel frames are much more thin walled and MAYBE not as durable. Personally, ride is preferable on Ti. Do have a steel cross bike as well, though it is semiretired ( a classic Ritchey), the canti brake bosses spring adjustment holes on the frame and fork widened (got ovalized) and therefore need to be replaced by a frame builder sometime in the future.

Lastly, the paint on my Ritchey is chipping off, even though it is a excellent paint job. WITW in IMO ;)

I rode the same version of a road bike in Ti and steel and I could not tell the difference between the two. Ti seems like the way to go for longevity and the price of a nice Ti v a nice steel frame is not humongous these days.

I rode the same version of a road bike in Ti and steel and I could not tell the difference between the two. Ti seems like the way to go for longevity and the price of a nice Ti v a nice steel frame is not humongous these days.

I was thinking the same thing. I own 2 Waterfords now, both bought used. As far as steel goes they don't get much more expensive new. So, Ti isn't really more price wise. I was just looking for something new. I'm really not too excited about having a CF fork though.

I was thinking the same thing. I own 2 Waterfords now, both bought used. As far as steel goes they don't get much more expensive new. So, Ti isn't really more price wise. I was just looking for something new. I'm really not too excited about having a CF fork though.

American built Ti is still really expensive if you go with something like a seven, but other companies are doing some nice stuff with overseas builders and still getting a lot of quality and value out. you might be interested in Everti. Pretty good prices on nice frames, with only a slight upcharge for custom.

I am still a little iffy on carbon forks, but i ride them none the less.