Originally Posted by
Robert Foster
I don't believe you will find a new Steel bike to be all that different from the older one. If you were replacing something that they no longer make it might be different. There is a difference between a Giant OCR and the new Defy so that might be harder on some but easier on others. Still if you liked the old ride there is no reason to suspect you won't like the new frame.
RF - I test rode 4-5 bikes (Jamis Aurora, Cross Check, Tricross, others) before I settled on the Volpe. It was the best feeling ride of the bunch, climbed hills the best & was, frankly, one of the two best looking (the 06 Aurora had #1 with its retro style paint job). My worry is that the latest version will somehow 'feel different', i.e. not as good. So subjectively speaking, not all steel frames are exactly alike.