Originally Posted by
chineezguy
I just turned 75. My cycling frequency has dropped for a few years. I used to ride 2000 miles per year and got close to 3000 one year. About 12-15 years ago I bought a carbon bike (Fuji Gran Fondo 2) because I thought it would be more comfortable than my Fuji aluminum bike. Well, it isn’t!! There is a local bike builder in the Sacramento area, Steve Rex, who has a good reputation for making fine bikes. Am I crazy for wanting him to build a steel bike for me that will be comfortable, stable, responsive, etc? I want it to be old school-rim brakes, silver components, lugs, brifters (I know,not old school friction), etc. I want to get back to longer miles but I want to be comfortable (including drops almost at saddle level). If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to ride it for ten years. Money is no problem. Oh, I own the Fuji, a Yuba Mundo cargo, a Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, an Easy Rider Tour Easy, and a Raleigh Sojourn touring bike.
The steel framed bike you describe sounds A LOT like an older LeMond Alpe d'Huez. A friend up the street has one and though it's small (he's jockey size), I rode it, and if it had fit, I'd have bought it. Reynolds 853 steel frame. So smooooooth. If you could find one, could save some major change over having one built. In looking it up, seems many of those older LeMonds used 853 steel. Not lugged, but if you rode one, probably wouldn't care!