Dear Ann Landers:

A while back you may have seen my thread about my discovery that my titanium bike wasn't providing the magical ride I had thought it was when I made comparative rides on the same course on successive days with it and my Giant TCR Advanced CF bike. That led to my selling the Ti frame and replacing it with a Merlin Works CR Ti frame that is just wonderful, night and day difference. Okay so far, so good.

In honor of Pi Day, I took out my "special occasion", 25 year old, Reynolds 531, steel bike for a spin both yesterday and today on Houston's less than perfect streets. Uh, oh! My steel isn't nearly as real as I thought it was either. I plan to confirm tomorrow by repeating the ride on the CF bike, but after all this time I have just realized the steel ride isn't nearly cushy as I had thought. I guess the CF and the new Ti have me spoiled.

I guess in a stable of three or more bikes, one will have to be worst in some way. That is just the way the world works. Getting rid of it is not an option, too much sentimental value. Maybe some 25 mm tires instead of the current 23s.

I still love it, but what to do? Maybe it is like Mark Twain said, "A man who has one watch always knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure."

Disillusioned in Houston

Maybe your tires were pumped up too high?? I think tire width and pressure can have a greater impact on "road feel" than frame material.

I've been riding my Titanium bike almost exclusively since assembly Feb 1. Steel will now be my sunshine bike... if it ever comes back. My Ti bike may be stiffer than some due to using a MTB frame with Road wheels. A lot seems to be dependent on the tire choice and pressure.

Anyway, I have no doubt there have been some improvements in comfort since my almost 50 year old bike was made, with a lot of effort in high-tech design today.

I'm down to 90/100. Heck, I used to ride 21 mm tires at 120 or so. Maybe this is just more of that "getting older" stuff you were talking about on Addiction.

Yeah, as I said, we are surely getting spoiled.

maybe padded cycling shorts aren't stupid after all.....

Are you riding 25's on your other bikes? And maybe a thicker chamois and padded gloves would help smooth things out?

Edit: Ah, bt beat me to it.

Dear Penthouse,

I was minding my own business when my Pinarello suddenly gave me the eye. You know the one. The one that says "ride me." So I did. Hard. And it was everything I thought it could be. I never knew I could be so satisified. The only problem is, what should I tell my Bianchi and my Cervelo? Should I say anything, or keep it a secret? Should I make it a threesome? A foursome? How does that work? Please help.

Best Regards,

Addicted to Bike Porn

Dear ABP,
Move to Utah and join the choir. Your full stable will honor and worship you. Problem solved.

If Ann Landers replies to you, let me know. She's dead last time I checked.

In other news, steel is ALWAYS real. There must be some logical explanation for you feeling otherwise. If not, then you have surely become a lost soul . . . don't worry, happens a lot after wintertime.

Get some 25's, drop the pressure 10psi and call it a day.

i run two steel (531 and 022) road bikes, two butted aluminum, and two CF bikes, aged 3 to 35 years old, some with carbon forks some with steel. all have 23 or 25's on them most are Vittoria Cora Evos. PSI is about 80 on all of them. they ride a little different, but all in all it's masked by various road conditions and how hard i'm pushing. i treat them equally as far as mileage is concerned. i do avoid the CF's when touring though.

That's too bad because the Romic is a very nice and uncommon bike. Was it sold originally by Danial Boone?

I've been riding a new Ciocc steel frame recently and it has 25 mm tires that I gas up to about 100 psi. Houston streets are not smooth, for sure, but I don't consider if harsh. You're probably a much stronger rider and go faster than I do and encounter more bumps per unit time. I'm old, fat, and slow.

Have you considerd trying a carbon fork on the Romic? Nashbar has them for about $100 less 17% (sale) plus tax and shipping (probably comes out to about $100) and a Tange threaded headset to put on it would be less than $20. I have a Nashbar carbon fork on a 97 fat tube Cannondale and it really smooths things out.

Just a thought, they're not ugly forks and it's really too bad that the Romic doesn't make you as happy as it should.

op just wanted a way to post a pic of his bike.

.
Dear Disillusioned,

When you say "not as cushy" do you mean that it gives you Pain in tip of penis ?

If so, I think the guys who are telling you to get fatter tires and adjust your pressures might be onto something.

Helpfully,
BF Adviser

Exactly. He should get the lobotomy and keep piling on the miles.

Hmmm.

Thanks for the comments. Actually that is a Performance full carbon fork from a few years ago that only weighs about 370g. I had it painted as part of the redo of the frame. It was about $120 but, as many good buys at Performance, has been discontinued.

No, I actually had Ray build it for me directly. I had bought a 501 frame of his that had one of the first ever Shimano 600 groups on it back in '83. Complete with the scalloped Shimano 600 headset. I got it from a store that was on Fannin Street downtown, but it is long gone now. Anyway that frame needed a few paint touch ups when I got it home from the store, so I took it over to Ray's "factory" to have it fixed it up. We struck up a friendship, also with Geri his wife, and I visited with them on occasion over the years. Then when I had a particularly good year for donations for the MS 150 in about 1990, I had them forward my award to Ray for a custom frame. The one you see is it, but several repaints and other changes later.

No, it has only been a few years I have been on 23s. No 25s yet.

As if I need an excuse. This bike has made so many appearances, it thinks it is Paul McCartney.

Dear Dis. In Hou.

Sometimes relationships, like so much old bread, grow stale. It's so easy to fall for a newer model because they seem soft and yielding, while old-faithful may seem rigid and unbending. I would advise you to give your faithful old steed more opportunities to prove herself. Think of her feelings- perhaps a new pair of shoes; perhaps a carbon fork if she doesn't already possess one.

If worse comes to worse though, and you can not resolve your difficulties, let her go, that someone else may enjoy her; and that she may enjoy being ridden and cared for by someone who will appreciate her. In such a scenario, it is better to make a quick, clean break, so that there will be no hard feelings or painful memories. If you no longer love her, send her to Stucky.

Oh, wait....the question was for Ann Landers? Darn! I thought you said David (L.) Lander!

Times change, people change, and yes technology marches on.

Steel and alum frames have had their time in the sun. many will always hold on to the compassion due to emotional attachment, the longing for a previous time in their lives, or just plain stubbornness.

congratulations on the epiphany. save your steel, ride your carbon. evolve.

Looking at the setup, that frame is at least one size too small.

[MENTION=183557]rpenmanparker[/MENTION]

I'm going to PM you my address.

So you don't have to shoulder that terrible burden any more.

I promise to send pics back every once in a while. Maybe.

Cannondale Criterium Series ('88) with aluminum Fx fork and Vittoria 23's.

If I wanted comfort I'd stay on the porch.