i had a steel Stowe, straight guage and fairly heavy that was comfortable and did everything well. the guy i sold it to says it is still going strong.
then a california Masi Grand Criterium. so stiff and heavy beyond belief. tubing specs were proprietary custom but i suspect extra thick wall track tubing everywhere. this thing would beat you up more than any aluminum bike, and had road manners less than forgiving as it would chatter and skip around during hard sprints and cornering, probably due to its' inability to absorb any vibration or flex. round fork blades like a track bike resisted flex as much or more than any carbon.
but i won three races in a month on that bike, lotsa near wins and ect. and primes. i also crashed a couple times, bent it and had it straightened no prob, try that today...
a Simoncini with sl tres tubi and cromor stays, so comfortable you could ride over whoop de doos at speed with no hands and it would just suck them up.
it developed cracking at the downtube/headtube lug that was only suspected after the bottom bracket would swing around in a spiral movement under pedal pressure. i still use it today on the cycleops stationary trainer. it flexes away pretty good but is still in one piece.
then there was a custom thron that was reasonably comfortable but heavy.
i now am riding the best steel frame imaginable, a Wilier Grammont Nemo with oversized shaped top, down, and chainstay tubes. this bike is so great handling, stable at high speed, quick responding without being twitchy, reasonably light, absolutely comfortable and nearly flex free that i do not notice anything detrimental on any ride. the geometry and sizing fits me near perfect. it just disappears beneath you. the great stock fork was replaced after cracks being noted with a profile design bsc, a great fork that is beefy enough to be up to the job.
other features include super beefy rear dropout/ chainstay arrangement and sprinter style fastback seatstays. absorbs shock and vibration while still stiff enough for climbing and near all sprinting.
this was bought used and built up by me with a mix of well used parts and looks and rides like a far more expensive bike.
plus this bike has a flamboyant paint job, sparkle and graphics, and is seldom seen in the US.
it has quirky sloppy welds ( but to be fair tubing this incredibly thin is never going to be easy to tig without deformation) but the alignment precision is flawless. and fine steel bikes often have fair to poor alignment tolerances as they are handmade and this leads to variables, lotsa balls for the framebuilder to juggle to make a frame even near as straight as a cheap taiwanese robot made.
but now it is time to tell of my '04 colnago c40 hp w/ star fork. could be the ultimate bike ever, lighter than a c50 and the ultimate improvements to an already legendarily loved bike. why would i leave steel? mostly to have this lifetime experience and to have an alternative to aluminum and its characteristics of being fatigue-prone as a material and harsh riding, while being light.
believe me, i looked long and hard at steelman, if, richard sachs, kelly, waterford, spectrum, sycip, eisentraut, anvil, rock lobster, and even the euro deddacai, foco and ultrafoco offerings. all these bikes with a name attached are worthy of devotion over aluminum and their long term value will prove that beyond a doubt.
i am still getting the finances together to finalize the build, so as of yet it is unridden.
aluminum is great for a racing bike were the main concern is being competitve for the serious season or two. the sacrificial lamb. combining with carbon as is the fashion in demand can end up heavier and weaker than all alu.
also the integral headset trend contributes to the disposable status of
must-have alu bikes.
heat treat on alu is needed often after welding so as to not snap apart right away, and this can lead to stress fracturing at the ready with thin shaped tubes, due to all the variables of heating and cooling taking place upon areas of differing heat sinking capabilities. this is the typical case on all the better (lightest, high priced) tubesets.
could also be a good deal used as the resale value goes waaaay down on alu, but you takes your chances as to how much it has been fatigued as a result of use. if not used much, as can be often the case, a real good deal may be had.
or for the rider who wants a high level light bike and will never use it enough to realize its' inherently finite lifespan.
also the rider who buys at a lower price point and gets something not light, but fairly strong due to big thick tubes, sometimes this is all that is available at a certain price and experience level.
Jon Cooper said:
Hi let me know your thoughts on the oldest (?) and best material....steel.
After Cougar Dedaccia steel frame & now Casati Geo in steel I am a big fan.
For the rough stuff difficult to beat a Rocky Mountain Equipe (steel frame) for a bouncy ride with loads of feedback.
What do you think?