SPiercey

I had my eye on the Trek Portland all Summer but couldn't justify it. I was saving up to get one next spring as my new commuter. It was literally everything I wanted in a commuter bike. Sexy looks, fully rack/fender ready, decent group set(105/Tiagra) and disc brakes(I live in a city where it's almost stupid to ride without discs, given the hills and amount of rain). But alas, Trek didn't make a 2012 model.

https://classiccycleus.com/home/wp-co...k-Portland.jpg

^That was last years model for those that don't know it. I can't seem to find anything like it now, what other bikes should I look into if I can't find one in the back of a warehouse or used? I almost feel sad that I will never get to ride a new one home.

no1mad 

Salsa Vaya comes to mind...

JimJimex

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo

no1mad 

2012 Redline Metro Classic?

bikerjp

Yep. Been considering one myself. Nice bike and steel. I think the trek is AL and on principle alone wouldn't buy another Trek (have had several and not bashing, just tired of the same).

SPiercey

Thanks for the two suggestions. No dealers in my area though so I'd have to see if they could order one in for me, which means no proper fitting.

Never owned a steel bike, probably a lot heavier then an aluminum bike. I often have to carry my bike up/down a flight of stairs.

CACycling

Aluminum is lighter than steel but more aluminum is used to acheive the same strength so a steel bike won't necessarily be heavier.

bikerjp

Weight is hard to discuss without the frame and a scale handy. However, for comparison, my caad9 (which is a race oriented frame and one of the lightest out there in AL) is about 1200 grams based on what I've read. A Salsa Vaya is about 2400 grams (size 58). In other words, a steel commuting bike is about 2.5 lbs heavier than an AL racing bike. I'm sure the average AL frame from trek weighs more. Anyway, not really a usable comparison but something to consider. Leave the water behind and save that 2.5 lbs right there (approx).

SouthFLpix

Jamis Aurora Elite is very similar. https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...roraelite.html

It does come with a compact double instead of a triple, but the rear cassette is 11-32 so that should be low enough for almost anywhere unless you are doing fully loaded touring in some very hilly areas.


Edit: The link above was for the 2011 model, but now the 2012 model is up on Jamis's website and it seems they made a lot of changes. It's more of a full-on touring bike now.

36h rims instead of 32h
Back to a triple instead of a compact double
Bar end shifters instead of STI

Hmm, for commuting purposes I'd rather have the 2011 model. I prefer STI to bar ends for shifting in traffic.

Mr Pink57

That Redline looks good.

Kona Sutra
It's more a touring style bike but think it has everything you were looking for.

I personally use a Vassago Fisticuff, it can take racks and has discs but I don't think it has as many options as these others (more of a monstercross bike). I would really consider a Vaya if I could afford it, it just has too much going for it. I only wish it had a Fargo style fork which would be the perfect fit.

tromper

The Trek Soho & PDX are the closest replacement Trek makes that I'm aware of. I'm not a real fan of integrated headsets myself, so not on my radar anymore. Beyond that I think Civia has a couple models (Bryant, Loring & Hyland) that address that niche.
There are a few others such asas far as weight goes that varies considerably by model & accessories. I have no issues carrying my steel steed up the stairs (or stopping it with Canti's in seattle for that matter)
Good luck with your quest.

fietsbob

Redline conquest classic.. steel+ disc brakes..

I got a Bike Friday pocket Llama,,with disc brakes .. 406 wheels
so whole bike is a bit shorter, as the wheels are smaller..

no1mad 

The Redline Conquest Classic didn't make it to the 2012 line up. Matter of fact, that line up got paired down something harsh...

gtragitt

I live my SOHO Deluxe, but I am not sure if it is geared low enough for big hills. It is flat here in Houston. the belt and internal geared hub are special.

well biked 

Maybe take a look at the Jamis Bosanova, the frame is Reynolds 520 steel w/carbon fork, disc brakes, with relaxed road bike geometry. It's a nine speed Tiagra bike with a triple.

when

Marin Lombard.

beebe

New Long Haul Truckers will be disc compatible. Redline Conquest Classic, Kona Sutra, Kona ***** Inc (if you're okay with IGH), Civia Bryant Tiagra, Jamis Aurora Elite, and Motobecane Fantom Cross Outlaw also jump to mind.

tjspiel

It's really too bad. There are a few steel models that are similar but, yeah they are typically heavier.

I'd like to see a few more Al bikes in that space that weren't cross bikes. Steel is fine, but Al is lighter and doesn't corrode as readily when exposed to salty roads.

Having said that, a cross bike isn't that bad of a choice.

mustang1

The problem I have with a CX bike is toe-overlap. I hate that. I had a Tricross but I think this is a problem with all CX bikes (from what I read a few years ago so someone can correct me if I'm wrong). It's not that you get used to it, it's just something additional to think about when negotiating tight turns thru traffic.

Check out a user here called tsl. He really likes his Portland and he might have tried various other models or could point you to something similar. www.brucew.com is his personal site.

WalksOn2Wheels

Regarding weight (kind of important to me as I live in a second story apartment), I've often been surprised at the weights of a lot of modern steel frame commuters, particularly Surly. They've been making steel for years, you would think they would know how to make a tough, relatively light frame for not too much money. For what its worth, my steel commuter is an '87 Specialized Sirrus and with fenders and all, it only weighs about 25 pounds (I don't use racks). And if I'm feeling like a faster ride one day, my steel Bianchi weighs about 22 pounds built.

I would think you could build up a similar bike with an older touring frame made with some decent steel and get a not too heavy bike.

tjspiel

I don't think tough, light, cheap, and steel is a combination that's easy to come by which is why aluminum has become so popular for bike frames. For riding on flat terrain weight doesn't matter so much, but if you need to carry your bike around at all, lower weight is a really nice feature. Sure, I can carry something that's a lot heavier than my heaviest steel bike. That doesn't mean I like it.

JeremyLC

I think it's not the frames as much as the grouppos, wheels, bars, and saddles. For example, if you built a Cross Check (about 6.2lbs frameset weight) with, say, a full Dura Ace (7900) group (~2087g, about 4.6lbs), lightweight stem, bars, wheels, saddle and seatpost, you could make a really light ride out of it. Such a build would not, however, be even vaguely cheap.

You may have noticed that the cheapest bikes these days are mostly aluminium (I'm sure you see plenty of Walbikes in the shop), and they are still stupidly heavy. (of course, outside the frame, everything else one those is probably hi-ten steel and pig-iron)

As far as frame materials, weight, and ride qualities, I refer you to Sheldon Brown's article on the subject. (particularly of interest to you, I'm sure, as an engineering student)

bikerjp

I've looked at a few complete steel bikes recently (surly cross check and salsa vaya to name a couple) and while they are heavier than my road bike, they are not THAT much heavier. They are also built with lower end components and heavy wheels with bigger tires. If you want a light weight steel road bike they are out there but the frame is probably the least of your worries. I saw on a forum someone claiming their Gunnar Roadie weighed 18.5 lbs. That's what my aluminum caad9 weighs. A steel commuter/tour is simply going to weigh more because of its intended purpose.

I'm starting to think seriously about the soma es and I think I can build it up to be around 22 lbs depending on the weight of the wheels, fenders and rack. The frame itself is only around 4 lbs.

DVC45

Salsa Fargo.

scroca

OP, maybe there's a chance to pick up a used one?