Steel Frame-Would you buy one?
05-19-12, 06:17 AM
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Steel Frame-Would you buy one?
If you were looking for a new bike would you consider a steel frame as opposed to a CF? When I ride with a club I only see CF and last week one fellow had a Seven TI.
05-19-12, 06:36 AM
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Sign me up! 
I'll take 853 or 631 chromoly over CF for racing, any day of the week!
I'll take 853 or 631 chromoly over CF for racing, any day of the week!
05-19-12, 06:45 AM
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Plenty of high end steel and Ti on my group rides. They have a great classic look and are perfectly capable of hauling as. A real cycling enthusiast will have both. I'd love to have an IF, Seven, vintage EM hanging on the wall to ride.
Since I only keep one bike and replace it every few years, I prefer a CF for now. There is a more reasonably priced used market and availability for them. Also CF frames are more likely to be compatible with modern components. Steel & Ti frames last forever and could really need some compatibly issues as shifter, headsets standards change, and I don't have the interest in keeping up with special needs for my bike.
Since I only keep one bike and replace it every few years, I prefer a CF for now. There is a more reasonably priced used market and availability for them. Also CF frames are more likely to be compatible with modern components. Steel & Ti frames last forever and could really need some compatibly issues as shifter, headsets standards change, and I don't have the interest in keeping up with special needs for my bike.
05-19-12, 07:12 AM
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I might. It would entirely depend on what I was after for that particular bike.
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05-19-12, 07:34 AM
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I see a fair amount of steel on fast(ish) club rides.
Steel is still a completely reasonable material for bicycle frames.
Steel is still a completely reasonable material for bicycle frames.
05-19-12, 08:01 AM
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FWIW, I use aluminum on club rides. These days, designers understand alu well enough and have enough control over tube shapes to get it pretty close to CF.
As far as new, I'd go steel if I wanted a classic lugged look with a straight top tube. Round tubes will generate a little more drag, but my guess is that in real-world non-pro non-TT usage, the difference is barely noticeable.
As far as new, I'd go steel if I wanted a classic lugged look with a straight top tube. Round tubes will generate a little more drag, but my guess is that in real-world non-pro non-TT usage, the difference is barely noticeable.
05-19-12, 08:23 AM
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I would -- and will. As long as it's lightweight double-butted, splined, lugged. New and old. I believe in N+1.
05-19-12, 08:34 AM
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Sure. I have both CF and steel bikes, all excellent in their different ways. I like the look of a classic steel road bike. There are plenty of decent steel frames that are light enough, too. The Colnago Master X-lite has been around for almost thirty years and the frame weighs in at just about three pounds. One can do even better with regard to stiffness/weight with some of the newer steel alloys.
According to my LBS, steel is making a comeback. They're getting a lot of people enquiring about steel bikes.
According to my LBS, steel is making a comeback. They're getting a lot of people enquiring about steel bikes.
05-19-12, 09:20 AM
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One of the best riding frames I've ever ridden was a $300 single speed from BikesDirect. That thing was stiff and nimble.
05-19-12, 10:24 AM
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why not? steel is a great material, theres alot of DROOL worthy modern steel. Its out of my budget... do a google search weigth weenies steel...found a couple 15 lbs bikes....DROOL!
05-19-12, 12:00 PM
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Ditto. In our various club rides, I see Waterford, Gunnar, Serotta, Seven, etc, amongst the sea of carbon and aluminum.
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05-19-12, 12:10 PM
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I have three steel bikes, though I'm going to sell them. That said, I'd have a hard time resisting a Pegoretti.
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05-19-12, 12:20 PM
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I'm still kicking myself for not buying a beautiful vintage steel Casati frame early this year, but I had just gotten a couple road bikes in the two months prior and talked myself out of adding to the collection...
I really want a lugged shiny polished stainless steel bike... Where I live it's mostly aluminum or carbon bikes at the group rides with the occasional steel bike. I think the majority of recreational riders would be pleasantly surprised to ride a nice steel bike...
I really want a lugged shiny polished stainless steel bike... Where I live it's mostly aluminum or carbon bikes at the group rides with the occasional steel bike. I think the majority of recreational riders would be pleasantly surprised to ride a nice steel bike...
05-19-12, 01:10 PM
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Um yes.
05-19-12, 01:17 PM
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I see as much steel on club rides as CF. Most of it a few years old. There are some other groups I ride with where CF is the exception. I see many steel bikes on those rides, usually topped with a Brooks. Names such as Surly and All-City seem to be popular here. I find the All-City's to be particularly nice looking bikes with a classic touch to them.
05-19-12, 01:37 PM
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05-19-12, 02:13 PM
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Steel, Alu or Ti.
I wouldn't ride a CF bike if you gave it to me for free.
I wouldn't ride a CF bike if you gave it to me for free.
05-19-12, 02:50 PM
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one CF and one Reynolds 631 here.
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05-19-12, 02:52 PM
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"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
"The older you do get, the more rules they're gonna try to get you to follow. You just gotta keep livin', man, L-I-V-I-N." - Wooderson
'14 carbon Synapse - '12 CAAD 10 5 - '99 Gary Fisher Big Sur
05-19-12, 03:10 PM
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05-19-12, 03:20 PM
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Go out and buy the latest issue of Peloton magazine - May/June. The Italian issue. Excellent magazine with no rival. Read about the steel frames of Dario Pegoretti and get back to us...
05-19-12, 03:25 PM
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