Originally Posted by
prooftheory
The Windsor the Hour is steel.
Why wouldn't you do what basically everyone else does and get an aluminum bike with a carbon fork? Is there really that much of an advantage to having the rear stays also be carbon? Is there some application for this fixed-gear road racer that you have in mind?
Riding a lot for fitness on a comfortable bike. Maybe 28mm tires would do a good enough job of making the ride smooth though.
I would think that the Windsor would be exactly what you are looking for in terms of comfort for long distances. There really isn't going to be a good compromise bike that lets you actually take a fixed gear on road races and win sprints. That's just not what fixed-gears do, and if you aren't doing that then why the need for stiffness?
I had a modern road bike and found I looked forward to the feel. It was great. The frame was stiff and steered super sharp, the bars didn't flex at all, but the carbon fork and stays kept the ride as smooth as a solid frame road bike probably ever will be.
I also want something that looks more like a road bike than a fixed gear.