"Tom" <
[email protected]> wrote in message news:<
[email protected]>...
> I'm planning on buying a new light weight, triple, steel road bike, for the beauty of the ride.
>
> I'm a senior citizen and ride 125 miles a week in all types of road conditions. Not a racer at my
> age; but, ride with the younger guys and want a good bike that rides and performs well. Price
> range is open.
>
> Bianchi? Landshark? Your recommendations please.
>
> Tom
Boy, a lot of noise without much recommendation in this thread.
OK, I am a fan of steel; there are 2 steel bikes and an unbuilt steel frame within 10 feet of where
I sit, plus one carbon fiber bike. I have a new custom steel bike due here any day.
The real deal with steel is that steel is steel, but there are differences. Differences tube
thickness, tube profile, etc. all make a difference in the ride. And what I like may not work for
you. I have a nice steel bike made with Reynolds 853 (brand withheld intentionally) that I fell in
love with on the first test ride. It was less than 1/2 the price of the other bikes I rode at that
shop on that day - I think the sales person threw it in to drive me to the more expensive options,
but it backfired. A good friend decided to get a steel bike, and went out and tested a similar bike
this January, and did not like it; they fell in love with another steel bike, Reynolds 631, by
another manufacturer. The message: you need to find what you like and the only way to do that is to
ride. Go to several shops and test what they have available. Test ride as many as you can, hopefully
with a hill or two along the test route. Then make your choice.
If it were me I would look at the Heron, Rivendells, Independent Fabrications, Waterford, Gunnar
(Heron, Gunnar, and Waterford frames are all welded by Waterford, but are different), Steelman ...
and if price is no object then after you decide what you like find a custom maker (like Landshark
which you mention) and work with them to get what you want.
- rick warner