Carbon to steel - adapting !

chris217

Ok, so i am trying to do what every cyclist over 40 probably considers at some point in their life, find a bike for all seasons / bike for life ( while i actually enjoy changing my bikes i cant really justify it any more ) so one bike it is and ...i got one of these ;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46371638@N07/9352413579/

after having one of these for sometime ;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46371638@N07/8689640981/

i really like it and am starting to get used to the different ride characteristics , but not having had a proper steel bike for ages it really highlights the way carbon rides, stiff, light, responsive but not as smooth and also not as much depth / character in the ride. i have also noticed when climbing although the inital 'snap' stiffness is not there , the springy nature actually helps you up the climb.

i still have thoughts of carbon and slightly miss the stiffness / acceleration and can see why it is so popular . However while not completely completely convinced by steel i actually think i may be getting used to it

anyone converted to steel from carbon and not looked back?

Barteos

Chris217 wrote:

...I have also noticed when climbing although the inital 'snap' stiffness is not there , the springy nature actually helps you up the climb.

What you're experiencing is NOT just your imagination. Frame flex in synth with the rider can be beneficial and it's what some people refer to as frame planing.

http://janheine.wordpress.com/2011/10/0 ... stiffness/

http://janheine.wordpress.com/2011/02/2 ... stiffness/

chris217

Cheers Barteos, ..useful.

keef66

And your new bike is a lot easier on the eye than the old one too.

speshsteve

the spring of the frame helps you up hills.......my god please someone shoot me

I have steel, nice bike but heavier and I am marginally slower up climbs compared to carbon bike which must be at least 2kg lighter........you can't beat physics I'm afraid

dennisn

speshsteve wrote:

the spring of the frame helps you up hills.......my god please someone shoot me

I anxiously await all the posts of denial, from the masses, that are sure to come with a statement like that.

raymondo60

I love my steel-framed bikes - recently did the Dunwich Dynamo on a 1995 Steel bike and it rode comfortably and responsively all the way. However, if one were really looking for a 'bike for life', would not Titanium be the material of choice?

chris217

"have steel, nice bike but heavier and I am marginally slower up climbs compared to carbon bike which must be at least 2kg lighter.".......

Bloody Hell ...that will be those genesis forks that weigh a ton ?

my SL3 frame and forks + headset and seatclamp was 1623g and the Ritchey is 2100g ....other than that the charateristics of the frame are of course different and acceleration is less immediate but still very good"

!you can't beat physics I'm afraid" - i can , since i have had my Ritchey ,i have eaten less pies, therefore i am lighter and faster ...

Anonymous

Chris217 wrote:

!you can't beat physics I'm afraid" - i can , since i have had my Ritchey ,i have eaten less pies, therefore i am lighter and faster ...

er, on both bikes that must be surely? :roll:

It seems the only problem with carbon is that it (oddly) makes you eat pies, and I am guessing that does not apply to anyone else.

night_porter

Carbonator wrote:

Chris217 wrote:

!you can't beat physics I'm afraid" - i can , since i have had my Ritchey ,i have eaten less pies, therefore i am lighter and faster ...

er, on both bikes that must be surely? :roll:

It seems the only problem with carbon is that it (oddly) makes you eat pies, and I am guessing that does not apply to anyone else.

No wonder my local pie shop is booming since I bought a carbon framed bike

Why don't the mags tell you this in the reviews???