Mountain bikes: is nostalgia getting the better of me?
Discussion
Back in the mid 90s when Mountain Bike international was king (and that Caroline woman was in the cover every month) I bought an Orange c16r... Perhaps a bit aggressive for the mean streets of west London but nevertheless a fabulous bike.
As I approach my mid 30s I am Thinking of buying a cross country bike again after a long while on road bikes (a Cervelo S3 is currently the main bike). Was thinking about a cannondale f2 carbon, with that magical looking lefty fork
... However I have just discovered that Ritchey are still making frames. Back in the early 90s the P-22 and then the P21 were bikes I lusted after. In an era when people drilled holes in their seat posts to reduce weight these were truly light bikes.
Seems that I could spec a new ritchey p29 to a weight similar to a stock f2 (c 22lbs) for a pretty similar price. May be a bit heavier but is that worth it for the hassle of building a bike from scratch and steel vs carbon? (Also in my view the ritchey is a better looking frame).
Views pls: heavier steel vs new Carbon fibre... ?
As I approach my mid 30s I am Thinking of buying a cross country bike again after a long while on road bikes (a Cervelo S3 is currently the main bike). Was thinking about a cannondale f2 carbon, with that magical looking lefty fork
... However I have just discovered that Ritchey are still making frames. Back in the early 90s the P-22 and then the P21 were bikes I lusted after. In an era when people drilled holes in their seat posts to reduce weight these were truly light bikes.
Seems that I could spec a new ritchey p29 to a weight similar to a stock f2 (c 22lbs) for a pretty similar price. May be a bit heavier but is that worth it for the hassle of building a bike from scratch and steel vs carbon? (Also in my view the ritchey is a better looking frame).
Views pls: heavier steel vs new Carbon fibre... ?
I'd be quite surprised if you could build a steel hardtail to the same weight as a carbon hardtail for the same price, I would've thought that the steel frame would be a good 1-1.5kg heavier straight away.
From experience, I went from riding a steel framed Salsa El Mariachi to a new aluminium framed Niner with most of the buts transferred over and in comparison the steel frame just felt heavy.
I know that you read lots of things about the 'spring' in a nice steel frame but I can honestly say that having had a couple of steel framed Cotics as well, I never noticed this magical 'spring' or great ride that steel frames are supposed to offer.
From what I understand from friends running bikes with Lefty forks, they're fantastic and ride much better than most mormsl forks.
If you're looking for a good priced Cannondale, check out the Paul's Cycles website as they usually have sone cracking deals on last years models.
From experience, I went from riding a steel framed Salsa El Mariachi to a new aluminium framed Niner with most of the buts transferred over and in comparison the steel frame just felt heavy.
I know that you read lots of things about the 'spring' in a nice steel frame but I can honestly say that having had a couple of steel framed Cotics as well, I never noticed this magical 'spring' or great ride that steel frames are supposed to offer.
From what I understand from friends running bikes with Lefty forks, they're fantastic and ride much better than most mormsl forks.
If you're looking for a good priced Cannondale, check out the Paul's Cycles website as they usually have sone cracking deals on last years models.
I have ridden a fair few carbon hardtail MTB' s in my time, like the light weight but not really a fan of the feel of it, not sure why. I have ridden a titanium frame MTB, that was amazing, felt fantastic but cost of the frame put me off. I was also coming from a succession of aluminium framed bikes, that were great but a bit lively and harsh.
I now ride a high end steel frame for Xc and it is a great ride, not as stunning the titanium but great I its own way.
I would always choose steel ( a decent steel , 853, etc ) over a carbon hardtail, but we are all different.
Good luck in what ever you choose to get and have fun.
I now ride a high end steel frame for Xc and it is a great ride, not as stunning the titanium but great I its own way.
I would always choose steel ( a decent steel , 853, etc ) over a carbon hardtail, but we are all different.
Good luck in what ever you choose to get and have fun.
I'd go carbon, such a good cost / weight ratio for XC, if you want a do it all trail centre hard tail titaniums a good compromise as got a good strength / weight ratio. I choose my cheap carbon bike over my expensive titanium whenever I'm going on a fast XC type ride - bikes started off with identical drive trains but the titanium migrated to single ring chunkier tyres etc, the carbon is simply lighter, faster feeling.
Steel framed bike won't be as light as a carbon framed bike you would have to spend a lot more on components. That's not really what steel frames are for.
That said, if you were after a dependable ride that could last you a good few years and possibly the rest of your like, I'd go steel in a heartbeat (I'd have steel anyway, as that's just what I like.
As for the ride qualities of a steel frame, well I can't tell any difference, and to be honest, I think most people that claim they can are just feeling a placebo type effect...
That said, if you were after a dependable ride that could last you a good few years and possibly the rest of your like, I'd go steel in a heartbeat (I'd have steel anyway, as that's just what I like.
As for the ride qualities of a steel frame, well I can't tell any difference, and to be honest, I think most people that claim they can are just feeling a placebo type effect...
My roadbikes are Ti and carbon and I love them
My MTB is 853 steel, has taken masses of trauma, but I still trust it despite all of the rock strikes, bashes, crashes and general neglect it puts up with
Its predecessor was an aloominum 'Dale with Lefty which was really harsh and a bit nasty riding and the fork was impossible to service locally with most options involving sending it away with a big fat cheque. In contrast the Rockshox I now use are an enjoyable little project in the kitchen with a beer over less than an hour or so
Finally, despite many happy memories with the fancy road bikes I currently have (the plastic one weighs less than 7kg with pedals) when we pay off the morttage in a few years Im treating myself to a custom steel road bike as my new 'bestie'
Cheers
I should add I do also have a steel XC bike admittedly a cheap one an On One Inbred but although tough as old boots and looking good with those thin tubes it fest have any zipp about it, comfortable yes but fast no. If money was no object its be carbon full suspension and carbon hard tail with out question.
I had a Ritchey P21 and I can confirm that it was an absolute ballistic rocket ship. The frame did have a nice spring to it but then it was a top dollar steel frame. I really regretted selling it and would love another one, however Titanium is just as good and in many ways carbon is better. The answer is that a top end frame nearly always gives a top end ride regardless of what it's made of or it's basic metric. Buy what you like because you will love it, then you'll get bored of it and lust after something else........a bike is for Christmas not for life!
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff