bruce19

I've been thinking about buying a new steel road bike frame. Probably going to do something "affordable" like nice wheels and 105 gruppo. Some searching has got me looking at Mondonico and Torelli frames. I might also consider a custom frame from Independent Fabrication or Waterford. Just wondering if anyone here has a new steel bike and what it weighs and how it rides.

OldTryGuy

No new steel bike, but do have a couple of steel Waterford Paramounts. The rides are nice but will stay on the CF Giant.

big john

I have a Gunnar from 2006. It's made by Waterford, frame weighs about 4 pounds in size 62. The ride is very calm on rough roads but I switched to a ti bike 2 years ago. I still like riding it sometimes.

bruce19

What differences have you noted between the two. Why do you prefer the TI bike?

Barrettscv 

I put 16,000 miles on a 2009 Soma with 105. Great bikes for fitness riding, a very smooth ride. It was about 22 lbs with a triple for a size 60cm frame.

Bandera

I have a Prestige lugged frame Soma Stanyan built as a modern substitute for my Internat'l.
It's design is much like a classic British club rider's frameset w/ mudguard clearance.
It's not intended to be an ultralight race bike, never weighted it in either drought or winter/mudguard config, pics below.
That being said it rides & handles well, very predictable on rough descents and comfortable enough for long distances.
It's a "test mule" for a Brevet project so it's being re-configured for Phase II.

No doubt a custom Waterford or 853 Mercian would be lighter but I'd recommend a good steel road frameset to anyone not obsessed w/ riding what TDF pros ride.

-Bandera

qcpmsame 

What about the Masi Gran Criterium or the Speciale Strada ? https://www.masibikes.com/bikes/steel Reynolds 525 CroMo steel and a 105 component group at a good price for the GC. Pretty bicycles to my thinking.

Bill

bruce19

My current road bike is a Masi Gran Criterium S but an '06 model w/AL frame, CF forks and CF stays w/Ultegra. If it was a size 53 instead of a 58 I probably wouldn't even be considering another bike. Actually Masi doesn't make a 54 or 55 which would be perfect. My 58 is now set up really nicely but I know a smaller size would feel "just right." Several shops I know have steel bikes coming in at 18 lbs or so.

Null66

I built up last years Disc Trucker from frame.
I like the ride.

Bandera

The proper frame size trumps any consideration of materials, get something that fits and you will be ahead of any niggling concerns of weight, aerodynamics or barometric pressure.

That said your pic doesn't scream "Wrong Size!" at a glance to me, might be worth investing in a professional fitting before any $$$ get tossed around to confirm all aspects of optimal frame size for you & the type of riding you do.

-Bandera

Retro Grouch 

SHAMELESS PLUG

If I were considering such a purpose today, my first trip would be to see my friend Jeff Gerhart of FE-Cycles. He builds some pretty wonderful looking custom bicycles with weights that surprise me. He's in St Louis.

bruce19

True. I just had a pro fitting and my current Masi is pretty comfortable. The major change was about stem length and seat height of course. Even in size 58 the bike weighed 17.0 lbs wo/pedals when new.

tsl

In my case, I don't like the springiness of steel. It's a Cadillac ride--like a floaty late 60s Fleetwood. Yes it's nice and smooth, but the constant boing, boing, boing doesn't suit me.

In cars, I always preferred taut sports suspensions--think small to mid-size European sports sedans, and more M3 rather than 325i. I get that same feeling with my Ti bike. Makes the bumps go away while feeling athletic rather than floaty.

donheff

My wife and I recently had TIG welded custom steel frames built by Kelly Bedford. We elected sport touring frames and built the bikes out with 700x28cm tires and SRAM Force components. The key was the fitting which we had done by Smiley El-Abd (Google Smiley bike fit) who is highly sought after in the DC metro area. Bottom line: we love these bikes but you could probably do fine with a well fit off the shelf bike for a lot less. My wife and I went this route so we don't need to look again and are happy with our investment. By the way, before designing the custom frame. Smiley modified our old bikes to get them as close as possible to what he would recommend for the customs and had us ride them for a while to tweak the fit. The old bikes are now much more comfortable to ride than they were.

bruce19

Hmm...tsl I have similar tastes. Once sold a '66 Corvette for a Lotus Elan. Although I must admit I don't think I'm sophisticated enough to notice those kinds of bike frame differences. But, I am a sucker for vehicles Italian....hence, my Masi and 6th Ducati. I did have an Italian bike in TSX back in the late 80's and didn't notice springiness. Again, I'm not the best judge. I will have to do some more investigation.

Shamrock

I have a 2010 raleigh record ace,520 tubing,ultegra.It rides like a sports car,it's good at dodging potholes and mufflers.Riding weight ,21lbs comes to mind.If I could lose some weight it would be really fast.

Now my beloved 35 Yr old Schwinn Letour III rides quite different.It rides like a Lincoln and is not as nimble.Down hill it's a rocket because of its weight and mine.

fietsbob

Quote:

Probably going to do something "affordable" like nice wheels and 105 gruppo.

that specification is much less affordable than it used to be , fortunately the lesser tier components are, functionally, fine.

my 'newer' steel road bike is a Bridgestone RB1, which was fitted with the older components
removed from an AlAn frame/fork.. work done circa '90


I don't even weigh Myself anymore, it gets done with Checkups at the MD.

CommuteCommando

I have a 2013 Masi Gran Criterium. Glad I got it when I did because they changed the color for 2014 to one I didn't like as well. I love it, and have put 2250 mi., including two centuries, on it since I got it new in 9/13. I negotiated the LBS I got it from down to $1600. MSRP was a little over $2k.

Soma and Surly also make good, reasonably priced steel frames. I chose steel after focusing on a 105 or Rival equipped CF bike. I liked the CF, and the GC was 4 lb. heavier (22lb) than the Evoluzione, but I can take way more than 4 lb. off my fat azz, liked the feel of it a little better than the CF, and prefer the classic straight tube/lug frame look.

Masi Bikes - Steel - Gran Criterium

Myosmith

I've got a Motobecane Gran Premio which has a butted chrome-moly frame with a CF fork. The brifters, derailleurs and cassette are 105, FSA crank and Tektro brakes. Wheels are decent entry level with Mavic CXP22 rims on Shimano hubs. I don't know what you consider "affordable" but this came in at $800 delivered. The only things I didn't like were the stock seat and handlebars but I swapped the ones from the road bike I was replacing and am very happy with the ride and general performance. The geometry is a bit relaxed but still decently responsive. I weighed it last summer but don't remember exactly. I think it was pretty close to 24 pounds with 25mm Spec Armadillo tires.

This wouldn't be my first choice for a road bike, but with a tight budget this is a pretty good bike for the money.

Highgear

I have a 2013 Somec Rex (Italian) I ordered custom. I really like Tommasini too. Mondonico is a beautifully made bike. None of the Mondonico men are building anymore, so the name has ben sold. I am not sure who is building them now. If you are looking for a good value and a nice old world frame. You may want to look into a Pelizzoli. He was the founder of Ciocc. www.pelizzoliworld.com

https://www.flickr.com/photos/5560383...n/photostream/

Zinger

I don't have anything newer than an '86 but I certainly like some of the stuff out there if I had the extra money right now. Here's a carbon forked Surly Pacer these guys build for $1850. 18 lbs for the 56cm:



Surly Pacer Racer - Salvagetti Bicycle Workshop | 303-691-5595 | Denver, CO

If I were getting a lugged frame with the classic looks though I'd go with a Soma Stanyan on my budget. Chrome lugs for under $700:



Stanyan Frame Set | SOMA Fabrications

https://www.adrenalinebikes.com/store...roductid=79058

Here's a guy who built (for himself) a Soma Stanyan with 650cm wheels:

650Built Soma Speedster

Bianchi still sells their Tipo Corsa frame for around $1000:



https://www.adrenalinebikes.com/store...oductid=139674

Mercian in England seems pretty well priced for custom frames (Not custom fit but built to your specs otherwise):

Mercian Cycles - Custom Cycle Frames & Cycle Shop

And here's a pretty comprehensive list of American custom frame builders:

Directory Of Custom American Handmade Road Bike Frame Builders | CYCLOPHILIAC - American Made Cycling

A LOT of drooling material in that last link.

bruce19

I'm guessing Torelli bought Mondonico 'cause you can see both on their website. https://www.torelli.com/frames/mondon...el/spirit.html

OldsCOOL

There is a gorgeous Mondonico frameset hanging from the rafters of our local Trek shop. Pretty candy apple red with chrome dropouts....chain hanging off the stay.

Sorry, I digress.....


(Our little town has a frame builder and authorized Waterford dealer, he is a C&V lover)

irwin7638

I have a Soma Buena Vista for a city bike,

A Rivendell Sam Hillborne for my "hybrid"

and a Rivendell Hunqapillar for my touring/29-er.

They all have different builds of course.

Marc

Highgear

Probably, I do know that Bill McGann handed off the reins to the business he built long ago, known as Torelli. He was behind bringing in Mondonico to the U.S, along with many other Italian goodies.