TexLex100

Folks,

I am interested in buying a steel bike. I resumed biking after a very long hiatus and recently started commuting a couple of days a week to work on an MUP (around 8 miles each way). My bike (Giant TCX 2) transfers ALL the imperfections in the trail to my arms and back! so I understand that a steel bike would offer a smoother ride.

I saw on CL a Lemond Signature and a Raleigh Carleton for $600 and $499 respectively (pictures below). The Lemond has ultegra drive and Mavic Aksum Race wheels. Tires are gatorskin ultras. The Raleigh has Huret front and rear derailleur , Suntour VG-T Luxe rear derailleur , and 27" Weinmann concave rims on rebuilt Normandy high flange hubs.

I don't know whether these are good prices for either (both sized 54 cm which I think would fit me since I am 5' 8"). I would need to change the cassette on any bike I buy since I need an easier cog.

Any advice? Alternatively, I can buy a nice Volpe which I saw at an LBS and looked nice but did not try it yet. Thanks in advance.

DMC707

Both are a tad on the high side but you are in a market where people don't sweat a few extra bucks here or there

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The Raleight is kinda cool if you want to go back that far , --- The Lemond is too, but it looks like someone's "project" judging from the odd parts mix on it -- without any info on the frame its hard to say whether its worth it or not

-- compared to those 2, a new or newish Volpe looks kinda good to me --- If the Lemond were ready to go though, - who knows

bargainguy

Chances are these bikes will all ride very differently. Raleigh is old-school with plain gauge 531 and lower-end parts, nothing to write home about, and way overpriced.

Lemond is newer, better parts and wheels, but Lemonds are known for having a longish top tube (Greg's preferred style) and this one looks like it has a longish stem, so you'll be quite stretched out on this one. If you like being stretched out, great, if you don't, not so great.

The Volpe is probably the utility bike of the bunch. Nothing too flashy, but a solid utilitarian bike. I have an '02 Volpe with Reynolds 520 and Tiagra, and it does just fine as my grocery getter/errand bike.

3alarmer 

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...I just did a Google search for your TCX-2. The one that popped up from 2013 has a CF fork and 700x32 tyres.
While I very much like and ride steel frames, I don't think you'll get a solution to your complaint about road shock by switching to one.

Try different tyres, and if you can fit an even wider tyre on yours, try that when you buy the new ones.

TexLex100

Mine is a 2012 model and I think it has an alloy fork not carbon. I am using 32 tires but the ride is so jarring I feel it is shaking my whole body!

TexLex100

I was hoping the next bike to be more than a grocery getter. I wanted it for commuting and some slowish club rides on weekend.

What other new bikes in the same price range would y'all recommend instead? Thanks.

Trakhak

Agree on all points. I still have a couple of high-end steel bikes sitting around collecting dust, but I much prefer riding my aluminum bikes, since they ride the same as the steel bikes (for a given tire size and wheelbase) and weigh less.

Buy a steel bike if you like, but how much of a difference in comfort you perceive will depend on the strength of the placebo effect.

TexLex100

Thanks for that. I thought steel provides a.much forgiving ride that is why I wanted to buy one, but if this is not the case then I could stick with my stiff aluminum frame. Cheers.

bargainguy

Your Giant is a cyclocross racer if memory serves. Comfort is probably being sacrificed for a very light frame, where ounces off the frame translate into a competitive advantage over a long race.

There are plenty of used bikes that could meet your criteria for a plusher ride and commuting duty. But sometimes on a commuter, total weight takes a back seat to other advantages - say the ability to hang racks and panniers if you need to shuttle stuff to and from work. That's one of the reasons I got the Volpe. It's not a particularly exciting ride - the Reynolds 520 is just OK as far as I'm concerned, a little dull feeling - but it does temper road imperfections fairly well, and I don't take it on long rides anyway, I have other bikes for that.

TexLex100

Thanks for that, and yes the TCX 2 is a CX. I called a LBS asking whether they carry Raleigh (e.g. Record Ace) they didn't but they suggested a breezer doppler with wide tires for comfort. I may go check them out. I may also have a thread on the road biking or commuting forum as it may be more subject appropriate.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

3alarmer 

...it's remotely possible that an alloy fork is contributing to your sensation of discomfort, but your best solution is still to put wider tyres on there if your bike will allow them in terms of clearance. There are some really cushy tyres being made and sold right now.

Measure your clearances and go larger if you can. If you have questions about whether it will work, take your bike into a shop and ask someone.

TexLex100

OK, will do that. I may also ask him to put a casette with a larger cog to help me with some slight hills that I find difficult, which probably would become more so with a wider tires. Cheers.