simonsez

Hi all,

I’ve been doing tons of on-line research for the purchase of a new bike and this site has been one that I’ve visited numerous times.
(I think) I’m looking for either a hardtail 29er, a hybrid or maybe even a cyclocross (but that’s a whole different conversation) and as of this writing I’m 80% sure it will be a steel frame.

However, what I haven’t really been able to find an answer to is this:

It seems that almost every review, forum and articles I’ve read hypes steel (chromoly) as the “REAL DEAL” , it’s main advantage over almost everything else being the ride and that nothing compares to it. Almost everyone that owns one loves them. The only drawback that I seem to find is that it’s “slightly” heavier than an aluminum frame and from what I’ve read the weight penalty is minimal.

If this is the case WHY don’t manufacturers make more bikes using this technology? Isn’t steel also cheaper? It seems that 95% of bikes being made are aluminum.

Other than the aforementioned weight penalty, are there other drawbacks to steel that I’m unaware of?
Would love to read your thoughts on this, thanks.

rebel1916

The biggest problem with steel is that if you start riding on a steel bike you are very likely to grew a beard, wear sandals while riding and start trolling message boards.

umazuki

Rust.

Phil_gretz

No problems with steel, or aluminum, or carbon...

Or titanium, or bamboo, or...

What are you really looking to do with the bike? 80% sure it's steel, yet you'd include a 29-er or hybrid on your list? Sounds like aluminum is a more likely choice for you, because then you'll have all three types of bikes still in the running.

Are you riding off-road, and will this include single-track? Go with the 29-er. Mostly roads? Go with the hybrid or cyclocross. Aggressive riding, with little off-road? Go with the cyclocross...

Your issue is not frame material, it's style of bike. The rest will take care of itself...

eja_ bottecchia

Having to stop to acknowledge every old-timer who greets with a "steel is real" salute.

mprelaw

The answer is pretty easy and simple:

It's because "carbon" and "aluminum" don't rhyme with "real". "Steel" does.

rumrunn6

I believe the only reason bike manufacturers ever moved away from steel is for weight reasons

hamiltonian

Simonsez, I'm looking at the same kind of bikes myself. Those are commonly suggested as general-purpose bikes, good for both road and (light) trail riding, so maybe that's what you're after. Steel is indeed commonly said to give a smoother ride than the other materials. Aluminum is commonly said to be harsher.

I think it was on the Soma website where I read that aluminum is actually cheaper than high-quality cromoly steel. I've also read that another advantage of steel is that almost anyone can weld it if you need a major repair. But I think it's a mistake to get all purist about steel and consider it the only "real" option. There are lots of good bikes made from other materials.

Anyway, there are some decisions that require more than mere abstract thought. The best idea is to ride as many different bikes as possible, and decide for yourself based on what feels good to you.

DCB0

Aluminum is actually cheaper to make a bike from than steel once you have the tooling and processes set up.

If you compare a mid-range aluminum bike to a good quality steel bike, the weight difference is small.
If you compare a basic aluminum bike to a basic steel bike the weight limit is more significant.
Many alloys of aluminum have a very high strength to weight ratio compared to many alloys of steel.
Lightweight steel frames (like racing bikes from back-in-the-day) actually have a very high failure rate compared to modern aluminum. You can overbuild an aluminum bike and make it weigh the same as a good steel bike.

Steel bikes can have a springy feel to them as there can be some flex built into them. More expensive steel frames tend to have more of this characteristic as the more expensive steel is made with significantly thinner walls.

Medium width tires can give much more shock absorbtion than any rigid frame no mattedr the material.

Proper design and manufacture is more important than material selection. It is entirely possible to make a good touring bike out of carbon fibre and entirely possible to make a very poor touring bike out of steel. You can also make a decent steel racing bike and crapola carbon racing bike.

If you are at the level where the difference between a well made steel bike and a well made carbon bike is important to you, then your sponsor will be telling you what bike to ride and you don't have to worry about making the choice.

chasm54

None, really. Don't listen to people who say that rust is a problem, a decent and properly-finished steel frame will last for decades with little or no sign of rust unless severely neglected.

The issue is not the disadvantage of steel but the advantage of other materials. Weight is the biggest issue. Apart from that, carbon offers lots more possibilities for frame design, for example. It's also pretty dirt cheap to manufacture once one has made the very considerable initial investment required.

As to comfort, frame material does make a difference and high-end steel tubing does offer the potential for a very nice ride. But the geometry of the frame is more important than the material in determining how the bike will feel and handle. Choose the bike that seems to suit your needs best.

wahoonc

Nope. Costs. Do you really think WM worries about bike weight?

FWIW I prefer steel, I have everything from basic 20-30 on my Raliegh All Steel Bike, to a couple of Reynolds 531 bikes frames. I do own a couple of aluminum bikes, but they aren't my favorites.

Aaron

Mobile 155

It has all been said. Weight, flex and Rust are things people have complained about. But the quality of the steel and the paint can address the rust issue. For me it was flex but I haven't tried a steel bike newer than my 91 Klein. The first time I tried a quality Aluminum bike I was impressed whith how it was so stiff in a climb compared to my Old Viscount, Nishiki, and Peugeot. I could make the bottom bracket flex enough to make the chain rub the front derailleur on those steel bikes in a uphill sprint.

But that being said I understand the Waterford and some others are making lighter steel bikes but at a cost close to Carbon Fiber. CF can be made stiff in one direction and compliant in another. I just don't know about longevity.

Would I but another steel bike? Well N+1 is still alive and well and you never know.

SlimRider

Welcome To Bike Forums, Simonsez!

IMHO unless you're seriously racing road bicycles, steel is the only way to go. Otherwise, you can't get any lighter in mass than a CF road bike. Therefore, if racing, then get a CF road bike! As for any other type of cycling, steel will usually be the answer, unless you live close to coastal areas. Saltwater wreaks havoc upon steel frames!

Back in 1973, an MIT student by the name of Gary Klein got the idea that bicycles could be made successfully out of aluminum. In 1994 Klein Bicycles launched the first Quantum Pro, a mass produced aluminum bicycle, with an integrated headset. Of course, it had its flaws, as many other trail-blazing aluminum framed bicycles that followed suit had, as well. In 1996 Trek purchased Klein Bicycles and both pursued and elevated aluminum bicycle technology. Klein and Cannondale began producing aluminum bikes in the 1980's. Soon afterwards, other bicycle companies began their own aluminum bicycle frame material research and produced their own interpretations of aluminum bicycles. Of course, in the beginning, all of the bicycle companies experienced some form of catastrophic failure with aluminum. However, within the next decade, technology developed to the point where aluminum became the main staple of the industry.

It is my firm belief, that the bicycle industrial pioneers had predicted years earlier, that once the aluminum frame was adequtely developed, the mining of iron ore could be curtailed and the industry could then gradually build up the factory infrastructure to recycle aluminum. An element that is already in abundant supply, and can be 100% recycled indefinitely. Also since aluminum has a lower melting point, is lighter in transporting, plus it's easier to cut and machine, production costs would plummet immensely, due to energy conservation, if nothing else!

Now the average cyclist, gets to buy three or four bicycles within a lifetime, as opposed to just one or two.

Thanks to Klein, Trek, Giant, Specialized, Raleigh, and Cannondale...

LarDasse74

Thanks, slimrider, for illustrating your level of knowledge once again!

rebel1916

How dare you speak negatively of a fellow BF member!

Lightingguy

Well...... not exactly. Gary invented the "oversize tubed aluminum bike", though Cannondale would argue the point. Gary had the oversized tubed and mass produced (as in - non custom) Quantum in the mid to late 80's, the 1994 Quantum Pro was different in using an integrated headset design. Trek was using a smaller tubed material as was Vitus in France in the mid 80's. Vitus was typically a bonded tube to a lug (late 70's actually), as were many Treks, with the Trek 2000 appearing in 1985. Many other frame manufacturers used aluminum from the mid 80's onward, some bonded, some welded. The oversize tube design was a better choice for welding, which from a manufacturers standpoint is a lot less expensive to mass produce, due to no lugs being required.

bmills313

I seem to have been in a similar position as you in regards to what type of bike to get and getting a frame made of aluminum vs. steel, etc. I test rode a bunch including several aluminum frames that were great bikes but after riding them one thing became very clear: they were rough(er) rides compared to steel. I read tons of articles, threads here and opinions for/against both steel and aluminum and for me all that research was confirmed after my first test ride of aluminum then steel. Is steel heavier? I'm sure it is. Does it matter? No way...at least not for MY purposes (exercise, transportation). If you were racing or weight was a huge concern, maybe it becomes more of an issue, but for me the benefits of steel (namely the super smooth ride) more than makes up for a handful of added ounces over aluminum. I'm guessing you're probably in a similar boat.

I ended up getting a Traitor Ruben (a cyclocross) and I could not be happier, a huge part of that being how effing smooth the bike feels. The bike absorbs an incredible amount of little bumps and the road in general and when you do ride over a bigger seam in the road or cracks/bumps you feel it but it feels less than it "should" if that makes sense. I've not ridden it off-road yet but I can't imagine it would be any different in terms of absorbing bumps and vibrations...I'm actually pretty excited to try it out off road to see how well it feels!

I vote steel, no question about it.

wahoonc

Hate to break the news to you all, but Aluminum bikes have been around for a looooong time.

Pierre Caminade was building aluminum bikes as far back as 1936.

Aaron

LarDasse74

It was an accident*! I must have hit the 'e' when I was reaching for the 'r.' I received a warning from a mod over it too...

Also, slime is actually a beneficial organism in many ecosystems.


*An accident, but a hilarious accident

Shimagnolo

1896: https://www.fixedgeargallery.com/2008...attMcNeece.htm

wahoonc

Wow...That was only about 10 years after the modern aluminum smelting process was discovered. I wonder how many bikes they produced and how many actually survived.

Aaron

Arrowana

I'd say the main thing is to just find a frame you like, whether it be steel, aluminum, carbon, or something else. The harshest bike I've ever ridden was an aluminum Schwinn 564. Oddly enough, I think I might actually say the next harshest was a Bianchi Osprey, a steel MTB. I just test rode an aluminum Cannondale T700, and it felt amazing. Sure, material will give you a guess as to how a bike might ride, but it certainly isn't a guarantee.

JanMM

Ahh, the timeless appeal of a classic 4130-framed bike:

Mobile 155

The OP has received all the answers of value he will get to make a choice. Everything from here on will be debate.

2manybikes

No it won't.