Cheers,

I thought this topic is suited more to this forums, but not he C&V, though it could fit in that category too...

I noticed some bicycle companies have steel road bikes, such as Kona, De Rosa, Colnago and others. Some of those bicycles are quite expensive, some are budget touring variants and such.
Recently I found about planet-x store in UK https://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/, that sells new produced steel frames, ranging from 200euros and up, but having hard time to google up any other manufacturers.

Point being - who else manufacturers and distributes new steel frames in Europe? Similar to Planet-X? Are all of these frames made in china, or?
I don't feel like cashing out alot of money on brand name steel road bike. but rather start from scratch with a new sub 2kg steel frame, non branded, for a moderate price, to get around the common C&V discomodities like italian threading, "old" style dropouts with screw alignement, 1" fork or similar (I really like the 1" forks and quill stems though).

C&V is fun, but technology has improved and new steel frames are sure step up from mid range stuff that is common here, and since my country's entering EU in a couple of months, it will be much easier (and cheaper) to buy stuff online, and having the commodity of choosing a frame size that I need and click+buy - sure sounds tempting.

Thanks!

B.

Tommasini is one of the current "pinnacle" frames in steel https://www.tommasini.com/eng/steel-frame-tecno.php

You can find a mid-level Guerciotti for a decent price online - this one through Planet X https://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/...ecord_frameset

Many more are available - Cinelli, Pogliaghi, Pelizzoli, etc - plus many small custom workshops.

Soma makes some very nice frames for the money, as well. The Smoothie, ES and Stanyan offer great value for the money https://www.somafab.com/frames

Another route is to find a good 80's or 90's frame and do a modern build. That's exactly what I'm doing at the moment on an 80's CIOCC. It is a beautiful SLX frameset. Other "older" tubing that is on par with modern offerings are Columbus EL OS, MAX and the Eddy Merckx MXL

Thanks for the reply, I have come across Tomassini frames, and they are just the thing I aim for, think they even have a distributor here

Anyways I'm looking up to 450 euros max for frame, vintage SL or SLX are almost impossible to find locally, and I'm a bit biased towards more recent steel variants that offer lightweight frames (Tomassini's are around 1600g without fork hehe), and 1" 1/8 carbon fork is also an option with this type of frame... Maybe I could drop an email to my LBS that is supposed to sell these frames... Though I've googled up the price of Tommasini's frames, and they hit 2000$, that's just insane...

Jamis makes great steel rides -- I'd probably be on one were it not for my obsession with hand-made bikes.

Look: https://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...2_eclipse.html

There's also Torelli, and then the All City Mr. Pink, which I just built and am very happy with, but it doesn't fit your specs.

Looks like this can be ordered as a frame. "Micro TIG welded". 1500 grams claimed weight for the frame.

https://www.enigmabikes.com/bike/bike-enigma-elite.html

I think the Ritchey Road Logic looks pretty good as well, as does the Breezer Venturi.

450 Euros is about $587. Sorry, but you're probably not going to find anything terribly light in steel for that. Cheap and light is kind of aluminum's thing.

Don't worry about the weight. Some of those Planet-X frames look like really good deals.

I had these in mind:
https://www.planet-x-bikes.co.uk/i/q/...ecord_frameset

Been google-ing for info, seems the paint is cheap and I has italian threaded BB... But the price is a steal...

Then go for it. It even has chrome dropouts. If classic is your taste, at that price you are really competing with used/Ebay frames that would probably need a re-paint for you to save appreciable money, and then only if you repaint it yourself.

One approach is to buy an old steel frame on ebay dirt cheap. Maybe rusty, etc. Perhaps a 100 euros for a really nice pedigree. Then spend the rest of your budget on a modernization and repaint. You will likely still be stuck with a 1" steerer, but you can modernize dropouts and braze ons.

Mercian in England is not cheap for a new frame, but they build the most beautiful steel frames in the world. No ody else is even close. And they use all the modern steels including stainless if you like.

One more thing: the 2-piece Ritchey Breakaway
travel frame is fantastic. Lighter than your goal, good looking and it rides like a one piece. The travel option is a bonus. They go for $1100 new and can occasionally be had used. Come with a 1 1/8 steerer and a Ritchey Pro fork. Quite a deal.

I hope some of this helps.

Robert

I would keep the Masi Gran Criterium in mind too. Reynolds 525 tubes, modern components and pretty nice looking. No, the Masis now are not the classic family Masi here in the states, but this bike is a good value. My LBS has some on the racks, if they had been out there when I purchased my CAAD 10 4 last January I might well be riding a different bike right now. Pretty much the same price on the suggested retail. I have no idea of Croatia had a distributor for Masi from the states, though.

Bill

Ribble has a steel audax frame, 525 tubing, with a separately sold carbon fork. It would be about $350 for both. Has clearance for fenders (or mudguards if you prefer), and BSA BB and modern thread less headset. Email them for geometry, I think it matches the Sportive.