Steel Frames
 

Hi everyone.
I've been reading this site for a while and its time for a question of my own.

I need a list of names of companies that make steel frames.
I am 215 lbs. I cannot ride a cabon or titanium frame and nor do I feel like paying the prices for one.

Gimme some ideas guys.
The old bianchi is getting tired. And I'm pretty tired of riding a pink bike. Yes its a pink Bianchi.

Thanks!

Just for the sake of argument, why can't you ride Ti or carbon?

For the name of steel bike manufacturers you might want to try the search feature since that subject comes up at least once per day.

Are you riding a P.U.S.S.?

Bianchi makes a number of steel framed bikes. Torelli.com can hook you up with a Torelli or Mondonico frame.

Surly makes steel frames. So does Pake. Trek has their highyly touted 520 touring bike. Lemond has some steel bikes.

Steelman makes lots of steel bicycles if you are into the industrial cruiser scene.

Salsa makes the La Raza steel frame.

Redline has the 925 but it's a singlespeed. Same for IRO, they make great singlespeed/fixed gear bikes.

Soma makes steel frames. As does Independent Fabrications. Search the internet for custom bicycle makers and you'll turn up a lot more.

What sort of riding do you do? What shape are you in? Do you want aggressive race geometry or something a little relaxed?

I think you will find out that the brand name of the bike doesn't mean they actually make the bike from scratch. I think they buy the tubes or custom order the tubes from a tube maker.

If you really want a steel bike and you are set on the kind of ride you do and what you want the bike to do for you, then investigate custom steel. There's a frame building section and they would know more.

What?!?! Steelman an industrial cruiser?? I don't think so.

Back to the OP. I don't see why you can't ride a carbon or a ti frame -- especially ti. I have owned a steel frame (Steelman, btw -- it's hardly a cruiser) and now own a carbon frame bike. They are both strong, while the steel frame rides softer and has more flex. The Steelman got a few dings and I was told by Brent, the maker, that the frame will eventually fail where the one larger dent is. As such, I will never buy another steel frame again. They damage too easily. If I were you, I would buy a Ti frame and be done with it. They combine some advantages that the others have individually. Full carbon would be my next choice, then aluminum with carbon stays.

I have riden Ti bikes and they feel wobbley underneith me.
Carbon frames just scare the crap out of me.
I have heard too many times of carbon frames breaking from people who ride them. Not just one of those "i know a guy whos knows a guy things".
The last guy I talked to was hard to understand becuase his jaw was broken from the head tube snapping.

I like steel. I know how it will perform everytime.
And on sprints I apply so much power that the bike leaves the ground.
I jump curbs when needed and push my bikes to the limit.
Think NYC messenger. Stitching rides on cars and jumping sewer grates and pot holes.

I am 215 Lbs and 6 foot tall. My shoulders are as wide as a mack truck. I would and will tear a carbon frame in two.

I ride to pedal and thats it.
Today I did 50 miles before I even knew it.
I'm not a weight weinie and I could care less if my bike would be be a Tour de France Peleton canidate.
I dont care about grams, time trials, carbon saddles and my VO2 Max can go F itself.

I push myself till I cry for the last 10 miles.
I have been out of the game for 3 years and just got back into it this year.
Using a doner bianchi (i cracked my aluminum cannondale) I have done 3 rides in the past 3 weeks.
7 miles the first week.
25 mile the second.
and 50 today.
I will be doing centuries with no effort again within a month.

I snap crank arms in half and have shattered chains into 10 pieces.

This is why I ride steel.

The steelie's manifesto. :)

I can't say enough good things about Torelli. I have three of their frames, and they are all fantastic.

dude, if you are as much of a beast as you say you are, you should ride this
http://www.chicagoaa.com/images/other/btb06tinybike.jpg

it wont hold you back man, you are untameable

I'm in the same boat right now, looking for a steel ride....

Here are some brands I know carry at least 1 steel frame...

-Lemond
-Jamis
-Seven
-Serotta
-Bianchi
-Soma
-Salsa
-Waterford
-Gunnar

I know there are more, but that should give you a starting point....

I'm either going to pull the trigger on a Jamis Eclipse or Lemond Sarthe. Both are different beasts in their own respect! Happy hunting!

Hey, I got back into biking after 10-years off due to asthma and full-time work. I weighed 245lbs and hopped back on my '91 Specialized Allez Epic without any problems (carbon-tubes in alloy lugs). Although I did snap a rear-axle and knocked some wheels out of true by kerb-hopping and hitting various potholes. The frame's fine.

I guess it comes down to the buyer's specifications. Most of the people I know with Steelman frames wanted the lightest steel frame possible on the market. Steelman uses some exotic French tubing to get frame-weights to sub 4-lb range. Although this was at the cost of durability and rigidity (think of '80s Vitus-979 alloy frames).

Trek has the 520, a touring road bike,a good one in addition to what eat dirt22 just listed

bbattleSteelman makes lots of steel bicycles if you are into the industrial cruiser scene.


Steelman makes lots of steel bicycles if you are into the industrial cruiser scene.

QUOTE] hmm what do you mean by your quote?
Most Steelman riders I've seen get their bikes made by Brent because they want the best bike out there that fit their desires. Some steelman owners are hardcore Cyclo cross + road bikers. Some are just rider love being out on the road cycling.

woody_1029 how'd you get dents in your frame? I was in a wreck couple weeks back with my steelman bike and the frame is still good to go no dents or probs. Can't say much for the car i hit :p .

GreenDean: No matter what material you decide on having your frame made out of , except carbon, just make sure the wields on the frame are clean and strong. I have a friend around your weight and he rides a steel framed bike. i think he's had more problems with poor wielding jobs taking his weight than the type of materials the frame is made of.

Wide as a mack truck, snap crank arms in half, break chain into 10 pieces? Are you sure it was 10 pieces not nine or 11? I had some good recommmendations for you but after reading this, I think you are talking a lot of smack.

yeah,Icaught it the second time around. The OP better focus on a good frame and not fret over price. Avoid one that's too cheap. The OP ought to avoid Krytonite too while he's at it.

www.gvhbikes.com has some nice steel framesets.

I was considering custom and had a long list. Bianchi, Cherry, Dave Kirk, Strong, Steelman, Landshark, Waterford/Gunnar, Serotta, Curtlo, Don Walker, DeSalvo, Bob Jackson, Spectrum, Tommasini, Bob Brown, Robin Mather, etc. This ought to get you off to a good start.

Just enter steel bicycle frames or steel bicycle builders or custom steel bicycle into the Google search engine and you will find a ton.

I bought a Serotta Fierte BTW.

You need to work on your sprint technique if you're leaving the ground.

I like steel frames, but cost is not one of their strong points, unless you're getting a 4.5 lb frame.

i second that, as of now i will not ever be sing a carbon fiber bike part

My bf is about 215 and he likes his Gunnar Roadie so much that he is going to build up a second one.

+1

No smack here.
I was 180 lbs at the age of 13 and broke my first crank arm 75 miles away from home.
Nothing like using one leg for 25 miles back to a road my father could find.

I have some of the widest shoulders you've seen on a road biker.
I get stares all day long.

And the 10 piece chain.
I cant explain that one.
It literally just came apart while ascending some mountain in Northern jersey.

By the way.
To all that actually helped me out and threw names my way.

THANKS! :D

Depends.
For off-the-rack cheap, functional, indestructible, but heavy, anything Surly.
For something pricier, with custom paint jobs, Milwaukee Bikes (through Bens Cycle).
For the best pricepoint for custom steel, Curtlo.
For the best quality non-custom steel, Gunnar... or go custom for a small upcharge.
For absolute pimp high-quality work, you're looking at Waterford or Independent Fab or any number of $2k or over frames.

sounds to me you've been riding some pretty crappy bikes

Agreed, I can lift my back wheel off the ground while climbing or sprinting, but it's more of a problem rather than a sign of being too strong for carbon...