a77impala

I have owned aluminum framed bikes that beat me to death and others that rode sweet and smooth. What the difference was, I don't know. I do know I didn't keep the bad ones and still have a smooth one.
I guess it's all in the design, but that's above my ability!

Lazyass

The difference was probably the wheels and tires. Seatpost diameter can make a difference as well, I think that's why bike companies are starting to revert back to 27.2's. My Raleigh has a 27.0 and sometimes I can actually see it flex when I look down at it. Not so on my 31.8.

ARPRINCE

One time, I ate a lot of carbonara and my ass-plode. Will never do that again.

Jarrett2

dim

an interesting article ....

AAAAAHH..... The Feel of Steel ....

Custom Steel Bike Frames by Rodriguez Bicycles

snip:

Richard Schwinn once said "If all bicycles were made from aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber, then someone invented steel, it would be hailed as a miracle material."

He couldn't have been more correct. Steel is lighter weight, less expensive, easier to repair if need be, and much more versatile than the space age materials.Ever notice how other manufacturers compare their light weight frames to the ride and feel of a classic steel frame? That's because steel is more comfortable to ride on the road. The goal is to make a frame as light as possible that someone can still ride comfortably for long distances. Carbon fiber and aluminum have a well deserved reputation for feeling 'dead' on the road. Back when steel frames weighed 5 pounds or more people were willing to put up with a 'dead' feeling bike in order to have a frame weight of 3 to 3 1/2 pounds. No matter what the claims are, the fact is the only frame that rides like steel is a steel frame.

Even I gave in
I myself even gave in to the pressure and rode a 3.1 pound aluminum frame for about 2 years back in the early 90's. I called it my '50 miler' because after 50 miles my hands (and other stuff) had gone numb. Then I would have to get off and recover before continuing. Oh how I longed for the comfort of my old Reynolds 531 Peugeot. I tried many tricks to make it more comfortable. I put in a carbon seat post, a different fork, and I even double wrapped the handlebars, but it became clear to me that my 'aging frame' needed a different kind of bicycle frame.



The Evolution of Steel
In the meantime, Reynolds and True Temper were pioneering some incredible new steels that enabled bike builders to build 3.5 pound frames out of steel. Reynolds 853 and True Temper Platinum frame tubing were both formulated specifically for these new light-weight steel bicycles. It could be extremely thin, and the high heat of the welding actually strengthened the frame in the heat affected areas. These new steel alloys were light-years ahead of the old steel frames, but still maintained the smooth ride characteristics that we all loved in our old steeds.Modern steel frames achieve the perfect blend of comfort, value and performance.
It would be a few years before steel completely shook off the reputation of 'heavier', but True Temper had a few more surprises in the works.
My return to steel
In 1994, I upgraded to a Rodriguez with this new light steel tubing. What a treat! I could ride STP (Seattle to Portland) again and still feel refreshed enough to be the one who drove the van back to Seattle (while everyone else slept and recovered in the back). My hands didn't go numb. My riding speed was faster because of comfort, and my time off the bike recovering was all but eliminated. I didn't even care that my new frame was 6 ounces heavier than my '50 miler'.

Today's Steel is even lighter!
These days, we're offering hand-built steel bikes that are LIGHTER than titanium, aluminum or even most carbon fiber bikes. All of our models are offered in 18 sizes as well as custom geometry. We still build out of aluminum and titanium, but for those who want the lightest weight, and best value, steel is the right choice.Our Rodriguez S3 bikes ride like steel because they ARE steel. We've built hundreds of these now, and the lightest to date was just 2.2 pounds. Most S3 frames wind up well under 3 pounds. That's guaranteed, verifiable on the digital scale. It's not the fairy-tale printed catalog weight that someone is trying to pass off as real. Here's an article I wrote to address the incredible dishonesty that is part of a lot of bicycle manufacturer's advertising.
We think you'll find that a high-performance, light-weight steel frame provides the perfect blend of comfort, value and performance.

cruiserhead

That's what i've been saying all along. I don't know why people ignore the performance advantages of a sub-14lb steel bike. You don't need carbon forks, parts or frame.
Aerodynamics are so overrated too. The magical ride of steel outweighs any aero gains that hydroformed aluminum or shaped carbon offers.
Plus, asplode.

dim

that guy builds a steel bike that weighs 13.81 pounds: (a bit pricey though)

The lightest custom racing bicycles | Lighter than carbon fiber | The Steel Rodriguez Outlaw

[h=2]Full bike with pedals and bottle cage is just 13.81 pounds[/h]

cruiserhead

preaching to the choir. All steel, no carbon or alloy to asplode.

dmcdam

With a carbon fork...

cruiserhead

carbon fork
carbon steerer
carbon crank
carbon wheels
carbon stem
carbon levers
alloy seatpin
carbon saddle

but hey, after all that asplodes, you still have the super aero steel frame. It's all good
and as they say, "it's a perfect blend of comfort, value and performance."
nothing says value like a $12K bike with shallow section alloy wheels and seatpin.
Performance? absolutely! You can't get more aero than round tubes.

Love steel but absolutism is dumb.

McBTC

...and, a 7000-series aluminum seat post

cruiserhead

and a carbon fork

HTupolev

Although they're fond of modern steel as a frame material, Rodriguez is definitely not a "use steel for everything" builder. Higher-end models usually come with carbon forks, for instance.

Maelochs

At least the page of the Rodriguez website designed to get people to spend enormous money on their steel frames is an unbiased source of information. As he points out, every other cycle ad is full of dishonesty, whereas his is full of .... what he calls the "perfect blend."

Some might call it "subjective;" some might warn, "Don't step in the 'perfect blend'."

I'd sure like to own one of those bikes, though.

McBTC

I've owned 3 light weight steel frame bikes with carbon forks and now a lightweight aluminum frame bike with a carbon fork and still -- even compared to several all steel and scandium bikes before that -- my old Trek with the OCLV carbon frame probably was the best.

exime

The new Kona Roadhouse has a carbon fork and supposedly lighter 853 steel but it's 22 lbs

dr_lha

It's the disc brakes. They add about 10lbs.

cruiserhead

it's because they use aluminum discs.
If they used that new ultra steel, it would be negative grams. It would take 3lbs off the bike and wouldn't explode.

I would rather ride a 30lb steel is real bike than a 14lb time bomb that's going to asplode within 5 years.

DaveWC

You've apparently changed your mind over the years. Didn't you used to own carbon road bikes, used to say you loved certain carbon frames... now suddenly you're negative about every aspect. Did you actually have a carbon frame breakdown on you?

cruiserhead

I've never had a breakdown. I've seen a lot of breakdowns, though. Like here, a breakdown in sarcasm...which i've been fixing here.
Care to help me out?

cs1

I always thought 22 lbs was light. ��

cruiserhead

14lb is the new 22lbs

HTupolev

It would be awful for the price range if the Roadhouse was a racing bike. For comparison, my $700 cheaper alloy Emonda ALR 5 is ~20 lbs after pedals, cages, and loaded mini saddle bag.

The Roadhouse is more of a sport tourer, though.

cruiserhead

yeah but the Emonda will explode...

dr_lha

All joking aside though, if that Emonda had disc brakes it would weigh a lot closer to the roadhouse.