Build a lightweight steel bike ???

36spoke
36spoke Posts: 50
edited March 2008 in Workshop
Hello

I am returning to cycling after a 15 year absence and have been looking around at new bikes but I dont like the feel of alu and am now on a mission to build a lightweight steel bike approaching the weight of aliminum, but hoping to keep the silky ride of steel as I am used to this.

Any ideas regarding which quality of steel to choose for the frame, and also suggestions for group and wheels.

I do have a budget, I would like to keep it under £1000 if possible, so I would probably concentrate now on getting the best frame, then good wheels, then the rest can be upgraded from time to time to improve the quality and reduce the weight.

I have to also keep true to the quality of steel, and not sacrifice this totally to weight saving.

Anyone know what weight is possible using steel frame.....has anyone already been through this and can gave advice.

Thanks

Comments

  • michaelm
    michaelm Posts: 49
    Dave Yates reckons sub 18lbs is possible for a steel frame with carbon seat stays. Would probably blow the budget mind!

    http://www.daveyatescycles.co.uk/
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Well, you've set yourself quite a challenge - to get anywhere near your budget, you're going to have to go down the used / ebay route. Steel frames have fallen out of favour with the majority of riders because of both the weight and often the corrosion problem. To reach a near-aluminium weight for steel, you need to look at something like Reynolds 953 - the cost of the frame alone will blow your budget. Have you tried a carbon frame? For a £1000 you can buy a carbon-framed bike that weight and performance-wise will blow-away anything but the finest steeds from 5 years ago, never mind from 15.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • swaman
    swaman Posts: 110
    hi

    i am not aiming for sub 18lb, my 531c with campag nouvo record just touched 21.5lb, and I have a 6061 aluminum with carbon forks thats 22lb !

    sub 20lb would be ok, 19lb would be great,

    i dont want to go carbon, just my personal opinion, i dont think it matches steel for a good ride
  • synchronicity
    synchronicity Posts: 1,415
    If that's your aim, go for steel.

    Here'sthe lightest steel-framed bike that I know of. 12lb 14oz or 5846g! :shock:
    vertebr.ae | precision braking & shifting
  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    steel-framed bike

    I call a steel framed bike one that is made of steel - not half carbon

    My 8.3 kg steel framed bike cost me more than £1000
    I don't think it is possible to get one at that price.
    But if you can, please tell us how so we can do it too.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    it is possible to build a lightweight steel bike - mine is 7.5kg (16.5lbs) (ture temper S3 tubing, 1.4kg frame) but it cost more than 3 times your budget. i do however thing that if you could stretch your budget to say £1400 you could possibly build a steel bike weighing about 8.6kg (19 lbs) which compares well with my aluminium cannondale R900. Depending on the frame size an OX platinum frame, such as a Gunnar roadie for example, should tip the scales at about 1.6 kg (3.5 lbs) and i think they cost about £600 - £650.

    as someone previously mentioned you coudl save money on the components by looking on ebay for example.
    pm
  • swaman
    swaman Posts: 110
    do you think 19lb is possible with a reynolds 753 frame size 54cm ( maybe with carbon forks ) ?
  • gundersen
    gundersen Posts: 586
    I don't know what a 753 frame weighs.
    My old Tommasini weighs about 1.5 kg
    You can either put alu parts on the frame like I have, giving a cheaper but heavier total weight - or you could use modern carbon parts which does the opposite.
    A steel bike between 8 - 8.5 kg should not be a problem if you have the money.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    swaman wrote:
    do you think 19lb is possible with a reynolds 753 frame size 54cm ( maybe with carbon forks ) ?

    Yes i think so, depending on how much you have to spend on the rest of the bike. a 54 cm 753 frame should come in at about 1.8 -1.9 kg (4 - 4.2 lbs) so if you the rest of the build was exactly the same as mine (with alpha Q GS10 forks) for example then i to would weigh in the region of 18 (summer wheels) - 18.5 lbs (winter wheels)
    pm
  • Pirahna
    Pirahna Posts: 1,315
    My wife rides a Columbus Neuron frame and fork setup. Even with the steel fork it comes in at just under 20 lbs ready to ride. Cost more than a £1000 though.
  • mrushton
    mrushton Posts: 5,182
    The 953 stainless frames might be light. The Serotta Couer d'Acier is also quite light. Interestingly, if you looked at pictures from ther ecent Handmade bike show in the US, nearly everything was steel (and v.expensive). rapha had those US bikes built by Vanilla cycles from steel. The consensus from there was that if steel was being introduced now, it would be classed as a 'wonder material' for bike frames.
    M.Rushton
  • acorn_user
    acorn_user Posts: 1,137
    Well, a number of recent steel frames weigh in around the 1600g mark or lower. That is not too far off most alloy frames. The lightest steel frames are mostly Italian and welded. Viner Sidus, Casati Laser, that kind of thing. If you built it with Veloce and some good wheels, it would be very nice.
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    synchronicity wrote:
    If that's your aim, go for steel.

    Here'sthe lightest steel-framed bike that I know of. 12lb 14oz or 5846g! :shock:

    It looks like a ladies bike though.
  • aracer
    aracer Posts: 1,649
    swaman wrote:
    i dont want to go carbon, just my personal opinion, i dont think it matches steel for a good ride
    IMO you've been taken in by the mythology rather than the reality (though have you actually ridden a carbon bike much - doesn't sound like it). There really isn't a noticeable difference between different frame materials in terms of ride comfort - most of the "feel" of steel is the frame flexing in directions which don't do anything to absorb bumps.
  • portuguese mike
    portuguese mike Posts: 695
    aracer wrote:
    swaman wrote:
    i dont want to go carbon, just my personal opinion, i dont think it matches steel for a good ride
    IMO you've been taken in by the mythology rather than the reality (though have you actually ridden a carbon bike much - doesn't sound like it). There really isn't a noticeable difference between different frame materials in terms of ride comfort - most of the "feel" of steel is the frame flexing in directions which don't do anything to absorb bumps.

    whilst i agree that in terms of bump absorbtion there is very little difference (most of that being acomplished by the tyres) between frame materials i do think there is difference in terms of percieved harshness or high frequency 'buzz' felt through a bikes contact points

    although i've always found steel frames perform well in this area so do some of carbon frames i've tried so its by no means exclusive to one frame material (though i've not ridden a alu frame that didn't seem harsh)
    pm
  • tenor
    tenor Posts: 278
    I have an Italian made Sintesi Pegaso frame which is constructed from Dedacciai 16.5, is nicely detailed and weighs in at 1.510k in a 57cm size. Havn't built it up yet, but the C+ review was very positive. Is this the kind of thing you are looking for?
  • proto
    proto Posts: 1,483
    With trad steel, perhaps the biggest handicap is the fork weight, often more than 600gms. Lightweight carbon forks can be half that.
  • swaman
    swaman Posts: 110
    wow...that will probably be a full 1 lb lighter tha a 753, i thought 753 and deda 616.6 would be much the same, does your weight include forks ? I cant seem to find anyone selling Sintesi ?

    oh, my frame is coming with carbon fork, i will let you know the weight when it arrives

    am putting on campag centaur, cenilli bars, stem, and seatpost, have pretty much blown the budget

    was thinking either falcrum 5's or campag scirocco wheels for now, and start saving for a really lightweight set later, any comments on the wheels ?

    then can gradually upgrade the components, anyone have ideas

    has anyone got a sub 20lb 753 or similar, maybe you can share your experience
  • yakk
    yakk Posts: 589
    Why don't you go Ti? Same ride qualities as steel but light (even plain guage) and no rusting. You can get a second hand or even new frame for approx £500, and it would come in well under budget.
    Something else to consider?
    Enjoy whatever you end up getting.
    Yak
  • 4candles
    4candles Posts: 240
    synchronicity wrote:
    If that's your aim, go for steel.

    Here'sthe lightest steel-framed bike that I know of. 12lb 14oz or 5846g! :shock:

    i used to ride with this guy way back... he always had the lightest bike !

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