Best steel road frame? (currently available)

BigSpecs
BigSpecs Posts: 309
edited October 2007 in Workshop
I have ridden a few frame materials (by no means all) and I have to say I have a fondness for good old fashioned steel 8)
I was wondering what you guys thought was the finest steel machine currently in production? Does the master steel frame builder still exist? If I were to win the lottery tomorrow, where would my cash go?
I realise that these things often come down to taste, so I am going to give a few pointers to my ideal steed. I am a big fan of retro "Ti Raleigh's" built by the SBDU but unfortunately, there is no modern day equivalent :cry:
What do you guys think???
Cheers,
Col.
«1

Comments

  • Lysander
    Lysander Posts: 349
    Robin Mather, although he never replied to my e-mail.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,578
    Four Italian manufacturers still make steel bikes to die for;

    De Rosa

    Casati

    Tommasini

    Scapin

    Of these I think the Casati Linea Oro is an absolute beauty.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Why is that andy? By just the way it looks or is it built in a better grade of steel? How much better do you think it is than the Laser for instance?

    I am curious as you can see, thinking about a steel bike myself (see my thread on Mercians)

    I think the Tommasini Sintesi and Tecno are gorgeous i have to say. Which i guess leads me to think that Dedacciai's SAT 14.5 Nivacrom steel tubing is ideal for a steel frame?
  • gary_fisher3
    gary_fisher3 Posts: 3,466
    Give Brian Rourkes a ring. His is one of the few stores that can custom make you a Reynolds 953 frame.
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    Well, what do you want to pay? Frames are generally cheaper from UK builders, and folks like Bob Jackson, Mercian, Witcomb etc have loads of experience.

    The US builders are generally crazy expensive, unless you are also considering carbon frames. Richard Sachs has a 4 year waiting list! Della Santa used to build frames for Greg Lemond. There's Llewellyn in Australia who can carve up a storm.

    Really, a lot of the time you are paying for laborious finishing work. The tubesets are not expensive.
    http://www.novacycles.com/catalog/index ... 60_322_292
    And nice paintwork, like Tomassini :D
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,578
    giant mancp wrote:
    Why is that andy? By just the way it looks or is it built in a better grade of steel? How much better do you think it is than the Laser for instance?

    I am curious as you can see, thinking about a steel bike myself (see my thread on Mercians)

    I think the Tommasini Sintesi and Tecno are gorgeous i have to say. Which i guess leads me to think that Dedacciai's SAT 14.5 Nivacrom steel tubing is ideal for a steel frame?
    Mainly looks. I've owned a Laser, which I subsequently sold, and never really got on with it though. I think this was due to two things, the integrated headset and the oversize tubing, both of which seemed to affect the handling of the frame. (I'd previously had a Casati Geo and that handled like a dream. I've now got a carbon Marte and that, too, handles beautifully). My conclusions with the Laser were that it was trying too hard to look like a modern frame and in doing so the benefits of steel were lost.

    For me the Linea Oro looks superb because it's a traditional steel frame. The only thing that is missing is a chrome fork but I'm sure you could specify it with one.
  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    I agree with andyp
    a good italian steel frame is a revalation
    I have had loads of them over the last 30 years, from the top names and you can feel the diference
    at the moment i use a tommasini tecno
    it replaced a litespeed titanium which wasn't all that good
    don't buy a usa frame as they are only made to ride around in parks and parking lots.
    italian bikes are made for roads
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Good to hear gundersen, can you tell me why you chose the Techno over the Sintesi? Was it just price or a better finished frame? Or are they built with different grades of steel? And what kind of ride are you getting from the Techno?

    Thanks oh and if you have any pictures of your Techno, that would be great to see! :)
  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    the tecno I have uses columbus el oversize tubes which is what I wanted
    this means that it doesn't have all the usual chrom decorations (mustn't be chromed - like reynolds 753)
    but I didn't want those either

    about the ride:
    its just more comfortable than the litespeed
    better to handle
    quicker to react
    all a question of design
    the weight difference is about 400 grams
    and I don't feel them either

    about finish:
    like I said I have had many italian frames and to be honest - the designs are flawless, but some times the paint jobs are not

    http://www.gundersen.id.au/graham/_Media/14.jpg
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    I'm wondering what a steel fork feels like, I wouldn't know because I have only ever had a carbon fork (well that's a lie - also an alu one with a cheap Giant frame) so I guess logically a steel fork with a steel frame feels good (?)
  • labarum
    labarum Posts: 110
    I have a Robin Mather.

    This one

    http://www.robinmathercycles.co.uk/be/b ... audax.html

    Clearly he responded to my emails, and delivered on time.
  • BigSpecs
    BigSpecs Posts: 309
    Great work guys,
    The red De Rosa certainly looks the business. I have seen this before in one of the flyers that come through with C+ every so often (Chicken?) Could I go Italian though?? I have an uncle who swears that all Italians are useful for is fine knitwear :D He may have a point. It has certainly held true for sports cars I have owned!
    I see that going for a US build would be crazy (after all they gave us McDonalds, Trek bikes and any number of other mass produces nightmares... :) ) so I can't see it being my first port of call for a thing of hand produced beauty. That said, I do like some of the IF stuff, though their paint jobs can be a bit fancy. I liked the idea that the workers own the company (read this in a supplement from C+ last year I think) :?
    As for the British builders, what a great feeling to own something home produced, completely unique, hand crafted to your own specifications....but then the bike is supposed to be the ultimate dream machine and do any UK builders carry enough kudos? Would all of my mates go ooh! aah! if I turned up on a Robin Mather? even if it was unique? A De Rosa? probably so! Still thinking...(and needing to win the lottery)
    Col.
  • PhilofCas
    PhilofCas Posts: 1,153
    Labarum wrote:
    I have a Robin Mather.

    This one

    http://www.robinmathercycles.co.uk/be/b ... audax.html

    Clearly he responded to my emails, and delivered on time.

    Crikey, how tall are you ?
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    What about a Pegoretti?
    I've no experience of the bikes, just read the article on Dario Pegoretti in Rouleur.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    star_rover wrote:
    What about a Pegoretti?
    I've no experience of the bikes, just read the article on Dario Pegoretti in Rouleur.

    he is currently ill, so no business there. Serotta make the Couer d'Acier which is highly rated. Not cheap, only available from Cyclefit in the UK and usually only available custom made.

    www.cyclefit.co.uk

    www.serotta.com
    M.Rushton
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    Waterford (R33). i've had mine for about 3 months and its perfect. Amazing ride; very responsive; fast; and it's very light for a steel frame - 3.1lbs (1400g) - my whole bile weighs 16.5lbs incl pedals. They're custom built to your spec and the build quality is excellent.
    pm
  • dennisn
    dennisn Posts: 10,601
    I've been riding a "Gios Compact Pro" steel lugged frame with chrome fork for about 4 years now. It's a pretty stiff bike but I like it. Probably not quite as blingy as some of the more expensive steel ones, but for $800 U.S.(frame), well worth the money. Just my
    opinion. I don't think much of carbon and titanium bikes styling and have seen very
    few of them that I thought looked better than a nice steely. Then again I'm old.

    Dennis Noward
    Toledo, Ohio
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    portuguese mike wrote:
    Waterford (R33). i've had mine for about 3 months and its perfect. Amazing ride; very responsive; fast; and it's very light for a steel frame - 3.1lbs (1400g) - my whole bile weighs 16.5lbs incl pedals. They're custom built to your spec and the build quality is excellent.

    I really like the look of these Waterfords have to say. The lug work is just exquisite! Can you tell me who you got yours through Mike and do you have any piccies? :)
  • fossyant
    fossyant Posts: 2,549
    953 built by a UK builder is likely to be my next - but only to top my locally hand built Columbus SLX that is still fab to ride....
  • bryanm
    bryanm Posts: 218
    gary_fisher3 wrote:
    Give Brian Rourkes a ring. His is one of the few stores that can custom make you a Reynolds 953 frame.

    Lee Cooper in Coventry also does 953.

    I've got a 631 from him - fantasically well finished. Only downside is everyone says, "Don't they make jeans?".

    www.leecoopercycles.com
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    giant mancp wrote:
    portuguese mike wrote:
    Waterford (R33). i've had mine for about 3 months and its perfect. Amazing ride; very responsive; fast; and it's very light for a steel frame - 3.1lbs (1400g) - my whole bile weighs 16.5lbs incl pedals. They're custom built to your spec and the build quality is excellent.

    I really like the look of these Waterfords have to say. The lug work is just exquisite! Can you tell me who you got yours through Mike and do you have any piccies? :)

    The R33 isnn't lugged (apart from at the chainstay/seatpost interface) but the welds are top notch, click on these links for piccies:

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =669347517

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =669347517

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1 ... =669347517
    pm
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    No I can see it isn't lugged but very very nice anyway, sweet colour too. Thanks for the picccies. :)
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    giant mancp wrote:
    No I can see it isn't lugged but very very nice anyway, sweet colour too. Thanks for the picccies. :)

    Thanks, oh and i forgot to say that i got it through Rock n' Road in Southampton. (they let you take bikes out all day for test rides - inlcuding Parlees!)
    pm
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,578
    Mike - do you have a web address for Rock n'Road? I'm thinking of getting some Rolf wheels and know they are one of the few UK stockists. They do look very nice on your Waterford.

    Thanks.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    andyp wrote:
    Mike - do you have a web address for Rock n'Road? I'm thinking of getting some Rolf wheels and know they are one of the few UK stockists. They do look very nice on your Waterford.

    Thanks.

    They don't have a website unfortunately but the phone number is: 02380 221022
    pm
  • Blonde
    Blonde Posts: 3,188
    I really like my Serotta Coeur d'Acier (Heart of Steel) : http://www.serotta.com/pages/cda.html
    Mine is the black version though as a custom build you can chose the paint and colour scheme. It's a 'modern' steel bike rather than a lugged and traditional frame geometry one. Serotta have dealers in the UK - one is Cyclefit in London,
  • eh
    eh Posts: 4,854
    Whats wrong with Chas Roberts they make nice frames.

    Oh and don't get 953 it is over priced with minimal benefit. Heck may as well get Ti or carbon and be done with it.
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    I second the vote for Chas Roberts http://www.robertscycles.com/index.html - I have a 10 year old Audax frame built up with Campag Record ad every couple of years I look at replacing it - but cannot find anything I like better so I just end up changing some of the groupset/component bits.

    not too sure exactly what tubes make up the frame - it is a mix of Columbus tubes. Roberts took my requirements/measurements/weight and built me a frame - they know much more about that kind of thing than me and why use a single tubeset when a mix could be better - that is the joy of a steel custom!

    Ed
  • dangerousjules
    dangerousjules Posts: 243
    seven do a lovely steel frame too i just ordered one from sigma sport in kingston...
    dangerous jules.
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    which model did you go for dangerousjules? The Axiom?

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