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07-14-11 | 01:29 PM

#61

Robert Foster

Banned.

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 3,498

Likes: 2

From: Southern california

Bikes: Lapierre CF Sensium 400. Jamis Ventura Sport. Trek 800. Giant Cypress.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cehowardGS

You got a valid point there. I ride my steel bikes 95% of the time. However, I am 100% riding by myself. The other day I was talking to a rider that also races, and does long rides. He was the one that fitted me to my Lightspeed. When he saw me, I was on my 79 Raleigh, and told him I am crazy about the old stuff. He told me wait until I go on one of the long group rides. He said, then you will pick the Lightspeed. He MAY be right. I like the older stuff. Even when it comes to cars. I like the older sportscars. With the motorcycles, I tend to stay current.

However, the more people into the latest and greatest, more vintage bikes for me..

I agree and I used to be into classic sports cars and motorcycles as well. As long as you are riding by yourself they have more draw but when in a group it is hard not to notice how much better some of the new stuff "works". I had a BSA A 10 that was a joy to ride even if having a soul as some have indicated meant it was hard to kick over when it was humid and every now and then would try to kick me off when it kicked back when I jumped on the crank.
I have read about the ride of a steel bike being so much better than any other and will admit I am skeptical because I have had old steel bikes with friction shifters and I no longer own one for many reasons.
I would add a steel Waterford to my N+1 list because as Stapfam indicated it is the components and the design of some of the newer equipment makes them worth looking at.
Also as Stepfam has said just because it is steel doesn’t make the bike more comfortable in itself. If I can add to the example I used earlier the ride our group had Wednesday may be a good example. One of our newer riders has been with us for a few weeks and rides an older steel Trek with down tube friction shifters. He mostly rode alone till joining us and said he loved his steel bike. We were going on a longer ride so I offered my back up Jamis aluminum road bike if he wanted to try one with bifters. We were close to the same height and inseam so I thought it might work. He tried it for a day and on the morning of the metric showed up on the bike. After the first hill you simply couldn’t wipe the smile off of his face. Lighter wheels, CF seat post, better bars, more gears, Compact crankset, and Bifters may be the cause of his N+1 even if he keeps his steel bike for riding around the neighborhood.

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