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:) Steel is for people that drive around in Model T's
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I ride a steel road bike because that's what I could afford in 1998 and still have. :D
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Originally Posted by margoC
It's zona steel. Most of the tubes are not round which is kind of a pain in the but when you are trying to mount a pump or something.
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Originally Posted by Cot Du Trent
I see some people on here that are interested in owning, or do own, steel bikes. I'm just curious as to what you see in steel opposed to some other materials? It seems incredibly heavy (but maybe that's just my wal-mart bikes talking from my childhood). I'm sure it's really stiff, though. Is that why one would ride steel? Just interested in your responses! :)
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I reckon that those who think that steel isn't a good material for a bike frame have simply NEVER owned a good quality steel frame. A plumbing pipe Huffy doesn't count!
I have a custom lugged Zona steel frame and it performs and rides beautifuly. At 1.65 kg its not a superlightweigh but its not realy heavy either. Its both more stable AND more agile than my previous aluminium frame and the ride is noticeably better. OK some of this comes down to design and construction but still its not shown up in any way compared to aluminium. I also have a 25 year old 531 lugged steel frame which rode beautifuly the last time I took it out as well. So are aluminium and carbon fibre REALY that much better than steel or just different? I say they are just different and the notion that they are OBVIOUSLY better is just marketing hype to sepperate you from your money. Regards, Anthony |
I love steel, it rides nice, looks good and can be plenty light for my needs. My Gunnar frame weighs in at 3.5lbs and rides like a dream (fit is perfect too which is a big part of that). I've never been on an aluminum frame that road nearly as well and any carbon frame that was similarly good cost a whole lot more....and actually, I don't think much rides like steel. Carbon can ride great (and I think aluminum can too but I've never experienced a really nice riding aluminum frame) but it's just not like steel IMO.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5108/gunnarrk1.jpg |
Originally Posted by slide13
I love steel, it rides nice, looks good and can be plenty light for my needs. My Gunnar frame weighs in at 3.5lbs and rides like a dream (fit is perfect too which is a big part of that). I've never been on an aluminum frame that road nearly as well and any carbon frame that was similarly good cost a whole lot more....and actually, I don't think much rides like steel. Carbon can ride great (and I think aluminum can too but I've never experienced a really nice riding aluminum frame) but it's just not like steel IMO.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5108/gunnarrk1.jpg |
Thanks, I sure like it a lot.
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Just in case there are people here who think steel puts pro riders at a serious disadvantage, the Lampre riders used steel at the Classics this year, and Ballan was not exactly left behind in the last break in the Paris-Roubaix by the guys on the carbon bikes :)
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...1/IMG_9987.jpg http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...ikes1/IMG_9987 |
this is one of my favourite pro-steel sites: http://www.henryjames.com/faq.html
I guess it's biased, but it's reassuring for the steel lovers, and entertaining! :) |
Originally Posted by humble_biker
:) Steel is for people that drive around in Model T's
Then I'll put it back on top of my shiny new Acura and drive home (I'll race you on some twisties in that too, if you're up for it). :D |
Originally Posted by 531Aussie
Just in case there are people here who think steel puts pro riders at a serious disadvantage, the Lampre riders used steel at the Classics this year, and Ballan was not exactly left behind in the last break in the Paris-Roubaix by the guys on the carbon bikes :)
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...1/IMG_9987.jpg http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...ikes1/IMG_9987 |
"sweet steel ride" = placebo effect
"steel lasts forever" = myth Steel frames have a classic look and steel is easy for custom builders to work with. These are steel's only advantages. |
1 Attachment(s)
Originally Posted by Trogon
As described below, the result is a very beautiful, smooth, fluid joint
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Originally Posted by gmason
Here is another. Just a beautiful job in my opinion.
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I doubt the aluminum and CF frames of today will be still rolling after 30 + yrs, as a lot of steel frames do. Titanium is another matter, of course. The reasons for a steel bike seem to be for the ride qualities(marginally better if at all) and for the smooth welds. Honestly, why in the world are people looking at the welds? You might as well gawk over the beauty of the water bottle cage bolt threads. http://hyperbolts.com/catalog/images...m5x10_od10.jpg |
Originally Posted by slowandsteady
Does anyone really need a bike to last 30 years? Maybe it is just because I live in a disposable society, but I know I will get bored of my bike in a lot less than 30 years. I don't want to ride the same bike in retirement as I do in my 30's. I also don't want to eat the same thing for lunch everyday, or wear the same clothes for the next 30 years even if they should last that long.
The reasons for a steel bike seem to be for the ride qualities(marginally better if at all) and for the smooth welds. Honestly, why in the world are people looking at the welds? You might as well gawk over the beauty of the water bottle cage bolt threads. http://hyperbolts.com/catalog/images...m5x10_od10.jpg |
Originally Posted by AnthonyG
I reckon that those who think that steel isn't a good material for a bike frame have simply NEVER owned a good quality steel frame. A plumbing pipe Huffy doesn't count!
I have a custom lugged Zona steel frame and it performs and rides beautifuly. At 1.65 kg its not a superlightweigh but its not realy heavy either. Its both more stable AND more agile than my previous aluminium frame and the ride is noticeably better. OK some of this comes down to design and construction but still its not shown up in any way compared to aluminium. I also have a 25 year old 531 lugged steel frame which rode beautifuly the last time I took it out as well. So are aluminium and carbon fibre REALY that much better than steel or just different? I say they are just different and the notion that they are OBVIOUSLY better is just marketing hype to sepperate you from your money. Regards, Anthony Any type of metal frame, ferrous or non- is never going to be as manipulatable as carbon fiber. That's what I like about carbon. Carbon is the future. Anyway someday I'll build the GT back up and ride it again, because it is a beautiful bike, and worthy. But for now it sits and rests like an old horse. :) |
One of the biggest advantages of steel over other materials is the ease with which you can add, remove or move braze-on attatchents. I have had rack eyelets added to a frame and it cost very little at my LBS.
I know of one shop that can update a Ti frame. I know you roadies like to keep your bikes looking clean and pared down but for tourists, brazons provide useful solutions to a multitude of problems. Check out a comprehensive list of possible brazons. |
Originally Posted by slowandsteady
Does anyone really need a bike to last 30 years? Maybe it is just because I live in a disposable society, but I know I will get bored of my bike in a lot less than 30 years. I don't want to ride the same bike in retirement as I do in my 30's. I also don't want to eat the same thing for lunch everyday, or wear the same clothes for the next 30 years even if they should last that long.
The reasons for a steel bike seem to be for the ride qualities(marginally better if at all) and for the smooth welds. Honestly, why in the world are people looking at the welds? You might as well gawk over the beauty of the water bottle cage bolt threads. Some people care about how their welds look. Some people care about how light their bike is and some people care how efficient it is in transfering power. Some want a bike that floats over the rough stuff and some could care less. Some want to get to the top of a hill as fast as possible and some just want to ride 300 mile brevets without being beat up. The OP asked "why steel?" and those of us that happen to like steel bikes answered. If those reasons don't make sense to you, that's okay. I'm sure that some of the things you want out of a bike are meaningless to people here. The fact that you don't want a bike for 30 years means nothing to someone who lives to ride vintage bikes, much in the same way that an appreciation the latest organic monocoque carbon design means nothing to the rider of a Richard Sachs bike. Maybe I want a vanilla cream colored bike that weighs 3.2 pounds with a slightly sloping top tube and a 15.5cm headtube. Since I can't get that in any LBS, I'm going to have to get it done custom. Maybe I don't want to spend $2500 on the frame - there goes titanium. Maybe I care about organic joints - there goes aluminum unless I can find a builder with a putty knife. Maybe I don't want to think about cracking it - there goes aluminum again. What does that leave me with? Steel. Good ride, reasonable cost, ease of building. Reasons enough? |
Originally Posted by Reynolds
That skinny Wilier is really nice!
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Originally Posted by terry b
Steel. Good ride, reasonable cost, ease of building. Reasons enough?
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Q: How do you make a sub-20-pound steel bike?
A: Start with a sub-18 aluminum bike and swap out the frame! :D |
why not steel?
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Those are pretty nice bolts. Some people care about how their welds look. Some people care about how light their bike is and some people care how efficient it is in transfering power. Some want a bike that floats over the rough stuff and some could care less. Some want to get to the top of a hill as fast as possible and some just want to ride 300 mile brevets without being beat up. The OP asked "why steel?" and those of us that happen to like steel bikes answered. If those reasons don't make sense to you, that's okay. I'm sure that some of the things you want out of a bike are meaningless to people here. The fact that you don't want a bike for 30 years means nothing to someone who lives to ride vintage bikes, much in the same way that an appreciation the latest organic monocoque carbon design means nothing to the rider of a Richard Sachs bike. Maybe I want a vanilla cream colored bike that weighs 3.2 pounds with a slightly sloping top tube and a 15.5cm headtube. Since I can't get that in any LBS, I'm going to have to get it done custom. Maybe I don't want to spend $2500 on the frame - there goes titanium. Maybe I care about organic joints - there goes aluminum unless I can find a builder with a putty knife. Maybe I don't want to think about cracking it - there goes aluminum again. What does that leave me with? Steel. Good ride, reasonable cost, ease of building. Reasons enough? I am skeptical of buying an all steel bike mostly because of those who are so religiously devoted to them with this all or nothing attitude and exagerated claims of harsh riding aluminum or catastrophic CF failure. Why be so defensive of your frame material and offensive of other frame materials? If it is that good, it should be able to speak for itself. You don't appear to be one of those zealots, but there are so many of them the message is diluted. |
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