Modern Steel Road Bike Appreciation Thread
02-08-16, 09:27 AM
#676
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I was at the bookstore this weekend and just flipping through magazines waiting on the GF to finish shopping and ran across an article on Reynolds steel. It was an interesting read. I got cut short when she returned and was ready to check out. I should have bought the magazine so I could have finished the article.
There was talk about a resurgence in steel and how that even though steel continues to improve with time, many still buy and use the old tubesets. They were talking up the newer 9-series stuff, especially the 921. And there was a passing reference to 958 which I had never heard of before. I wondered if it was a typo. Anyway, it seemed like an interesting article.
There were articles on steel bikes in two different cycling magazines I picked up. I guess it is not as dead as some would have us believe.
There was talk about a resurgence in steel and how that even though steel continues to improve with time, many still buy and use the old tubesets. They were talking up the newer 9-series stuff, especially the 921. And there was a passing reference to 958 which I had never heard of before. I wondered if it was a typo. Anyway, it seemed like an interesting article.
There were articles on steel bikes in two different cycling magazines I picked up. I guess it is not as dead as some would have us believe.
Never heard of 958. You should PM Scooper about it. He is the resident authority.
The way I see it the 921 is just stainless 853 (not chemically, I mean functionally). Similar in strength but not going to corrode. That's good, but I would be tempted to go for the gold standard, 953, if I were going to buy modern steel. Thinner, lighter, etc. Or I might discuss it with Baum or another expert at mixing up the different brand tube sets to see what they are trying to accomplish. It's all silly though. Just ain't gonna happen.
02-08-16, 09:57 AM
#677
Decrepit Member
If the reference to 958 is this quote from Keith Noronha in the March issue of Road Bike Action article "The Men of Steel", I think it's probably a typo, but have emailed Keith asking about it.
I agree with Robert about 921 being used in applications similar to 853 but with the added benefit of corrosion resistance of stainless.
EDIT - I suspect the 835 in the quote is also a typo, with the 3 and the 5 transposed.
Originally Posted by Keith Noronha
KN: We’re still committed to manufacturing in the UK. Our high-end products, such as titanium, 835, 631, 953, and the new stainless steel 958 and 921 are made in the UK.
EDIT - I suspect the 835 in the quote is also a typo, with the 3 and the 5 transposed.
Last edited by Scooper; 02-08-16 at 11:42 AM.
02-08-16, 11:38 AM
#680
Decrepit Member
I got a quick reply from Keith Noronha:
Originally Posted by Keith Noronha email 8Feb2016
Hi Stan,
Thanks for your email.
Yes, 958 is a typo! 953 remains our flagship steel.
Best regards,
Keith Noronha
Reynolds Technology Ltd.
Reynolds Technology
https://www.facebook.com/ReynoldsTechnology
Thanks for your email.
Yes, 958 is a typo! 953 remains our flagship steel.
Best regards,
Keith Noronha
Reynolds Technology Ltd.
Reynolds Technology
https://www.facebook.com/ReynoldsTechnology
02-08-16, 11:42 AM
#681
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It's encouraging they acknowledge it as their flagship. Not like they think the working difficulties will disqualify it from commercial success.
Last edited by rpenmanparker; 02-08-16 at 09:32 PM.
02-08-16, 06:35 PM
#682
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FWIW, here is my road bike which (in the context of this thread) lives kind of pre-modern/post-vintage.
It is a semi-custom LBS build from 1996 at a time when (believe it or not) I had never been on a road bike in my life. I got tired of continually rehabbing on an exercise bike after constant ankle sprains from running. So decided that I would get my exercise outdoors and went to an LBS in the Bay Area with a something like $1500 budget and told the guy to give me the best bike I could get for those $. I didn't know a bottom bracket from a barbecued brisket.
It is a EL/OS Nivacrom steel frame and, at the time, had Mavic (32 spoke) Open Pro wheels and 8sp Chorus components. Unfortunately life caught up with me a couple years later and the bike lived untouched in garages/attics in California, then Minnesota, and finally in NC. I got it back out in mid 2014 and late that year upgraded to 2014 Chorus groupset, lighter seatpost/saddle, Garmin Vector Power Pedals, and Bontrager RXL wheels. I've put around 8000 miles on it since then. FWIW, it weighs right at 18 pounds in 'retail configuration' (no cages, electronics, pedals).
dave
ps. I did a rear hub swap and still ride those 1990's Mavic wheels on 'errands around town' (Gatorskin tires).
It is a semi-custom LBS build from 1996 at a time when (believe it or not) I had never been on a road bike in my life. I got tired of continually rehabbing on an exercise bike after constant ankle sprains from running. So decided that I would get my exercise outdoors and went to an LBS in the Bay Area with a something like $1500 budget and told the guy to give me the best bike I could get for those $. I didn't know a bottom bracket from a barbecued brisket.
It is a EL/OS Nivacrom steel frame and, at the time, had Mavic (32 spoke) Open Pro wheels and 8sp Chorus components. Unfortunately life caught up with me a couple years later and the bike lived untouched in garages/attics in California, then Minnesota, and finally in NC. I got it back out in mid 2014 and late that year upgraded to 2014 Chorus groupset, lighter seatpost/saddle, Garmin Vector Power Pedals, and Bontrager RXL wheels. I've put around 8000 miles on it since then. FWIW, it weighs right at 18 pounds in 'retail configuration' (no cages, electronics, pedals).
dave
ps. I did a rear hub swap and still ride those 1990's Mavic wheels on 'errands around town' (Gatorskin tires).
02-08-16, 06:37 PM
#683
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FWIW, here is my road bike which (in the context of this thread) lives kind of pre-modern/post-vintage.
It is a semi-custom LBS build from 1996 at a time when (believe it or not) I had never been on a road bike in my life. I got tired of continually rehabbing on an exercise bike after constant ankle sprains from running. So decided that I would get my exercise outdoors and went to an LBS in the Bay Area with a something like $1500 budget and told the guy to give me the best bike I could get for those $. I didn't know a bottom bracket from a barbecued brisket.
It is a EL/OS Nivacrom steel frame and, at the time, had Mavic (32 spoke) Open Pro wheels and 8sp Chorus components. Unfortunately life caught up with me a couple years later and the bike lived untouched in garages/attics in California, then Minnesota, and finally in NC. I got it back out in mid 2014 and late that year upgraded to 2014 Chorus groupset, lighter seatpost/saddle, Garmin Vector Power Pedals, and Bontrager RXL wheels. I've put around 8000 miles on it since then. FWIW, it weighs right at 18 pounds in 'retail configuration' (no cages, electronics, pedals).
dave
It is a semi-custom LBS build from 1996 at a time when (believe it or not) I had never been on a road bike in my life. I got tired of continually rehabbing on an exercise bike after constant ankle sprains from running. So decided that I would get my exercise outdoors and went to an LBS in the Bay Area with a something like $1500 budget and told the guy to give me the best bike I could get for those $. I didn't know a bottom bracket from a barbecued brisket.
It is a EL/OS Nivacrom steel frame and, at the time, had Mavic (32 spoke) Open Pro wheels and 8sp Chorus components. Unfortunately life caught up with me a couple years later and the bike lived untouched in garages/attics in California, then Minnesota, and finally in NC. I got it back out in mid 2014 and late that year upgraded to 2014 Chorus groupset, lighter seatpost/saddle, Garmin Vector Power Pedals, and Bontrager RXL wheels. I've put around 8000 miles on it since then. FWIW, it weighs right at 18 pounds in 'retail configuration' (no cages, electronics, pedals).
dave
02-08-16, 07:21 PM
#684
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My new (to me) Bianchi Imola its maybe a 2011/2012, hard to prove. A previous owner up graded to 105 shifters and a 10 speed cog, Ultegra breaks and Mavic wheel. I changed out the seat to a black and white one I already had that went better with the colors. I've only put 90 miles on it so far, put sure do like it. It handles a lot like the 73 Fuji Finest I had and is as much fun to ride.
This is not new, but it is steel. An SR Semi Pro, early 70's is best guess. Put a lot of miles on it over the last 5-8 years.
02-08-16, 07:38 PM
#685
Full Member
These are nice bikes but, I have a question:
How come most of the newer steel bikes don't use lugged frames...?
How come most of the newer steel bikes don't use lugged frames...?
02-08-16, 08:00 PM
#686
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TIG welding is significantly cheaper and less time-intensive.
02-08-16, 08:04 PM
#687
Senior Member
I'll be honest I love the look of a beautifully lugged steel frame, but they're really represent the opposite of modernity.
02-08-16, 08:26 PM
#688
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The complete loss of lugs outside of the high-end custom market is regrettable on aesthetic grounds, though.
02-08-16, 09:30 PM
#689
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FWIW, here is my road bike which (in the context of this thread) lives kind of pre-modern/post-vintage.
It is a semi-custom LBS build from 1996 at a time when (believe it or not) I had never been on a road bike in my life. I got tired of continually rehabbing on an exercise bike after constant ankle sprains from running. So decided that I would get my exercise outdoors and went to an LBS in the Bay Area with a something like $1500 budget and told the guy to give me the best bike I could get for those $. I didn't know a bottom bracket from a barbecued brisket.
It is a EL/OS Nivacrom steel frame and, at the time, had Mavic (32 spoke) Open Pro wheels and 8sp Chorus components. Unfortunately life caught up with me a couple years later and the bike lived untouched in garages/attics in California, then Minnesota, and finally in NC. I got it back out in mid 2014 and late that year upgraded to 2014 Chorus groupset, lighter seatpost/saddle, Garmin Vector Power Pedals, and Bontrager RXL wheels. I've put around 8000 miles on it since then. FWIW, it weighs right at 18 pounds in 'retail configuration' (no cages, electronics, pedals).
dave
It is a semi-custom LBS build from 1996 at a time when (believe it or not) I had never been on a road bike in my life. I got tired of continually rehabbing on an exercise bike after constant ankle sprains from running. So decided that I would get my exercise outdoors and went to an LBS in the Bay Area with a something like $1500 budget and told the guy to give me the best bike I could get for those $. I didn't know a bottom bracket from a barbecued brisket.
It is a EL/OS Nivacrom steel frame and, at the time, had Mavic (32 spoke) Open Pro wheels and 8sp Chorus components. Unfortunately life caught up with me a couple years later and the bike lived untouched in garages/attics in California, then Minnesota, and finally in NC. I got it back out in mid 2014 and late that year upgraded to 2014 Chorus groupset, lighter seatpost/saddle, Garmin Vector Power Pedals, and Bontrager RXL wheels. I've put around 8000 miles on it since then. FWIW, it weighs right at 18 pounds in 'retail configuration' (no cages, electronics, pedals).
dave
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Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),1990 Concorde Aquila(hit by car while riding), others in build queue "when I get the time"
Bikes: 1996 Eddy Merckx Titanium EX, 1989/90 Colnago Super(issimo?) Piu(?),
02-08-16, 09:35 PM
#690
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02-09-16, 01:47 AM
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The road cycling world was hidebound for decades; thank god that's just about dead, though we still have the "retrogrouch."
02-09-16, 06:31 AM
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02-09-16, 03:57 PM
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I don't have enough experience to say much about this bike other than I think it's fantastic-looking and would be at the top of my list to check out if I were in the market for an upgrade....which I actually may be soon. What would the ballpark weight be on this with, say, a DA group?
STP
STP
02-09-16, 04:02 PM
#694
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I don't have enough experience to say much about this bike other than I think it's fantastic-looking and would be at the top of my list to check out if I were in the market for an upgrade....which I actually may be soon. What would the ballpark weight be on this with, say, a DA group?
STP
STP
02-09-16, 04:58 PM
#696
Decrepit Member
HERE's iab's thread about it right after he got it. He says it weighs in at 18 lbs, 5 oz. with Campy Centaur.
The parts: Cinelli XCr stainless steel frameset, Campagnolo Centaur groupset, Ambrosio 45mm carbon rims laced to American Classic hubs (I made them myself), Cinelli Neo bars and stem, Speedplay Zeros, Thomson post, Selle San Marco Zoncolan saddle and Veloflex Criterium tires.
02-09-16, 06:01 PM
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Thanks.
dave
02-09-16, 06:06 PM
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I don't have enough experience to say much about this bike other than I think it's fantastic-looking and would be at the top of my list to check out if I were in the market for an upgrade....which I actually may be soon. What would the ballpark weight be on this with, say, a DA group?
STP
STP
Changing the cassette and bottle cages would probably get it below 6.8.
02-09-16, 07:22 PM
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02-09-16, 07:58 PM
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