Originally Posted by
BummBull
After reading bunch of articles and reviews about how Steel is REAL, I've decided to take the plunge. My previous bike was Orbea Lobular which is aluminum bike with seat stay and chain stay are carbon. The steel bike I got was Gunnar Roadie. The bike setups are different so my comparison's definitely not just the frames. However, with all the people praising steel bikes, I feel it is definitely overrated. The feel is different, but I don't think it's more comfortable. When riding on rough roads, I actually feel more shake going up my arms. I do feel the weight difference going up hills and I definitely have to work harder going up which isn't a bad thing for fitness, but not necessarily good for racing.
Does anyone else think steel bikes are overrated?
It depends what you are looking for and your riding objectives; also, just because the frame is made of steel does not make it real.
For example, my Merckx is a total tank. It weighs something like 23 pounds with training wheels but I can ride that thing all day long.
My De Rosa, on the other hand, is so tricked out that it weighs less than many carbon bikes out there. After I post my DA wheelset review in the next month or so, I will be sure to post a pic. I am guessing it will weigh 16 pounds and change but the pictures of it on the scale will verify.
The tubing on the De Rosa (Columbus Genius oversized), plus the geometry (it was a leftover from the now defunct Team Batik Del Monte), make it ride almost like an unbelievably harsh carbon bike. Granted, it has almost as many carbon and titanium bits as it does steel.