I recently, via the list of craig, a 2005 Specialized Dolce in a 53.5 A1 AL I also have a 1988 Schwinn Premis in a 54, Columbus Tenax

Today, riding both around the lake a few times back to back, I realized that the Schwinn was so much more forgiving than the Specialized was.
Caddilac vs Kia, if you will.
I also realized that brifters require more core strength than plain old aero levers do

And the Schwinn has less gears to bother shifting. Is this a tale of "simpler is better" or just different?

An Al fork is a killer. Threadless 1 1/8th is stiffer. An early-ish overbuilt Al frame is a killer. Cheapie tires are hard.



Core strength on integrated levers? . Maybe you need Campa, if your thumbs can handle it.

Steel for me. All day. Every day. The paint on that Premis is pretty sweet as well. "Dolce" my fanny...

The only description I can make is it's (the schwinn) softer? Neither has a set of hand built wheels so stiffness there may be a variable. You also have to know that I haven't had a ridable road bike in years.
Mostly I'm on old mountain bikes, old steel mountain bikes. It wasn't until the last couple of monthes here that my curiosity was raised again.

When I got back into 'serious' cycling after a several-decades hiatus, I picked up a 90's Cannondale T900, as a '90 ST600 was the last 'real' bike I'd had, and I'd loved it. Granted, I've got much older joints, and the roads where I live now are terrible but man the T900 felt harsh. The fattest Rene Herse tires I could squeeze into the bike made a big difference. But then I picked up an old PX-10, and aaaahhhhh! I've managed to acquire a few more steel rides since and the C'dale just sits. Every now and then I take it out, but it always just confirms that I like steel better.

That Schwinn sure looks nice. I'd lower the brake levers on the bars, though. Get the tips on the same plane as the bottom of the drops.

The set up on those bikes too different to compare anything but that. But of course keep the Premis and put that other thing back.

Yes the alloy fork and the sharper headtube angle will pound on the wrists and elbows. The steel is more forgiving. I have an alloy forked bike, I have not enjoyed it ride as much as I though I would. I thought perhaps it was the monster long 130mm stem, but swapped for a 90mm. Didn't help, I'm think of moving on from it.

the Premis is pretty cool looking. I like it.

Love the colors on the Premis, I'm sure that turns some heads going down the road.

Why would the brifters require core strength? Is the reach for the brake lever too long? The beauty of those Shimano thumb switch brifters is that you can adjust the reach to be shorter.

This is CV, most will prefer the Premis.
Tim

Historically the perception has been that aluminum is harsher than steel.

looks to be a carbon fork

Actually, a perusal of magazines from back in the day suggests that Aluminum was favored for its vibration dampening ability, compared to steel.

The magazines we all in on what's new and what's new is always better, according to the magazine. Did it help that the manufacturers also purchased advertising? well maybe

Might be an adjustment issue, I'm having to reach to shift on the brifters, that's whats killing my core.

You mean from the drops? Yeah- these brifters are not designed to be shifted from the drops. Pretty much impossible to reach the thumb switch from the drops.

That Premis is sick. Better to get that dialed in than fuss with the Specialized.

Now if that Specialized were steel and of similar generation to the Schwinn, we might have a debate on our hands.

Bicycle Guide frequently had “Counterpoint” sidebars in their bike reviews that could be pretty harsh criticisms of the “paying advertiser’s” bikes.