Tempted by steel

heavymental

I don't chop and change bicycles much. I owned an aluminium Cannondale R600 then bought a carbon Scott CR1 frame about 8 years ago and built the bike from parts. I've ridden it ever since mostly for solo ~40 miler rides for enjoyment rather than anything competitive.

I was sat watching bikes come into the finish on a sportive recently and the bikes that stood out to be were the few steel framed bikes that came in. Very understated, classy looks. My girlfriend has just bought a Genesis Equilibrium and it's lovely bike. I've always been a bit skeptical about bike reviews generally... I couldn't see that there would be a huge amount of difference but I've only ridden 2 road bikes for any length of time.

I'm beginning to think I've missed a trick and that I should go out and get a sweet steel frame but I can't shake the fact that the frame is going to weigh in considerably more than my current ultralight frame. The other bikes that stood out to be at that sportive were the thin tubed frames like the Cervelo R2... which is a different beast I imagine.

Anyone want to share their thoughts on the matter?

frisbee

If you are running 28mm+ tyres then the frame material starts becoming irrelevant. And a few kilograms here or there makes little difference to most of us.

cougie

We all used to ride steel back in the day.
I went from a lovely custom 853 and carbon fork to a full carbon giant. It was lighter but the best bit was the way it damped Road vibration. Same wheels and groupset so it was the frame that made the difference.

I'd not buy a bike purely for its looks.

FatTed

My steel bike (frame and forks) with pedals, lights and a Brook saddle weighs 9.3 Kg. I am a couple of Kgs overweight for a cyclist, when I need a kidney removed to lose weight then I will get a lighter bike.

singleton

I had a steel bike (genesis flyer single speed) and I liked it a lot. Cycling is not just about the numbers - it's about the enjoyment and you've obviously understood that since you ride for pleasure. That said, does it matter if you take 1-2 minutes longer on your regular ride? If you fancy a steel bike - get one.

matt_n-2

I've got 4 bikes, 2 steel, 1 CF and 1 aluminium, which one do I ride the most?

1 steel is my winter / work hack with guards. Other is a Colnago Master with modern 11spd Campag

CF is a sub 7kg Specialized Tarmac and the aluminium a Colnago Dream.

The steel Colnago Master, sublime.

debeli

Steel is a lovely thing and a good steel bicycle is wonderful.

I still have steel frames I've had since the eighties... and they are scruffy but in excellent order.

I do not get (and never got) the thing about 'feel', since I've found both feel and an absence of feel on fairly nice carbon, alloy and steel frames.

Do get a steel bike if you want one, but it will still just be a bicycle and (like carbon and alloy) it will be easier downhill and harder uphill. You still have to pedal and sometimes your wrists or your back might get a little twinge.

The only caveat I'd offer is that orange bar tape is not permitted on steel bikes in most metropolitan areas unless the machine is fitted with a quill stem.

Also, most professional bike fitters refuse to work with steel frames as they affect the accuracy of the gyro-driven sonotechnology used in the initial dynamic assessment of the attitude. It is something to do with magnets and that.

Other than that, go for it. But do not expect a revolution.

Just a lovely ride on a lovely bicycle.

I hope I have helped, but I fear that perhaps I have not.

Alex99

Heavymental wrote:

I don't chop and change bicycles much. I owned an aluminium Cannondale R600 then bought a carbon Scott CR1 frame about 8 years ago and built the bike from parts. I've ridden it ever since mostly for solo ~40 miler rides for enjoyment rather than anything competitive.

I was sat watching bikes come into the finish on a sportive recently and the bikes that stood out to be were the few steel framed bikes that came in. Very understated, classy looks. My girlfriend has just bought a Genesis Equilibrium and it's lovely bike. I've always been a bit skeptical about bike reviews generally... I couldn't see that there would be a huge amount of difference but I've only ridden 2 road bikes for any length of time.

I'm beginning to think I've missed a trick and that I should go out and get a sweet steel frame but I can't shake the fact that the frame is going to weigh in considerably more than my current ultralight frame. The other bikes that stood out to be at that sportive were the thin tubed frames like the Cervelo R2... which is a different beast I imagine.

Anyone want to share their thoughts on the matter?

I agree, many steel bike look great. The carbon ones that catch my eye generally have modest tube dimensions and so traditional. There are certainly steel bikes that will be great to ride and the weight thing shouldn't be a big concern. Maybe 1 kg difference if you look at a top end steel. What does the equilibrium frame weigh, 3 kg ish with the fork? And that isn't trying to be a light frame. Probably for most people, a new bike is partly a 'passion' based thing. How awesome the bike looks comes into it, and in my opinion that is OK.

lakesluddite

I have carbon and steel, and unusually for this combination, the carbon is my winter/rain bike (disc brakes), the steel my summer show-pony.
The steel frame was a custom build by Brian Rourkes in Stoke, hence the elevation to top dog. A good steel frame with the right wheels and components can be just as light as a mid/lower range carbon bike. I'd thoroughly recommend going down the custom build route if you want something a bit special.

webboo

Heavymental wrote:

I don't chop and change bicycles much. I owned an aluminium Cannondale R600 then bought a carbon Scott CR1 frame about 8 years ago and built the bike from parts. I've ridden it ever since mostly for solo ~40 miler rides for enjoyment rather than anything competitive.

I was sat watching bikes come into the finish on a sportive recently and the bikes that stood out to be were the few steel framed bikes that came in. Very understated, classy looks. My girlfriend has just bought a Genesis Equilibrium and it's lovely bike. I've always been a bit skeptical about bike reviews generally... I couldn't see that there would be a huge amount of difference but I've only ridden 2 road bikes for any length of time.

I'm beginning to think I've missed a trick and that I should go out and get a sweet steel frame but I can't shake the fact that the frame is going to weigh in considerably more than my current ultralight frame. The other bikes that stood out to be at that sportive were the thin tubed frames like the Cervelo R2... which is a different beast I imagine.

Anyone want to share their thoughts on the matter?

I will be going back to steel like I will be going back to wool shorts, leather hairnet helmets, capes that were like wearing a rubber bag, nailed on shoe plates and toeclips.
I could go on

svetty

n+1......

arthur_scrimshaw

My love of steel framed bikes is that many are traditional geometry (as opposed to compact) together with the thin diameter tubes.
There's something about a horizontal top tube that turns my head.

0ced0

need i say more

davidof

Here's my bike, under 10kg, cost 100 quid



I have another, 25 quid this one.



Steel is real.

Alex99

Webboo wrote:

Heavymental wrote:

I don't chop and change bicycles much. I owned an aluminium Cannondale R600 then bought a carbon Scott CR1 frame about 8 years ago and built the bike from parts. I've ridden it ever since mostly for solo ~40 miler rides for enjoyment rather than anything competitive.

I was sat watching bikes come into the finish on a sportive recently and the bikes that stood out to be were the few steel framed bikes that came in. Very understated, classy looks. My girlfriend has just bought a Genesis Equilibrium and it's lovely bike. I've always been a bit skeptical about bike reviews generally... I couldn't see that there would be a huge amount of difference but I've only ridden 2 road bikes for any length of time.

I'm beginning to think I've missed a trick and that I should go out and get a sweet steel frame but I can't shake the fact that the frame is going to weigh in considerably more than my current ultralight frame. The other bikes that stood out to be at that sportive were the thin tubed frames like the Cervelo R2... which is a different beast I imagine.

Anyone want to share their thoughts on the matter?

I will be going back to steel like I will be going back to wool shorts, leather hairnet helmets, capes that were like wearing a rubber bag, nailed on shoe plates and toeclips.
I could go on

Unlike some of those things, steel is still a good material for many kinds of bikes. Tough, comfortable, repairable, customizable... not to mention, in the eyes of many, looks very nice

thegreatdivide

Webboo wrote:

I will be going back to steel like I will be going back to wool shorts, leather hairnet helmets, capes that were like wearing a rubber bag, nailed on shoe plates and toeclips.
I could go on

Sounds like Ugo's standard bike ride ;-)

ugo.santalucia

thegreatdivide wrote:

Webboo wrote:

I will be going back to steel like I will be going back to wool shorts, leather hairnet helmets, capes that were like wearing a rubber bag, nailed on shoe plates and toeclips.
I could go on

Sounds like Ugo's standard bike ride ;-)

Don't be silly, I was riding tubeless when you didn't even own EPS! Your modern gear is fiction, mine is real!

That said, the Eroica Britannia is fast approaching and I need to get the retro stuff out of the garage and put some miles on it

To the OP... for a performance bike, the only selling point of steel is if you need to lock your bike with a D-Lock. However, for long distance, low speed riding steel is perfect, as long as you choose a compliant geometry and tubing set. Massive oversized tubes are going to ride just like carbon (but it will be heavier)

drlodge

LakesLuddite wrote:

I have carbon and steel, and unusually for this combination, the carbon is my winter/rain bike (disc brakes), the steel my summer show-pony.
The steel frame was a custom build by Brian Rourkes in Stoke, hence the elevation to top dog. A good steel frame with the right wheels and components can be just as light as a mid/lower range carbon bike. I'd thoroughly recommend going down the custom build route if you want something a bit special.

+1 for Rourke, see the build thread in my footer. It fits like a glove, just the job for 100+ mile rides. It weighs 8kg, only 0.8 kg heavier than the Massive Attack.

heavymental

Hmm yes I think really it's just time for a change for me. I've been riding the Scott for 8 years since I built the bike as a treat for my 30th. Mathematicians will notice that it's close enough to my 40th to justify another treat! Looks are part of the deal for me and I like the look of steel frames; It's as simple at that. I don't think I need a custom frame but may well see if I can get an off the peg frame custom painted. I may lose some speed with the added weight of steel but that's not hugely important for me if I have a grin on my face and enjoy the ride.

I think I'll be taking my girlfriends Equilibrium out on my local loop and see how that feels. The bike is heavier than my Scott but then I reckon it's a fairly straightforward exercise to take some weight off if I was to get some nice wheels and lighter finishing kit onto the same frame.

Ben6899

Do it.

drlodge

Yes, do it

heavymental

Ha. Will keep you informed

specialman

I have no concept of what a carbon bike is like to ride so in this case, ignorance is bliss - I love my steel Volare 40 (okay, it's got a carbon fork, but let's not nitpick)...

Probably not the lightest bike out there but it's very, very comfortable and it soaks up bumps nicely. I also love the sleekness of it (is that a word?), and theft it's built to take some abuse... it's been involved in one crash with a car already and it just brushed that off.

animal72

I went from a Wilier carbon jobbie to a steel Condor. Delighted.

antonyfromoz

specialman wrote:

I have no concept of what a carbon bike is like to ride so in this case, ignorance is bliss - I love my steel Volare 40 (okay, it's got a carbon fork, but let's not nitpick)...

Probably not the lightest bike out there but it's very, very comfortable and it soaks up bumps nicely. I also love the sleekness of it (is that a word?), and theft it's built to take some abuse... it's been involved in one crash with a car already and it just brushed that off.

I have the same bike - although I have swapped a few parts including having the FSA semi compact chain set swapped for an Athena compact - and love it! I tried several other bikes, including a Tarmac, Synapse and TCR but would not change it for anything.

Bo Duke

I weigh 110kgs so it doesn't matter whether I ride a carbon, aluminium or steel bike, I'm still last up up the hills.

I ride a ROSE aluminium bike which is great however I'm also thinking of going steel... a complete luxury which the missus will struggle to comprehend the need for.

bendertherobot

https://bowman-cycles.com/product/layhams-copy/

Bo Duke

Why d'you need to spend 1,100 quid on a steel frame? Steel's the cheap option.

This is what I'm looking at $1,899 all in with a 200mm crank. I'll pick it up from the US next time I go on business.

http://www.bigandtallbike.com/KHS-Flite ... p_375.html

Ben6899

Bo Duke wrote:

Why d'you need to spend 1,100 quid on a steel frame? Steel's the cheap option.

This is what I'm looking at $1,899 all in with a 200mm crank. I'll pick it up from the US next time I go on business.

http://www.bigandtallbike.com/KHS-Flite ... p_375.html

If you buy a donkey.

Bo Duke

Sure you can buy a thoroughbred but whats the point when you have $200 dollar legs......

Ben6899

Because life is too short to ride sh1t bikes.