modern steel road frames

edhornby

I've been looking at self build options (yes I know about the complete bike vs self build argument so apart from that...) and given that on-one do steel frames like the inbred for the 150 quid mark, is there anyone doing a similar pricepoint for road bikes?

balthazar

I'm not aware of any, but you might want to look at an second hand frame made from 531 or similar. An older frame made from mid-range Reynolds or Columbus tubing will probably be more nicely made and lighter than a new £150 steel frame could be, and you might get room for a fresh powder coat in that budget too.

ugo.santalucia

For that price it might be difficult t oget anything on e-bay either...

Wait for better times maybe?

thiscocks

loads of second hand frames around for that price. Look on bike forums(londonfixedgear normally has many frames for sale), and bike shops ect... I got a nice 853 steel Roberts frome from here http://www.retrodicorsa.cc/Retro_di_Corsa/intro.html last year for £180. The guy there is very helpfull.

skyd0g

Plenty of road frames around that budget, but they would be aluminium rather than steel - and primarily 'winter training' frames.

caw35slr

Double it and you're in.

Stellite

http://eastsidebikes.com/

Eastside Bikes in Edinburgh have a large selection of all sorts of steel frames, probably a bit out your way, but maybe worth a ring.

My mate just bought a lovely steel track frame.

balthazar

thiscocks wrote:

loads of second hand frames around for that price. Look on bike forums(londonfixedgear normally has many frames for sale), and bike shops ect... I got a nice 853 steel Roberts frome from here http://www.retrodicorsa.cc/Retro_di_Corsa/intro.html last year for £180. The guy there is very helpfull.

That place looks good to me. For instance, there's a rather nice Viner frame for sale at £170... probably too big unless you're tall, but it sets a good standard.

Evil Laugh

Lfgss forum is the place to get a nice steel frame for that budget. I got my omega/enigma Columbus nemo frame there for £175. Got my missus a columbus sl Bianchi too and it rides beautifully, sooo smoooth. Both were "new". There's some really nice frames on there now.

Monty Dog

I've sold a couple of frames on LFGSS - £100-150 should get you something decent in 531 or equivalent - just don't expect a DeRosa or Colnago! Frame will be solid, but paintwork might be a bit scruffy.

ynyswen24

Planet X SL Team Aluninium?

FransJacques

modern steel is a paradox like military intelligence. trouble is most of it doesn't live up to the hype. riding a coeur d'acier earlier in the spring i was thinking at the time that someone paid $2000 for a frame that's flexier and heavier than what i'd consider a "tight" feeling bike. depends on whether you want to train, mooch around, commute, pose, etc. if you're after steel for steel then get steel. it'll be heavy - many 2010 Genesis models use steel. A girl the the club i'm in wanted the croix d'fer and got a tiny 51cm but the thing was over 10lgs! Something that seems desirable like the "feel of steel" can get on your nerves on a day to day basis. i've an old 853 Lemond Zurich frame that i really loved so much i was slow to move to carbon. when i did there was no looking back.

what i see with the current crop of mass-produced steel frames is they're really heavy, much heavier than mid to late 90's steel because of production which has since moved to Alu and Carbon lost the ability to work with thin-walled steel like Sprit/Niobium, EOM 16.5, even 853 you don't see much. A lot of makers stick to 525 or 725. nothing wrong with it, it'll just be heavy, so it really depends on what you want the frame for. i assume most bikers want to maximize lightness to cash ratio, in which case I'd steer you to a good Alu frame like a Giant TCR which is light and proven or a 'dale or Klein or principia or the U2 or V017 frames that Ribble carry.

If you're stuck on steel you don't mind the weight, therefore, get something gorgeous like on that retro di corsa site. that stuff is sweet. if you come across a san rensho, don't but it, they're crap, better PM me to take it to the trash heap :-)

Monty Dog

Provided you're not a big heavy rider, try and find a 1980s frame in Columbus SL if you want something relatively light and with a lively feel

herusix

Something like this may be ideal for you
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ciocc-Bike-Frame- ... 2a06d649da

This one is currently £100 but they have gone for less (I know got outbid at the last second)
But they are a quality bike and they turn up reasonbly often ,Concorde Steel frames are very nice too but go for quite a bit more than £150.