eddy Posted August 20, 2015 Posted August 20, 2015 Just as I will never trade my German luxury for the old Ford Escort I owned as a youngster, I will never trade my EVO for the old DHC But that is an absurd comparison. Comparing an entry level steel frame built 30 years ago with a modern carbon bike is no comparison at all. Just as you discovered the difference between your CAAD10 and an entry level AL frame, you need to compare apples with apples. A modern, well designed and built steel frame will beat an equivalently priced Carbon frame in a number of the areas you noted. It will also outlast the carbon bike by several generations. Oh, and as a large part of a "new" carbon bike's attraction (and price) is owning the latest and greatest, it ages poorly and built in obsolesce will leave you with a dated bike in 2 years.
eddy Posted August 20, 2015 Posted August 20, 2015 That would be a resounding no. I believe in moving forward, not backward. I stated my personal opinion, and I stick by it. I respect your opinion, but then again, as you admit it is not a well informed one. I don't own an EVO, but do own (and admittedly not the latest and greatest) a nice carbon bike along with an older, though top end Record equipped Steel frame and a SRAM equipped modern Ritchey. I ride them interchangeably but the Carbon gets ridden least often and my Strava PBs are evenly split between the bikes. Maybe, if your Escort was a DB5 you would have felt different, even if your 320 will out drag it.
the nerd Posted August 20, 2015 Posted August 20, 2015 Read international endurance pages... overwhelming response is steel for a reason. We don't have a culture of "long distance" riding here whereas in the states its what a lot of people do. Bike touring is huge there and its all ridden on .... Steel. Call Dave, he's a nice guy and builds amazing bikes. You won't be sorry. *He is also a pretty good vet from what i've heard...
rouxtjie Posted August 20, 2015 Posted August 20, 2015 Have all three, carbon, steel and alu. Steel is comfortableCarbon is lightAlu is cheap
johanpre44 Posted August 20, 2015 Posted August 20, 2015 If you have the money to spend go for the custom option and get the Mercer! I think just the fact of having a custom sized frame will already add a lot towards the comfort. Think I'm stuck on steel hard tail frames for life... The custom frame is on my bucket list!
Eldron Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Steel is comfortableCarbon is lightAlu is cheapThese are arguably the smartest 9 words ever written on the hub. The "my frame/wheels/material/groupset is best" style comments have to stop. There is no "best" - there is only "best for purpose".
NotSoBigBen Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Have all three, carbon, steel and alu. Steel is comfortableCarbon is lightAlu is cheap Hy maak uit die ou! Luister vir hom ....
rouxtjie Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Hy maak uit die ou! Luister vir hom ....ek try bennie, ek try
Fat Boab Posted August 21, 2015 Author Posted August 21, 2015 Steel is real. Real soft. It rides like an old sofa - comfy and smooth. If its. All day comfort you're after steel is the way to go. If it's out and out speed then carbon. In betweener - try one of the "comfort carbons" that have become popular lately. I dig the DM idea. Timeless steel. Carbon dates really quickly... Thanks to all for comments so far (DM's site has some seriously sexy bikes on it!). In the interest of harnessing the collective genius of The Hub, what's the view of the gap between 'modern' steel and 'comfort carbons'? Does the gap exist? How big is the compromise? Cost penalty? And any other Friday comments you feel appropriate.....
The_Break Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 I hope I'm not opening a can of worms here? So I ride an entry level-ish carbon road bike and I'm starting to think of what-next down the track. Partially window-shopping; if I'm honest probably all window shopping at this stage! Anyway I'm thinking more of an endurance-type road frame, rather than an out and out 'racing' frame, where I'd be happy trading an extra bit of frameset weight, if required for comfort as and when my training rides go beyond 3 hours. So to date I've been thinking along the lines of a Trek Domane, Spez Roubaix sort of deal. So here's my questions: how would a modern steel frame eg Ritchey Logic or whatever, compare against the Domane/Roubaix? Road feel, comfort, trade off of weight, a.n.other categories? Your thoughts would be much appreciated!If you are asking this question because you want to train better for racing, then the answer is to stay as close to your race setup as possible. For example, I had a carbon cervelo when I rode fulltime for racing, but I rode a alu cervelo with the exact same setup as my carbon bike. That way your body become trained not only from a fitness/cardio point of view, but it also becomes trained against fatigue, road harshness, etc. I would therefore recommend that you either train on your race rig (cause carbon doesnt really "get old") or buy a more entry level frame of the same make to train on (alu or carbon) and set it up with the same saddle, stem, handlebar and pedal system. That would be the best for training to get you ready for your racing. If its not for racing, then train on whatever makes you feel good!!!
Shebeen Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 These are arguably the smartest 9 words ever written on the hub. The "my frame/wheels/material/groupset is best" style comments have to stop. There is no "best" - there is only "best for purpose".if he could find a way to get strong in there it would have been tops!
gummibear Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Have all three, carbon, steel and alu. Steel is comfortableCarbon is lightAlu is cheapNo Ti
gummibear Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 road-logic-build-2013.jpg close topic Edit: top is Ti though That Ritchey is to drool over
AngryAustrian Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Steel frame with comfort geometry, reasonably priced and reliable, on hard training days you can load the wife (or two girlfriends) on the back and when asked you can tell people you ride an MTN Qhubeka bike TGIF
Showtime Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Thanks to all for comments so far (DM's site has some seriously sexy bikes on it!). In the interest of harnessing the collective genius of The Hub, what's the view of the gap between 'modern' steel and 'comfort carbons'? Does the gap exist? How big is the compromise? Cost penalty? And any other Friday comments you feel appropriate..... In the latest cycling plus magazine there was a group review of high end steel bikes. I don't have the magazine with me now but I recall the conclusion being that none of the bikes can compete with the newest carbon endurance bikes like the trek domane for comfort or performance making it a sentimental buy. The Colnago Master was silky to ride but spongy to accelerate as an example. The more expensive the steel frame the closer you will get to ticking all the boxes like comfort and acceleration but it will be very very expensive to compete with high end carbon endurance frames. Very desirable bikes to own and ride but mainly for their character which is also very important.
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