Steel Frame Mafia Lend Me Your Pics
 

I’m considering a Cross Check build this winter for some semi-supported touring and chip n’ seal sprinting.

If I can afford it, this will be my first frame-up build. I want the overall build to work well and look cohesive. When I go to the shop, I’d like to take some pics of things that I like to help the conversation.

I’m unsure if I want to go with a more vintage/functional vibe or more techie and sleek. So I’m putting out the call for pics and inspiration.

Feel free to post pics/links to an all-up ride, or just a component (crank, seat, whatever) that works for you.

I’ll start. This is my Bianchi Imola, 2009 edition (some of you have seen this pic before). It is my point of reference, and balances tech and vintage pretty well. It will remain my smooth-road ride.

http://www.councilofmoo.com/bikes/20...-53_312_sm.jpg

I'll add my 2012 to the mix:
http://www.theleehousehold.com/galle...img_3364cc.jpg

Frankly, I like your color better. Whish they either had that or celeste in stock when I bought mine.

Mine has custom/hand-built wheels due to my weight on the day I bought it. I have a feeling I won't need those heavyweight wheels by next winter.

'05 IF SCJ SE in Starlight Purple atop the Brooklyn Bridge and my '11 LHT heading for a long weekend of camping on the Delaware River:

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282297http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282298

Long Haul Trucker, Road Mode:
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282302http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282303

Touring/Utility/Winter Mode:

Here is my LHT wannabe, a 1994 Nishiki Sport XRs. It started life as a hybrid, now it's got drop bars. I built for commuting and not touring, but it would probably be a good tourer.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...S/DSCI2204.jpg

A few key points: The tires are 700 x 35C Schwalbe Marathon Supremes, a tire with decent (but not amazing) flat resistance, and a smooth, nearly slick, tread pattern. They are a great compromise for touring- low rolling resistance, some flat protection, and wide enough to ride unpaved sections of trail. Good on chipseal and packed crushed stone, decent on dirt.

I have a dynamo hub (a SON 28) so I don't worry about charging batteries for the lights. A friend who owns an LBS and does a lot of randos built his wheel around a Sanyo dyno hub and says it's about as good for a lower price (I got the SON 28 as part of a previously built wheel.) For lights, go with the brightest you can get for the front, and a Busch & Müller Toplight Line Brake Plus (I have the Busch & Müller Toplight Line Plus; the Busch & Müller Toplight Line Brake Plus has a brake feature that lights the light up brighter when you're slowing- it senses dynamo pulse speed to do this.)

I have bar-end shifters. I have old friction Suntour Barcons with modern ramped gears and the friction shifters are very smooth. Indexed is good, but friction is almost as good with ramped gears.

'09 LHT taking a short break in the Arboretumhttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282314

This is my steel framed long-distance road bike, in it's current incarnation.

I switched from SRAM Brake/Shifter controls to BarCon shifters and standard brake levers because they're more reliable, and I don't relish the thought of dealing with a broken shifter out in BFE.

I like my personal blend of old-style functionality with new-style tech and looks, but everybody's got their own preferences.


Build:

Frame: Handsome Cycles Speedy Devil.
Drive Train: SRAM 50/34 and 12-32 Gears, SRAM Mid-cage derailleur, SRAM Front derailleur, SRAM Chain and bar-end shifters.
Brakes: Avid Shorty 4's, with TRP RRL Brake Levers
Wheelset: Shimano Generator Hub on front, Shimano 105(?) hub on rear with (don't remember name) rims and Vittoria Randonneur 700x32c Tires
Short and Shallow Drop bars (Deda RHM-02, IIRC).
Brooks B-17 Saddle.
Misc lights, tools, pump and bottle racks.
Longboard Fenders



https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-z...006_141046.jpg

Here's my '11 LHT. This is the stock configuration except for the MKS King Grip pedals, lights and the wedge pack. I need to take some new pictures that include the new Brooks B17. I am also thinking about adding a set of Planet Bike Cascadia fenders. I have them on my hybrid and they work great.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282440
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282441

You know that steel bikes take the same parts as aluminum bikes. Just sayin'.

What is on the drops of your right handlebar?

What are ramped gears?

Modern cassettes have ramps cut into the gears to aid shifting. Look at your rear gears and you'll see a whole bunch of sculpting of the gears. That's the ramps.

Also present on front chainrings, not just rear cogs. ;)

Soma San Marcos, Marinoni Sportivo and Marinoni Squadra

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282510http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282515http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282516

Rocky Mountain Sherpa 10. Wanted a classic sport touring bike, but couldn't find one where I was living. Then the roads fell apart - literally - and a full on touring or 'cross bike started to seem like a good idea. A bit of a slug on hills, but very comfortable to ride with or without a load.
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=282519

Ira Ryan custom (s). Dark Grey is a road bike -- more on the modern vibe than retro, but lugged, steel fork, and alloy cages...but brifters, modern bars and tape, SRAM force, etc.

The silver bike was just repainted -- fixed gear, building her up now.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ight=Landshark

Here is the link to my 2010 post when I finally got my new Landshark (a custom steel bike built by John Slawta in Oregon). Cool thing about this bike is the custom paint job by the builder.

Before the Landshark I rode on a 2002 LeMond Zurich which I still use for commuting to work.

Love Steel... love the feel.

64? How tall are you?

I say go for the techie sleek look. I myself think of vintage when I see lugged steel like Gina's 88 Bianchi Sport. I read somewhere Vintage starts at 25 years so her bike just made it. :D


http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...e/Bianchi1.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...e/Bianchi2.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...e/Bianchi3.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...e/Bianchi4.jpg

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...me/021409B.jpg

What's your point??

Hey Beanz,

I think I'm leaning the same way. When I first set out, I was thinking of getting into a lot of Velo Orange components (crank in particular), a Brooks, gumwall tires, hammered aluminum fenders, and maybe even keeping the bar end shifters.

Since then, I've been doing some google image searches, and ran across this gentleman's bikes:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluelug...n/photostream/

These two pictures below are going with me to the shop. It's a pretty simple build (basically threw the Shimano 105 catalog at it). I don't want a lot of gaudy logos and such like you might find on "race" bikes, but a little effort to select modern components and maintain some simplicity should pay off.

Disclaimer: Won't be cloning these builds. Mine will be a double, not a 1x, I won't have the custom paint that he does, I'll be running 30-32mm tires, etc.

http://www.councilofmoo.com/bikes/surly_cc_grn_sm.jpg
http://www.councilofmoo.com/bikes/su..._silver_sm.jpg

Nice bikes, the silver one is sweet! Of course I'd go with both rims black.:D

The silver one is my favorite as well. Tons of attention to detail in it if you browse through the pics I linked.

Yeah, got nice hardware. I bet that can add up real quick, like the housings and CNC looking brackets.

That parts are parts and you can get good ideas about parts from all bikes, not just the steel ones.

http://imageshack.us/a/img268/336/roller12.jpg

'11 Steamroller. 50x19. Nitto Moustache bars. Wabi wheelset. Thompson post under the Selle SMP saddle. Time ATAC pedals. Revelate frame bag. Commutes. Hauls with either a Burley Travoy or Carradice Tour saddle bag. Clip on fenders as needed.