Charge Bikes ditches steel Plug...
 

I wanted a steel-frame touring-style bike as a new commuter, but had budget considerations. In January 2015 I bought a new 2015 Charge Plug "Performance Bicycles" edition, which is basically the Plug 4 with the groupset from the 3. While not a direct competitor for the Surly LHT or the Salsa Vaya, it was also only half the price. And finding one at Performance for half-off meant I bought a new, steel-frame, disc-brake commuter for a quarter of the price of a LHT. Lighter than a true touring frame, with more frame flex, I love my Plug despite pronounced toe overlap (especially with fenders) and the non-standard threading on the rear dropouts (the fronts were standard).

Although the news seems to be a few months old, I just saw it this morning, Charge Bikes has redesigned the Plug line for 2016 with new aluminum frames except for the top of the line Plug 5 which is titanium. All Plugs get carbon front forks.

Charge Plug gets aluminium overhaul for 2016 - Cycling Weekly

This development really doesn't affect me in any way, and I understand businesses have to build to market demand, but it does make me a little sad. There are still plenty of steel bikes out there, both old and new, and steel isn't always the answer, but commuting on my Plug, I occasionally feel some flex rhythms similar to my old steel Nishiki International, just not as pronounced (On my Nishiki, when I hold the brakes and stand on the right pedal, I can see the rear left chain-stay deflect a quarter inch or more).

I now feel extra fortunate to have been able to find and buy the bike I wanted, now that it's no longer available.

I have two bikes that I built up from old steel frames. I love how they feel and ride with new alloy components. The Raleigh has relaxed geometry (antithesis of the usual "fixie") and gives appreciated shock-absorption on poor pavement. The Dunelt, now with 3-speed Nexus IGH, is the main reason my wife still rides occasionally.

The cost of these build-ups was kept low by watching for sales. Then there's the satisfaction of owning something with history. I might have kept both bikes original if the chrome wasn't badly rusted on both.

It's a shame the bike industry doesn't know, or care what we really want. Try to find a Ridge 29er that is rack and fender compatible with no more than a 30 inch stand over height. I could get a Surly Ogre. Other wise the tires are too skinny or they don't have lock out forks. Or they are not rack and fender compatible. Glad to here you found something.

Sometimes I feel like a analogue guy who has been trapped in a digital world.

The nice thing about an aluminum framed bike is they are lighter than steel. That's something any fool can quantify at home on their bathroom scale.

I found two low-end aluminum mtb's in the trash. One, a Trek 3500, is my main around-town and rain bike. It weighs 28 lbs. The other, a dept. store no-name, was configured the same as the Trek except with front AND rear shocks - fake high tech. It weighed more than 30 lbs. Hard to believe that an aluminum bike could weigh more than some all-steel relics from the seventies. You'd think that bike had lead hidden in it somewhere. In contrast, my steel-framed, straight-tubing Raleigh FG weighs 24 lbs.

This fixed gear conversion started life as a Raleigh Technium mountain bike. It has aluminum main frame tubes and steel stays and fork. 21.3 pounds as it sits.

I've seen that happen with other bikes, steel then aluminum. They did it because they had to, that's what sells. The weight weener mentality ruins another bike.

Beautiful bike. You inspired me to go for a ride today.

...and they're back to steel.

Charge goes steel for 2018 Plug and Cooker
2018 Charge Plug, Cooker and Cleaver ? price, specs, details, availability - BikeRadar USA