Originally Posted by
Robert Foster
I have finally acquired enough spare parts to start considering building an N+1 from scratch. I have even looked at steel lugged frames just to have one. I have a Shimano rear derailleur and a SRAM rear derailleur that will cover a 10 speed. I have several wheel sets and with different 10 speed cassettes mounted so I want to build a 10 speed. I also like bifters so I want to build one with bifters so I don’t need down tube shifter bosses.
So here is the question. Steel used to have a lot of flex in the bottom bracket area, at least in my old Viscount Aerospace Pro, that was pretty much gone in my last Aluminum frame. Are the newer steel frames stiffer than the old 531- 4110 frames or if I plan on climbing should I look at something else?
It's really not right to generalize. The feel of different steel frames varies based on tubing wall thickness, tubing diameter, location of butting, and quality of joining. Some will be flexy and lively, and others may be harsh. Modern ones have focused on reducing weight based on larger diameters and thinner walls, though traditional designs are still available. More money gets you more, smoothness plus efficiency plus excellent handling plus load-carrying (within limits). I would not make any generalizations based on any steel frame, especially not an outlier like a Viscount.
As far as modern being available that are stiffer than flexy old ones, such as the early Raleigh International? Yes. Stiffer than the best old ones? Hard to say, need to make a precise comparison rather than generalizations.
Check out the Rivendell Roadeo, the Boxdog Pelican, a Torelli steel frame, and the Velo-Orange Randonneur. See what you think about those.
As far as BB flex, yes, a lot of bikes do that. One of the fastest American riders at Paris-Brest-Paris rides steel, and usually vintage steel. Flex does not necessarily imply slowness, in fact the physics of that claim is hard to understand, and I'm an engineer.