Why is steel so boring looking?
 

So I am researching a road bike to suit my needs, snow is outside, I got 3 month at least to figure things out, leaning towards Chromoloy steel, I like Jamis quest or even Satellite, real boring colors though, why cant they make a nicely painted steel rig? One of my neighbors has a Lemond Zurich, that thing looks like a nicely colored bicycle.. its just me maybe, but dropping 1500 + on a bike, I like it to be more sexy looking... I rode a satelitte at the LBS, not bad, reminded me of my old Peugeot... may be looking at all materials....(except bamboo)

Steel has skinny tubes so you can't have the bold graphics on, like you get with Carbon frames and their oversized tubes, but no reason why steel can't look good.

Often you get lug work which can be chromed and really show off the parts, and the paint job makes a massive difference. for this though, you do pay, and most of this work will be on custom or very high end frames, not the level you are looking at unfortunately. The 1500 you are looking at may just about get you a low end frame, not a complete bike.

Google Colnago steel for an idea of non boring frames

You planning on riding this bike or looking at it?

If you got another $500 or so you could get it painted up all fancy.

Or you could eBay for some sweet 80s or 90s steel with fancy paint.

For me skinny steel tubes of any color get me a little hot under the collar.

Lugs are sexy.

I am not sure I would exclude any frame material including a Calfee Bamboo if I could afford it. Still all materials have a different look and some of that look is based on the material the bike if made from. Steel tends to be a bit more traditional and, in my opinion only, tends to get painted in more traditional styles and colors. Bamboo bikes look to be a combination of fine furnature and machinery. Aluminum has a very industrial art look. Titainium has a surgical robotic look to me. Carbon Fiber is a bit like petrified smoke. But all of that is very subjective based on the eyes of the beholder.

+1. Make 'em chrome and paint the bike in Trecolori and my oh my, excuse me for a minute ;)

The way parts are put on this frame is kinda weird, but the frame itself is a stunner...

http://homepage.mac.com/pez72/torelli20-1.jpg

There's thread somewhere in C&V featuring the awesome loud paint jobs of the 80s and 90s.

A steel bike looks like a real bicycle to me, not some plastic cartoon bike. I prefer the look...well, really I don't care much what a bike looks like if it works well, but to the extent that I have a preference, I'd pick steel.

it's a bike - not a freaking cartoon...

Posted mine and then saw yours.

My brother has a mint old 3Rensho with a pearlescent-white-to-blood-red fade that is an absolutely stunning bike.

I think that blue is too much, but otherwise I love it!

Colnago was mentioned here, as was LeMond; we saw a pic of a Torelli. I'd throw Pegoretti into the mix, if you want a pool to pick from, to get a sweet steel bike.

Too bad the "Lance-olitics" at Trek ended so badly for Greg.

Not all steel is boring looking. I find this quite attractive. In fact I'll be buying one as soon as the $$$$ is available.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=80%27s+paint

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ight=paint+job

http://www.hetchins.org/100.htm

A good looking bike indeed. If that kind of riding is what the OP is looking for. But if you brought one to a local cycling event do you believe it would garner more or less looks by the masses than one of the new wonder bikes?

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...az47/6jeff.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...47/Nathan1.jpg

http://i538.photobucket.com/albums/f...47/Jessie1.jpg

Ok guys, that's it! Enough with the porn! I can't stand it! It's been too long since....Well never mind!

Ah...That Anderson is just way too hot!..Excuse me, I gotta go now!

- Slim :lol:

These CF bikes looks futuristic, I dunno, I kind of like the classic look....

Yes, and that is the point. Some people like the futuristic and some like the classic and the manufacturers try to make what most people want. But as someone mentioned earlier it is what you want to ride. It is the same with cars, planes, boats, motorcycles. We get used to traditional and sometimes that seems boring untill a few years down the road when what was traditional seems "classic." :D

When I first returned to cycling I looked long and hard for a replacement for my old, new at the time, Viscount. It was state of the art at the time and light years, "futuristic" compared to the Varsity it replaced. I thought it was beautiful and state of the art. About 21 pounds once I replaced the Brookes for a lighter saddle. Fast forward almost 20 years and I walked into my first LBS in years. Entry level Aluminum bikes were 21 pounds and they had more gears and bifters. Brakes that worked even in the wet. My first new bike was lighter and faster than my old "classic" and I stopped looking for classic. I won't even begin to describe what happened when I first tried CF. It is a public forum after all.:lol:

Yeah, the whole black/white/red plastic bikes don't do much for me from an aesthetic standpoint. I'm sure they work great as tools for bike racers, however.

My favorite Colnago paintjob was only offered on track bikes, AFAIK:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_azSpIfwIB3.../328150069.jpg

http://www.masibikes.com/bikes/steel...criterium-2012

A little more but:
:D:D:D:D

[QUOTE=Mobile 155;13719911]A good looking bike indeed. If that kind of riding is what the OP is looking for. But if you brought one to a local cycling event do you believe it would garner more or less looks by the masses than one of the new wonder bikes?

No offense, but to me, those bikes are butt-ugly. Seriously, unless I could cruise at 30mph, I'd be embarrassed to ride them. It's like taking your kids to school in a NASCAR stocker.
That Anderson is nice, though.

[QUOTE=Velo Dog;13720948]And Except for a Waterford Steel bikes look old school to me. What is the point? :rolleyes: But that wasn't the question. But to some of us the race car look is what we see on the street rather than the family sedan. (in fact I saw an add for Porche the other day that had a soccer mom taking her kids to school in a Porche. Real or not it was eye catching.) I know the OP posted this because it is just another of the steel verses the world debates and that is fine if conversation is what is being looked for. But if post #19 is serious post #1 wasn't. It all comes down to personal preferance and I see a lot of those very bikes at our local TTs, Crits and Road events. While I did see a few classic steel bikes at the Furnace Creek 508 this year I also saw even more non classic bikes no one was embarrased to ride to the finish.

And I am not offended nor did I want to offend. :D I ride bikes and I didn't call steel boring, the OP did. :eek:

But we all are different and if steel floats your boat get steel. Even a pokadot steel bike if that is what you want.

This is one of my favorite carbon fiber bikes. Near level top tube and amazing paint. Quite a combo. I'd probably pick different wheels and maybe a shiny black stem, but not like I'm gonna be able to afford the frame anyways ;)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5166/5...894b90ed_b.jpg
Crumpton SL by dirik, on Flickr