Originally Posted by
Wildwood
I have never ridden a Steve Rex.
But have seen a few, at NAHBS mostly. Excellent reputation for excellence, both frame and paint.
The one I saw in-motion was on a group ride (viewed only briefly) outside Santa Cruz, CA. The rider joined a group of ~12 guys late (at the start) and led early (kilometer 0). Funny, I have to admit, I thought it was aluminum, but not fat like Klein/Cannondale. Did he fillet braze oversized steel tubes?
When I left California's SiliconValley and Monterey Bay (2004) I chose a small local builder for lugged steel.
Buy local, buy nice.
as an aside FWIW on aging and bikes =
I have narrowed my range of acceptable bike fit. The 58s had to go and one too too big. Range is now 3cm (59 - 62ctc). 'Making it fit' has lost some appeal when the finished product feels ... tight(?). Stems trending from 125mm toward 110. [not shrinking much, I think I just need more core strength to support upper body when pleasantly stretched out].
It has taken me most of a long riding lifetime to realize I can never actually "make it fit" especially now that I am racing the rapidly changing metric of ageing. (76) Lucky for me the buying/selling, building/unbuilding of bikes is one of my hobbies, one of my joys. When I walk into my shop this morning I will see 12 bikes sitting in racks in various stages of completion, oh, what joy. (sort of) Of that group I have two ready to rock road bikes I can spend a day on and feel good and both are humble and low dollar but my best friends. My single speed Cannondale Capo and my rim brake Scott Solace, the rest of the group are all on probation.