Originally Posted by
yuyax
I might sound like a giant ****** but... if you really want a lug frame, why can't you just get a classic steel frame and put in modern components?
Just saying, you know. Just saying...
And please do tell me if I am being a ****** or something I am not getting. Is it the allure of having a new Trek bike?
That's not a dumb question.
In the case of the 70th anniversary Paramount, I think much of the allure was that each bike was fitted and customized by Waterford for the individual customer, and they were all built using Reynolds 953 stainless steel tubing and custom investment cast lugs for the compact geometry of the new bike. It's different enough from a classic pre-953/XCr steel frame to be desirable to a large enough segment of the customer base to justify production.
I'm not sure what material the new Trek is made of. If it's the same air hardening steels like 853, OX, S3, etc., that have been around for a decade, then there may not be enough allure to attract buyers who could get essentially the same frame used and build it up with modern components as you suggest. The Bianchi Dolomiti, for example, is made with Columbus Spirit tubing.