fixedup

I'm in the market for a good steal road bike, I've look at the jamis quest and liked it but havent' been able to ride one yet. The thought of building a frame up has been toyed with but that's always more expensive than buying a complete bike. I also like the surly crosscheck because it can basically do anything. Im not looking for a race bike ( might do some racing with it ) but im looking for a nice steel geared bike that is reliable/utilitarian. I'm looking around the 1-1500k price range. Any help?

Gibbygoo

You could get about whatever you want at 1500k

I am digging the Salsa Casseroll

bbattle

Trek 520 https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/road/520/520/

michaelmc

I've always liked Jamis builds. They use nice Easton forks on most bikes, for one; the Quest also has Ritchey components and Mavic wheels, and Shimano 105 up and down. You will never need anything more if you're not racing, and if you do race, then the 105 is more than adequate until you get a dedicated race bike. The Mavic Aksiums are porky but durable, and people have won races on them. Ride it to see if you like it, but I wouldn't worry about building my own if you do like it.

bbattle

Bianchi Volpe https://bianchiusa.com/07_volpe.html

Bianchi Imola, Eros, Brava https://bianchiusa.com/07_road.html

NealH

I second what "michaelmc" said about the Jamis Quest. A really fine bike.

bbattle

Complete bike Soma Smoothie can be found here: https://www.smartcycles.com/entry_level_road_bikes.htm

bbattle

Lemond Sarthe. A bit out of your price range but maybe you can get a deal on last year's model.

https://lemondbikes.com/bikes/road_ra...eel/sarthe.php

shakeNbake

If you don't mind used, you can find older Fuji Roubaix frame (the ones with Reynolds tubing) on eBay for $300-500.

rufvelo

AND
?

I would stay closer to the $1 range and buy used on ebay or Craigslist.

JayhawKen

Maybe O.J. could help you out.

And if you meant a good steel road bike - I don't think there are any. Most steel bikes are ridden by washed up old has-beens and retro-loonies stuck in 1975.

















just kiddin guys ...

woodcycl

As someone else said, the SOMA is available and makes great frames!

piper_chuck

I've done 2 rides and 27.1 miles on my new Quest. So far, I like it. I've been posting my thoughts in another thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/clydesdales-athenas-200-lb-91-kg/346240-jamis-quest-first-impressions.html

marqueemoon

For utilitarian it doesn't get much better than the Cross Check. The 2008 Kona Kapu looks pretty cool though. List is $1800. Ultegra, shiny lugs, rack and fender eyelets.

Bacciagalupe

Another vote for the CrossCheck. Good for commuting, utility, touring and group rides.

I am trying to get a 2008 Lemond Sarthe but that is really made for fast riding. Unlike the Surly, it's not really set up for racks, and has racier wheels and a couple of carbon bits (e.g. seatpost), so less than ideal as a general-purpose bike.

Jynx

07 Bianchi Road Steels
or
Lemond Sarthe

If you have a higher budget
Seven Axiom Steel
Serotta Fierte Steel
or
Serotta CDA

late

My favorite Surly is the Pacer. It's a traditional road frame and a real nice bike.
Check the reviews at roadbbikereview.com
https://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB='2789-35'

acorn_user

You might be able to sneak a Bob Jackson in under $1500....
https://www.worldclasscycles.com/JACKSON-PRICE-LIST.htm

+Mirage groupset = $400
+Khamsin wheels = $200 leaves 0$ for bars and stuff, but Bob Jackson!

eofelis 

My SO liked his steel Gunnar Roadie so much that he went out and got a second one. He built one as a DA double for fast riding, and the other as a DA triple for century rides. He worked in the bike biz for 10 years and has had many different road bikes, he likes the Roadies best.

I really like my Surly Pacer, but it's more of a sport-touring bike.

55/Rad

I have no idea. Does anybody ride steel anymore?

waterrockets 

It's strange, I love my steel bikes, but I never have any specific recommendations. It turns out that I ride my bikes so long that nobody makes them any more. Bridgestone stopped selling in the US, and Ritchey's steel frame market went niche for travel bikes.

I'm still riding my first race bike every week. So I guess I say to get one you really like, because you may have it for a looong time. (I have friends with really old AL, CF and Ti too, so it's not just steel)

Coyote2

Surly, Salsa, Gunnar Roadie, etc, if you want some choice in components. A few bike brands still offer complete steel bikes, too, if you wish to go that route.

I am with waterrockets -- still riding my first good bike, which is Reynolds 853, and trying to think of a reason to move up to something more exotic (carbon fiber), but can't really justify it - my old bike has been used and abused for about 18k miles so far and still works fine. But I can always find an excuse to blow money, so I am sure that I'll think of something.

Old Dirt Hill

Funny.

wll

The only steel frame I have is a 1996 LeMond Alpe d' Huez.

Has down tube shifters and is old school, but runs perty well:-)

wll

atomship47

sorry if this hijacks your thread. however, i'm in the market for a steel roadie too and maybe this question will add to the discussion;

when looking at steel framesets, the price range is significant. people tend to rave about surly and soma. and they are very affordable frames. gunnar frames are about twice the cost, but are still affordable compared to other brands.

why is this?

i looked at what some of the more common steel frame makers use for material (with highest purported quality steel first);

-microalloys

-gunnar, lemond, soma, guru, and salsa use;
Heat-treated air hardened steel


-serotta uses;
columbus niobium steel (i don't know where this ranks).

-Heat-treated CrMo

- jamis and bianchi use;
Cold-drawn air hardened steel


-Cold-drawn CrMo



it looks like seven uses a mix of all of the above.

are there specific uses that make one kind of steel frame better than the other? OR should one just go with soma since they are the most affordable, higher quality steel frames out there?