I bought a Davidson Impulse in '87, it was my primary race bike for many years. I still ride it and still love it but these days it's got fenders and lights slapped on it and set up for wet weather riding and bike commuting. But yes, full steel and somewhere around 21-22 pounds full up weight but still a great bike. I pulled the fenders and raced it in some crits about three seasons ago and it's still plenty fast and handles great. I love my full carbon race bike but will probably be riding the Davidson long after my carbon bike has been retired.Originally Posted by Randyforriding .
I have a Davidson. All steel. Even the fork. Mostly Ultegra and Ritchey WCS. I weighed it when I first got it and I recall it being around 21 pounds. May not sound very light, but it is a big frame. Back in the mid seventies, a mid size, pro level bike would weigh about this same amount. I'd say the weight of a steel bike has come down, but not a lot. I'd like to see how light you could make a steel bike, using the lightest tubing and lightest components. Certainly under 18. And with a carbon fork?
FWIW, I raced the Davidson full time as recently as the '08 season and it did everything I needed of it. I raced half a dozen road races, a couple of crits, a stage race or two and even slapped aero bars on it for a 40K and managed a podium spot in the state TT. I picked up my full carbon bike the following spring and though it's an awesome ride and at least five pounds lighter it hasn't changed my race placings or my ability to compete in any measurable way. I still have some good days, a lot of pack finish days and some podium finishes and wins when things go well and the bike is not the determining factor. Riding a light bike is really nice, it just feels very nimble and quick, but realistically it doesn't really change things much if at all in most races.
-Dave