Jarrett2

I don't know much about steel bikes. I've only ridden a few. I'm trying to learn more about them in these threads. With lots of salt grains.

But I've already seen this phenomenon in action on the wheel threads. A million miles without going out of true.

Every time I talk to my LBS (who knows me and has seen me ride) about steel bikes, they tell me I'm too heavy/strong for them and they would be noodly for me. So I have stuck with carbon.

To the OP, if this super knowledgeable ex-racer knows you and has seen you ride and says a steel bike that he carries would be good for you, then who cares what the forum says. Go for it.

rpenmanparker 

Be careful with those salt grains. They're murder on steel bikes.

Jarrett2

lol

RJM

Steel framed bikes rusting is a con like carbon assploding is a con.

In other words, it really isn't a problem. Those who are making it into an issue have an agenda.

BillyD

Oh stop it! You enjoy the debate, and the shelling too, which is why you intentionally make the exaggerated claims.

Fasten your chinstrap, I ain't letting this one go, either.

Lazyass

Oh, man, I bet you never have to true your wheels, either

rpenmanparker 

Hey, I'm the one pleading here for the pain to stop. Billy, seriously we really do agree about this. At least I understand your point of view and can live with it. I just don't know how to phrase it so some wise guy won't come back and say, "No, you're wrong, because that is not EXACTLY what I believe. Everybody's experience must surely be identical to mine." So there is little value in carrying forward.

Stucky

If only those old-timey TDF riders had known!

chaadster

I do not believe this is true, and in fact, cannot think of a top tier steel tubeset that does support TIG, from Reynolds, Dedaccai, or Columbus.

mercator

Here's a mass produced, tig welded, 853 steel bike, manufactured in Taiwan.
Here's another.
Oh, you wanted stainless?
This one is made with 520.

It seems Taiwan is still making lots of bikes, even steel ones.

edit: the last link doesn't work due to the censor not liking Kona's bike name, heh.

Stucky

To me, if you're gonna go steel, ya GOTTA have chrome lugs!

LesterOfPuppets

Surlys and Somas are likely welded in Asia also.

Scooper

Virtually all of the newer high end steel tubesets are air-hardening and very compatible with TIG welding.

Eljot

I went to the shop today and he recommended a Reynolds frame which starts at 750 Euro and he told me they're the same type steel frames they used to use at the TdF. He has frames that are even more expensive but he said the 750 Euro one is already quite decent. He actually showed me his original bike from the TdF. He recently took it for a ride(just an exception) and other cyclists mocked him and his bike. If they only knew who they were mocking.

I can't tell if his steel bikes are more old school. I can imagine that there are better steel bike manufacturers, especially in the UK. There is a different guy in Cologne who has a steel road bike shop but I'm not too sure what to think of his bikes: https://plus.google.com/photos/11539...657?banner=pwa

Stucky

WoW They look to be restored steel classics...and they're beautiful!

It sounds like you don't really know exactly what it is that you want [I'm not being critical of you, just an observation.] and if YOU don't know what you want, someone else isn't going to. Why not get an older used steel bike, and ride it for a while, and in doing so, you'll discover a)If you like steel; and b)What characterisitics you want in a steel bike, to suit your preferences and riding style? Then, when you go for a new bike, you'll get exactly what you want; rather than building up something now which may be more expensive, and have limited resale appeal if you decide 6 months or a year down the road that it's not really for you.

chaadster

Some of the cues that indicate "old school" are lugs, narrow main tubes, external headset, steel fork, crimped stays, and horizontal (or semi horizontal) dropouts. These are identifiable, visual cues, which taken together with things like internal cable routing exit points, and other design features like tubing spec, can give you a pretty good indication of the builders design philosphy, and the performances attributes derived from that philosophy.

Eljot

Well, it's a wrong observation. All I asked in this thread is what are the cons of steel, nothing more. Obviously if the majority of the road bike community
raves about carbon, it is a legit question to wonder if steel is somewhat inferior and ask what makes it inferior to carbon.

My last response was aimed at chaadster who said that the Rowona bikes are pretty old school.
@chaadster: What is your verdict on the other steel bikes?(see link in my last post)

chaadster

@Eljot As Stucky noted, your link is just a picture gallery of bikes from various producers, and as such, do not represent a single design approach or philosophy, so what is there to say? Some are more interesting than others, but even saying that is dependent on one's approach.

As to the cons of steel, it's largely weight. Steel is extremely flexible in terms of design parameters and styles, so regardless of whatkind of bike you want, it likely can be made of steel.

that's not to say there aren't tradeoffs against other materials; there are, and depending on your top priorities, it may be that aluminum or carbon is a more suitable choice.

Or, it may be you conclude, as many have, that steel is the perfect frame material.

Eljot

The bikes from that picture gallery are all built by one guy who has a shop in Cologne. I just posted that because that guy is the only one in Cologne who is specialized on custom made steel bikes
but I'm personally not really interested in getting my bike there.

I don't want a vintage bike. I want a straight forward road bike with modern components(Shimano Ultegra). I'm just deciding between steel or carbon.
After having read various posts on here and speaking to Rolf Wolfshohl today, I'm pretty sure I'll get a steel bike at his shop.

There are great steel bikes I like, for example this one called My Road Bike: RUSBY CYCLES GALLERY | CUSTOM MADE STEEL BIKES but I bet they're pretty pricey.
I'm sure the steel bike I'd get at Rowona would be a solid road bike and I prefer a shop near me.

FBOATSB

In all the 34 years I have had my gossamer thin tubed, steel, light as a feather bike it never even occurred to me to think how much it weighs; it always went as fast and as far as I could pedal it. It has always been stored in a basement or garage and is still in pristine condition. I can no longer ride it now, but on a whim I went out and weighed it on a fairly accurate scale = 36.8 pounds. Go figure. A nice bike doesn't matter what it's made of if used in the manner it was designed and powered by the proper engine! YMMV

KenshiBiker

fify

Bah Humbug

Jamis and Kona make steel road bikes as well. No idea how they stack up, or what qualifies as "mass produced".

link0

Steel (and Ti) bikes all the way. There is barely any performance penalty from carbon, and they look so much classier.

Lazyass

For a couple of years Raleigh had the Record Ace, 2010-2012 I think. It was lugged Reynolds 520 with Ultegra and Brooks saddle. Even the fork was lugged steel. I see their 2015 steel bikes are all tig welded, even the Record Ace and they went with a relaxed geometry. Kind of sad.

2010 Record Ace

JohnJ80

I don't think that for most riders, there is much difference between steel, carbon or Ti in terms of performance or ride. The best thing about steel is that it is pretty easy to get a custom frame made that fits you perfectly. A perfectly fit bicycle is going to ride great and you have plenty of ways to adjust the ride with tires, wheels, seats, handlebars that can make a huge difference.

FWIW, I had a Gunnar Crosshairs frame made a while ago and Gunnar made the thing super stiff to the point where I wished I hadn't pushed the stiff issue so hard. This, after my last steel bike, a late '80's Basso racing frame was pretty much a noodle but with an absolutely beautiful ride and great performance. So stiff or a noodle are just characteristics of how the frame was designed, not of the material so much.

Incidentally, after seeing lots of miles, there isn't a spot of rust on that bike and we live in Minnesota where salt on the roads in the early season is not all unusual and it can be quite humid in the summer. These bikes will outlive me.

I'm having a custom stainless frame built for me that will be done this month. I have an unusual fit problem with shortish arms, a long torso and long legs. Makes for a difficult fit on most bikes. This one will fit perfectly. This will be an Ultegra Di2 bike on a modern compact geometry frame in a 56cm size will come in at about 16.25 lbs built up ready to ride with nice, but not exotic components. The frame weight is 1660g. I'm pretty sure this bike is going to have exactly the ride quality I'm looking for and I can hardly wait to get it out on the road next month some time.


J.