Is Steel Real?

[Rocket-Boy]

A number of steel frames are hand made, so you're buying a work of art. As opposed to a mass produced (on a machine and lots of cheap labour) plastic frame.

I can absolutely appreciate the craftsmanship, some of them are absolutely amazingly put together. Still doesnt make them appealing to me but I do appreciate the skill and time behind the construction.

[Hairy]

Need to add the link with Tom R and his old school vs new school video. ...will check when in office tomorrow.

[greatwhite]

I guess I'll have to find a steel frame and give a go again - it's been some time. See if a can see any appeal in going retro. As Eldron put: carbon is for racing and steel is for.... I'm not sure what steel is for.... My memory of steel frames is not good. They all break. Reynolds 531c, 531P, 708, 753, Columbus SLX. Only one that didn't was an SPX track frame.

 

Maybe someone can quantity the benefits of steel to me? Other than emotional statements like it is cool because it flexy and has lively ride. For me it's like fat bikes and singles speeds - mostly pointless.

 

The only appeal to me is the stunning paint jobs on some of the colnago/daccordi/somec bikes. At the other end of the scale is the Bianchis in that boring washed out green....

 

OK, that should have pissed off a good cross section of Hubbers. Start flaming

Edited February 7, 2017 by greatwhite

[Hairy]

http://nsmb.com/tom-ritchey-visits-bicycle-academy/

[VictoriousSecret]

Yes.

http://www.bikerumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Cotic_Flare_130mm-steel-droplink-275-full-suspension-trail-mountain-bike_rear.jpg

[Spokey]

where were all of you when I couldn't sell my Soma frames????

Still loving my Soma B Side. Edited February 8, 2017 by Spokey

[GrahamS2]

I grew up riding mountain bikes made of steel with solid forks. No thanks!

[Monark]

My stable of steel goodness:

Soma Smoothie road

Singular Swift rigid SS 29er

Litespeed T5 Gravel CX

 

An odd collection but in my eyes, the most beautiful.

[etienne_jordaan]

I own beautifully handcrafted Mercer road frame and fork with discs. I bit of a mix of old and new. Steel just has unique riding feel. As for floppy and heavy, that's 50 years ago. Steel has totally transformed compared to the good old days and in the hands of a proper framebuilder/craftsman will compete with any modern day material.

[Eldron]

I own beautifully handcrafted Mercer road frame and fork with discs. I bit of a mix of old and new. Steel just has unique riding feel. As for floppy and heavy, that's 50 years ago. Steel has totally transformed compared to the good old days and in the hands of a proper framebuilder/craftsman will compete with any modern day material.

I am a proper steelophile but you're dead wrong. Steel will always be heavier and handle worse than carbon.

 

Carbon you can wrap up in a million different ways and shapes to give portions of the bike differemt properties. Steel you're stuck with a heavy and mostly round/oval shape. Steel is great for fun and passion but it will never compete head to head with carbon.

[Flippa]

Currently, steel bikes are:

 

Surly Krampus, rigid 29+, 1x9

Daccordi Mitico, classic roadie with full European goodness

 

Previously, I've owned:

 

Bridgestone RB-1, roadie

Kona Unit, rigid SS 29"

Ragley Piglet, 150mm 26" hardtail

 

and 1 little old 29", rigid SS in titanium, my Pipedream Skookum.

[henningvr]

Started out in the early 90s on a Bridgestone MB1 with a Ritchy Logic fork. Currently on a Momsen STR rigid SS. It's like a beefed up version of the MB1  Wouldn't trade it for anything, except for a Mercer.

[T-Bob]

I grew up riding mountain bikes made of steel with solid forks. No thanks!

 

So did I and they are a lifetime away from those kind of bikes... for starters you can ride them with bouncy bits at one end or even both ends.

[greatwhite]

I am a proper steelophile but you're dead wrong. Steel will always be heavier and handle worse than carbon.

 

Carbon you can wrap up in a million different ways and shapes to give portions of the bike differemt properties. Steel you're stuck with a heavy and mostly round/oval shape. Steel is great for fun and passion but it will never compete head to head with carbon.

Ah, the voice of reason from someone that is still passionate about steel.

 

Out of curioisty, I would still like to try a Regnolds 953 frame. Will still be 0.5kg heavier than a carbon frame, but they say very similar feel to the better Ti frames but stiffer. Could put a whole bunch of carbon bits on it to get the weight down (oh, the irony).

[Eldron]

Ah, the voice of reason from someone that is still passionate about steel.

 

Out of curioisty, I would still like to try a Regnolds 953 frame. Will still be 0.5kg heavier than a carbon frame, but they say very similar feel to the better Ti frames but stiffer. Could put a whole bunch of carbon bits on it to get the weight down (oh, the irony).

"Handle way worse" is, of course, subjective. Steel is awesome for relaxed geometry all day rides. You lose some performance but gain that special "zing" (floppiness) that only steel can give. Maybe the modern "sportif" car in bikes are the same - I haven't ridden enough to qualify that.

 

Oddly enough I've gone off Ti (and Reynolds 953 I guess). It's a bit in between. If you want a stiff no compromise race bike go carbon - if you want a relaxed weekend cruiser then get steel. Ti is somewhere in the middle. My opinion of course. For someone of your height/power Ti/953 might actually be the right weekend cruiser material though - I've seen first hand how you banana SL and SLX in sprints :-)

[the nerd]

To answer the question.

 

Yes. It is real.

 

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