aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,554
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 513 Post(s)
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I suppose maintaining old bikes requires knowledge that is becoming rare, so they're not for everyone. You have to know where the parts are at good prices, and you have to know repair techniques and be your own mechanic. My LBS in Millburn doesn't do any repairs to steel frames any more.
I was in there last week and admired the CF bikes. I decided I really would enjoy having one, and it would not diminish my love for steel bikes. But I can't justify the cost right now, and I don't know when I will. Maybe a bargain of a used bike will come my way when I don't expect it to. I can wait. And if that happens, it won't replace the steel bike. I doubt a CF bike will last a lifetime the way a steel bike will.