Can someone convince me a racey steel frame is for me?
Discussion
I'm still waiting for my insurance payout, which is something to look forward to but it's also making me think far too much about my next bike.
Criteria are that it has to be a bike that encourages one to push on, has a degree of 'exclusitivity' and above all fast.
It goes without saying that it will be of a suitable fit for me.
Currently very attracted to the Condor Super Accaiao, a steel frame with the race geometry of their Leggero, it also has BB30 and an oversized headtube so ticks the 'technical features' box as well.
Assuming I build it light and with suitable wheels will it be an exciting bike to ride, I love a bike that when you exit a sharp bend feels like it is propelling you forwards and all my (meagre) power is doing it's job.
Steel is often described as being fantasically comfortable, I'd hate to end up with a bike which felt 'dead'.
Argh!
Criteria are that it has to be a bike that encourages one to push on, has a degree of 'exclusitivity' and above all fast.
It goes without saying that it will be of a suitable fit for me.
Currently very attracted to the Condor Super Accaiao, a steel frame with the race geometry of their Leggero, it also has BB30 and an oversized headtube so ticks the 'technical features' box as well.
Assuming I build it light and with suitable wheels will it be an exciting bike to ride, I love a bike that when you exit a sharp bend feels like it is propelling you forwards and all my (meagre) power is doing it's job.
Steel is often described as being fantasically comfortable, I'd hate to end up with a bike which felt 'dead'.
Argh!
47p2 said:
I have steel, aluminium and carbon framed bikes but the steel definitely gives a better ride
Can't see the pic on work computer 
Can you describe how it gives a better ride?
I always read the feel of steel being ideal for a touring bike or one that is perfect for a relaxed Sunday jaunt to a cafe, I want to take my bike by the scruff of it's neck and smash a PB on my 20/30/40 mile route.
With carbon I know what to expect and i'm pretty sure if I dropped £3k I'd have a bike I'd be more than happy with, the unknown factor that is steel does somewhat scare me for getting the choice wrong.
A friend had the Condor a few years ago and he liked it, but it was certainly no lightweight. His was built up with Ultegra, Mavic wheels, etc and I bet it was 21lb.
If you want an 'exclusve' steel frame, then I'd look no further than this...
http://fireflybicycles.com/bikes/road-stainless
If you want an 'exclusve' steel frame, then I'd look no further than this...
http://fireflybicycles.com/bikes/road-stainless
markcp said:
A friend had the Condor a few years ago and he liked it, but it was certainly no lightweight. His was built up with Ultegra, Mavic wheels, etc and I bet it was 21lb.
If you want an 'exclusve' steel frame, then I'd look no further than this...
http://fireflybicycles.com/bikes/road-stainless
Gorgeous.If you want an 'exclusve' steel frame, then I'd look no further than this...
http://fireflybicycles.com/bikes/road-stainless
Would love a stainless frameset, unfortunately I'd be unable to afford to hang anything off it except perhaps a bottle cage!
Edited by TheFungle on Tuesday 14th May 12:55
TheFungle said:
I always read the feel of steel being ideal for a touring bike or one that is perfect for a relaxed Sunday jaunt to a cafe, I want to take my bike by the scruff of it's neck and smash a PB on my 20/30/40 mile route.
With carbon I know what to expect and i'm pretty sure if I dropped £3k I'd have a bike I'd be more than happy with, the unknown factor that is steel does somewhat scare me for getting the choice wrong.
Up until the early/mid 1990s all pro racers rode steel bikes. The fastest ever TdF time trial was ridden on a steel bike IIRC (1989). So don't worry that steel is going to turn you into a tourer.With carbon I know what to expect and i'm pretty sure if I dropped £3k I'd have a bike I'd be more than happy with, the unknown factor that is steel does somewhat scare me for getting the choice wrong.
But it needs to be a decent tubing, which means it'll likely be expensive......check out race frames made from 853 tubing (like the Graham Weigh in an earlier post).
I have 4 bikes and the nicest to ride fast is my early 1990s Reynolds 653 tubed bike (2nd most expensive Reynolds tubing of the time). It skips over uneven road surfaces like a speedboat over the surf, but never feels crashy. It's like it is buzzing with energy.
Hard to describe.....you'll know what I mean if you get a decent steel frame.
Edited by Get Karter on Tuesday 14th May 20:05
A friend rides for Madision Genesis & races on a steel framed bike. It's built up with 9000 Dura Ace & C50's. He's tiny & so is his bike but it's no lightweight. He says all the guys were a bit shocked when the bikes turned up. Don't get me wrong were not talking "heavy"...but there is a fair bit of mass there. It's made from Reynolds 953 which is stainless steel I believe.
Flipside....it looks absolutely stunning, he loves it, has won on it & it's the only bike he's had that he really looks after, it's always spotless. He says it rides beautifully & buys into the whole "steel" thing. I'd have one in a heartbeat...after a Pegoretti ;-)
That said a Colnago Master in red with Super Record is a thing to behold.
Flipside....it looks absolutely stunning, he loves it, has won on it & it's the only bike he's had that he really looks after, it's always spotless. He says it rides beautifully & buys into the whole "steel" thing. I'd have one in a heartbeat...after a Pegoretti ;-)
That said a Colnago Master in red with Super Record is a thing to behold.
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