Steel Racing Bike

colm_gti

Unnecessarily at this time of year, I'm looking at potential upgrades to take over from the bike I currently race on, an aluminium, shimano 105 equipped BMC streetracer sr01....

As I plan to keep the BMC for training on, the new bike will be primarily used for road racing, so I'd like something with racy geometry like the BMC, as opposed to a sportive specific bike.

Now, while I appreciate the research and development that goes into the top carbon frames, I find steel frames with classic geometry far more aesthetically pleasing, and would very much prefer to spend my hard earned on a bike I enjoy looking at as much as I enjoy racing! Therefore I want a steel (or possibly titanium) racing bike. My question is, if it is possible to get a suitably stiff steel frame (not too worried about weight) with such a racy geometry? Preferably something off the shelf as my budget wouldn't really allow for something hand built. I'm thinking in the region of maybe £500-£700 for frame alone, either new or used.

Can anyone recommend anything that would fit the above criteria for me to dream about for the next few weeks?

rolf_f

£700 will get you a bespoke Bob Jackson frame handbuilt to your spec with change to spare. A couple of hundred less if you don't mind the standard geometry.

buckles

THREAD HIJACK. Can anyone recommend a second hand steel frame to look for, perhaps on eBay? To be used for road racing. Want something very decent , 70's / 80's

ugo.santalucia

Buckles wrote:

THREAD HIJACK. Can anyone recommend a second hand steel frame to look for, perhaps on eBay? To be used for road racing. Want something very decent , 70's / 80's

Fancy a trip to memory lane... ehm, I mean Brick Lane?
Brick Lane Bikes have probably 50-60 period steel frames in their shop, some are top stuff, like Merckx in Columbus SLX steel and similar... prices are similar to what you would pay for on Ebay, so 300-500 for a very decent one in tip top conditions.
If you really want to buy from your sofa, then I would look for a Merckx 80-90s... they have a very racey geometry and there are always a few on Ebay. Get something with 130 mm dropouts, or you'll be severely limited in the choice of hubs/wheels

Big_Ring_Rider

colm_gti wrote:

Now, while I appreciate the research and development that goes into the top carbon frames, I find steel frames with classic geometry far more aesthetically pleasing, and would very much prefer to spend my hard earned on a bike I enjoy looking at as much as I enjoy racing! Therefore I want a steel (or possibly titanium) racing bike. My question is, if it is possible to get a suitably stiff steel frame (not too worried about weight) with such a racy geometry? Preferably something off the shelf as my budget wouldn't really allow for something hand built. I'm thinking in the region of maybe £500-£700 for frame alone, either new or used.

Exactly the same boat as me, and although a little above your budget (well, a fare bit above):

http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/fra ... volare-853

ugo.santalucia

The best steel racers are mid 90s... just before carbon took over at PRO level. I had a Look 253 in Columbus Nemo which was awesome... light, stiff and with a very aggressive geometry

yakk

Hi there, also look out for a Scapin. I have one in Columbus Nemo as well (an EOS5), light for steel too, with a 1 and 1/8 headset (takes a carbon fork). It is stiff as well, not a sofa ride and racing geometry.
Yak
Mine's blue/white, here's a pic of one in red/black
http://www.bikersm.com/index.php/catego ... etail.html
And one in yellow/black
http://server2.antherica.com/scapineos5 ... _0107.html
Good hunting.

styxd

That Scapin looks nice.

Look for something with oversized tubes, then it shouldnt ride like a wet noodle. Columbus Brain or Max I'd guess.

Merckx MX Leader? I think they're quite heavy though.

Monty Dog

There used to be a fair number of NOS Fausto Coppi steel frames from the late 1990s that were going for fair money on ebay - they were built by Giovanni Pellizzoli and distinguishable by their Masciaghi spoiler BBs and oversize tubing - about the pinnacle of steel frame building before the advent of Reynolds 953 / Columbus SCR. Regret passing on a number of their frames as they are only likely to to appreciate in value.

Alternatively, you can buy a custom titanium frame shipped from China for £500 - you can specify your own geometry and tube sizes - got for 50mm downtube, 35mm top and seatubes, BB86 and IS44 headtube and you'll have no worries about stiffness - frame weight will be in the region of 1400g.

jordan_217

Planet X have the NOS SAB bikes for sale.

ugo.santalucia

Monty Dog wrote:

There used to be a fair number of NOS Fausto Coppi steel frames from the late 1990s that were going for fair money on ebay - they were built by Giovanni Pellizzoli and distinguishable by their Masciaghi spoiler BBs and oversize tubing - about the pinnacle of steel frame building before the advent of Reynolds 953 / Columbus SCR. Regret passing on a number of their frames as they are only likely to to appreciate in value.

Those were the ones from Hungary??... I often wondered... having lived 27 years in Piemonte, I have probably seen 4-5 Coppi frames... then suddenly Ebay is invaded by these frames from a guy in Budapest... were they genuine?

cycleclinic

I had a call from someone who bought one of those Planet X SAB frames, he found when he got it the BB shell was threaded differently to what Planet X said, he was using campag square taper cranks so he had to buy a new BB. Planet X did not want to do anything so while they maybe decent frames do not assume the details about them are correct.

itboffin

keep an eye on ebay for something in 531 steel you can find some real bargains if you're prepared to wait.

I picked up this old frame built back up into a single speed of sorts



I'd assumed it was a generic steel frame until i stripped it back and found out it was a hand built steel from the early 80s

I had it resprayed and turned into a nice comfortable all day all weather bike



then this

xcMuttley

If you can stretch the budget why not a Condor Acciao? And if you cant i bet they come inside budget on ebay!!! http://www.condorcycles.com/Condor-Bike ... e.tpl.html

cycleclinic

That frame is almost identical to my Traitor Exile from 2011. I had some steel forks made for it and painted it the same colours red and black and kitted it out with campag veloce/centaur in black. It is perfect in every way.