The Case for Steel Bikes
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- Опубліковано 30 вер 2024
- For lightweight, top-tier steel bikes, check out Wabi Cycles:
wabicycles.com/
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"Steel is heavy, steel isn't stiff enough, steel is slow." These and other misconceptions plague the world of steel bikes. Although steel is the first material bikes were made out of, bike designers and builders continue to push the boundaries of steel, making them lighter, more durable, and most importantly, more fun to ride. Steel is real and has a dedicated following in a world of bikes made of increasingly exotic materials for good reason. This is the case for steel bikes.
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#stealisreal #fixedgear
1 - Ride what you can afford.
2 - Ride a bike your size that doesn't hurt your body.
3 - Slowly upgrade it yourself learning about mechanic and how your vehicle work.
4 - Go outside and feel free
Solid advice.
Medium frame is for most people just under 6ft
I approve this comment.
I wish 99% of UA-cam cyclist would say the same.. they tell beginners to get a 3000$ bike for entry level that's just bullshit
YES !!!!
i like how steel bikes have generally skinnier tubing than alluminum. makes them easier to pick up and carry when needed
I agree, that is my main thing I like best about steel too. They just look cool.
Easier to oick up while being twice as heavy. Okay
@@Nomorehats I mean my state 4130 is only 20 lbs total and i doubt you're gonna find a 10 lb aluminum bike at the same price point
@Stevie Blue I am aware of this, but an important thing to note here. I was responding to someone saying steel bikes are gonna be "twice as heavy" which is patently untrue. the difference will be a few lbs at most assuming similar quality frames at a similar price point, and from what I have seen of similarly priced aluminum bikes to my steel is that they tend to be around 19-21 lbs. Cannondale's geared bikes cost more than twice as much as mine so it is not something I consider to be relevant to my argument
@Stevie Blue Huh, that's pretty interesting! Pretty good to know since I live in a very hilly area
Yes, nothing like a classic lugged frame.
PERIOD!
Zach: Can I mention other steel bikes?
Wabi: Only if the brands are dead.
Zach: Yes Master.
"that makes me want to throw my leg over and ride it"
Funny !
happy to see young folks keeping up the flag for vintage steel bikes. aluminium and carbon just added an oversize look to something that was yet perfect and functional.
1. I buy what I can afford
2. I ride what I enjoy
3. I don’t care about what other riders think
Frame material is at the very bottom of my list.
👏👏👏👏
preach! your bike your ride.
Exactly
However, steel is the most ecologically, conducive, or responsible! Unless of course, you choose bamboo! Keep up the good work, peace, and God bless! 👍✌🙏😇
Very well said, I just ordered my first single speed bike all for the price of £223 🙂 i await its arrival 😁
Also if you are touring in a remote location and you do have an accident the frame maybe repairable by any competent welder unlike carbon fibre or aluminium.
Extremely good point
i bestow upon you the most prestigious award, the fixed gear hipster king
I’m old , I’ve been riding a fixed gear Waterford exclusively since 98 . To me nothing beats the feel , looks and ride quality of a steel framed bike . Especially a steel framed fixed gear bike . Love your video’s BTW .
'98?! How long has fixed gears been around!?
@@AverageJoeRider forever… Or at least since the 1800’s. The first bikes with pedals were all fixed gear… I say “with pedals” because the very first bicycle was just two wheels and a saddle connecting them. Pretty much an adult balance bike
Hope your still riding !
Not me bro! Steel is what I ride. I can strip it, paint it and restyle it. And its gonna last forever so long as it doesn't rust out.
The whole rust thing is so overblown imo. Just remember to grease your seatpost and don't leave your rag in there
Yup, I've already lost 1 high quality steel frame (Lemond Poprad) to rust.... Too many rides in the rain???
I rustproofed inside mine and keep it in a dry basement. The rust it had when I bought it hasn't gotten Any worse in 20 years.
If you live very near to salt water, rust can destroy steel very quickly. I have had direct experiences with that. Cure for that is aluminium.
Renolds make a good stainless steel frame
used to work in a shop for 10+ years, have repaired thousands and thousands of bikes and seen a lot over the years. Aluminum will eventually work harden and fracture, usually chain stays, but if you're an extremely aggressive offroad rider and unlucky, a head tube. Carbon is great if kept in perfect condition, however, resin is soft and you'll hit it on something eventually. A small crack allows water inside and then let the galvanic corrosion begin - they tend to delaminate over time, and like the video says, tend to catastrophically fail. If you sweat on your carbon bars and have anything aluminum touching them, replace yearly. Not to mention carbon frames in the bicycle world are pretty unregulated and tend to have voids/wrinkles - it's a crap shoot, you never know. Personally, i like carbon for weekend road bikes, but accept it will fail at some point. For every day/commuting, you can't beat steel. The toughest bikes I've owned are all steel. Had several titanium over the years too - but they can work harden and split like aluminum. And they are very flexy! I prefer chromoly. The older Tange tubing is great, Reynolds 520/4130 is great. Had several Reynolds 853 frames - personally i find them a little too stiff but that's me. Hi-tensile is just a little too soft for my taste - it is very soft and is very easy to dent/bend. If i had one frame for the rest of my life it would be some variant of 4130 chromoly, probably tig welded, for weight reasons.
I have a 38 year old Marukin M-420 road bike I purchased new 38 years ago. Its frame is made of Ishiwata 025 ChroMo, and I LOVE IT! I've had the bike overhauled twice since I had it. It's still going strong, and it'll be in my stable until I die.
Earth metal bikes are awesome! Steel has gotten me across country three times and ridden thousand more hours fixed and geared!!!
Go Zach. Dig the Taiwan vibe bra.
My boy Zach taking a nice 1lb deuce before his ride💩
RollinRat 😂 Good one!
I agree 100%. Of course it was an easy sell, my pride and joy is a 1979 Schwinn Le Tour. I'm 6' 5" tall so it's about as small as I can get away with: 27" wheels. But I get it about "Blue" wanting, needing, begging me to ride her; and she always pleases. She weighs in at 34 lbs, but I lost that extra 14 lbs off my waist riding her so...
BTW I'm 62 years old and feel as strong as I did when I was 40. Bicyclers live to be 100. Keep going Zach: "Never give up! Never surrender!"
Thank you for making this video. It reflects my experience bang on. I ride vintage steel bikes from the 70's and 80's and it is an incredibly cost effective way to have major fun. My touring bike is over 35 yers old and I'm not afraid to carry 50 lbs or more on rough roads and trails. The ride is just perfect. No need to go to a more "modern" frame, as the lugged steel frames tend to fit me well. More steel bikes should be on the market today, but there is still a huge supply of serviceable old frames. Let's keep them out of the landfills!
Jorg, you'll want to hold on to that 35-year-old touring bike.
They don't make them like that anymore!
Had one myself up until two years ago (lost it due to a mammoth pothole), got a touring bike from both Trek and Surly. The Trek is junk. And the Surly does not inspire.
About the only option I figure to replace a 35-year-old touring bike is to copy the dimensions & angle, source old style headset, and try to find a builder.
Since the mountain bike craze, mass produced bike seem to be made for clowns: twitchy steering; short lenght (top tube & chain stays); and super wide handlebars. Not only that most are fitted with long crank arms.
@RollinRat , can agree with you about custom built wheels. It is the only way to go for 'bullet proof' wheel.
As for the bicycle industry being corrupted by the Chinese, that is not the case. The two touring bicycle I state above are from USA companies, though the Surly is made in Taiwan.
Before getting the Surly, I also checked over 300 'touring' bicycles on the web. It is amazing how few bicycle could truly be called touring, most on the web are city cruisers. It is almost a dying breed.
Could recommend others check what Brodie (a Canadian company) has to offer. Like all modern bicycles, even their's would not fit me because of my extra long arms. Seems no one has top tubes over 60cm.
And here is were the MTB craze is most noticable - handlebar width. Makes me wonder why moose antlers are not used. Sure, that way a very long armed ape like me could 'fit' on a modern bike, but at over 60-years-old anything past the town limit is uncomfortable. And the only kind of touring with that kind of range I can think of is guided tours for the once a year cyclist. Kind of sad what touring bicycles have becom to most. I use to knock of 300-km rides in a day on a vintage touring bicycle up until the age of 58. The long stretched out position was just relaxing.
RollinRat, hope you stick with frame building long enough to be come proficient at fitting braze-ons without weakening the tubing.
Steel frames are like an old American truck. Strong and reliable. And very pleasing to look at.
@RollinRat
Do the steel bikes need much treatment in the way of rust inhibitor?
@RollinRat
Yeah fair enough. Thanks 👍
I love steel frame bicycles. The ride is like no other. I currently ride a Cinelli Vigorelli. What a dream to ride. It does have a carbon fork which I expect to swap out someday. I did fall into to the trap years ago and bought a high end aluminium frame racer that weighed in at 17 lbs. I rode it 400 miles and hated it. When you are not on the race circuit riding a bike that is a couple of pound heavier is ok. A smooth ride is much better when putting on miles. I’m 64 years old and just finished my calendar year yesterday. I rode 7300 miles this past year on only steel bikes. I can’t count the number of younger guys I smoked on their carbon frame cookies cutter bicycles. I love your video, more younger rider should take your advice. I have watched your video many times just to see those beautiful steel frame bicycles. I will never purchase an aluminium or carbon frame road bicycle ever. Steel for the rest of my life.
thanks for your comment 🎉✨
Right on. You're the first pundit I've seen, mention the uncanny spring -back quality of steel frames, as they work with the rider in a feedback loop. They actually flex and then return the energy, and it all adds up to performance and thrills. The body is completely engaged, and that's what bicycling is all about.
The skinny tubing adds to the resilience. Shock waves dissipate along the narrow tubes quite effectively. Not so the fat, rigid aluminum and carbon that followed. Notice how thin seat stays are now? Top tubes going the same way, to absorb shocks before they get to the saddle. Parameters haven't changed since the '60s, except ever more wonderful high tech candy to keep us in love!
And don't let's get started on those old, reliable, cup and cone threaded bottom brackets! Threads are making a comeback!
Ridden steel for the last 60 years so I'm used to it and like it.
One doubt I have about the video is the assertion that carbon frames won't last. Word from experts seems to be that recent carbon frames will last indefinitely unless they receive a heavy blow.
Cool. Yes, all I have are old or "vintage" steel bikes. We have two 1987 bright yellow Schwinn touring Paramounts (another for my wife) from the Waterford, Wisconsin factory that are both three by 7's (one is converted from a 3x6). Both are made from Columbus tubing. We think those were the last of the Paramount touring frames ever made before the Paramount factory started focusing on racing frames only.
I have a 1983 Mondia 2x6 with Reynolds 531 tubing. By far my prettiest frame.
I have a Bianchi Osprey 3x7 steel bike for fishing and gravel.
I have a Schwinn Paramount Series 50 Mt Bike from 1994 with Prestige tubing.
And lastly, I have a Team Marin from 2000 made of Columbus Zona tubing.
(My wife also has a 1970's-'80's red Celo Europa 2x6 of Columbus tubing.)
The bikes I ride regularly all have fork tube extensions (or Zoom stems on the older bikes with quill type headsets) with 4 inch riser bars to raise up the handle bars for my arthritic neck. All of these bikes are mounted with Mt. bike break levers and shifters as well because being up so high puts my hand farther away from the old down tube shifters. So having them on the handle bars is safer and more efficient. Go vintage steel.---!
After watching your video I realize my mistake. I had put my steel race bike in a spare bedroom. I have now placed it in the the living room, where it belongs.
I like to live unreasonably dangerously every time I ride the old Spinergy wheels, or my old Giant Composite bike from the '90's.
cadex?
@@jcarlson2727 well... CFR, so yeah same thing.
"Frame weights, in a vacuum, is insignificant." Agreed. My 1983 Serotta is beautiful, stiff, dependable and, again, beautiful. Does it compare with 'modern' bikes? - Hell YES!
I used to know a couple of torch burners who worked at the Celina, Ohio Huffy plant who worked with Ben Serrota back in that time when Huffy was building bikes for the Le Vie Claire team. Ben was hired to be the project manager and most of those bikes were made in his shop. The Huffy guys from Celina went there short term to help train Ben’s torch men and to help them complete the order on time.
I have a 1981 Daccordi and 1984 (95% Italian) Benotto my rims are Araya! Other than that I Love my classics! Just want to share that! Ride your bike!
Zack, I'd rather watch you just sit there and talk, than watch some of that B roll for the 40th time. Pa-leeeeeze burn those files.
David Woods ??????? What is a B roll
@@Dragon_rls The previously filmed bits that are overdubbed with dialog.
Two “steel is real” videos in a row, and not one mention of the surly steamroller....
same thought. A wabi killer. :D
Yes. Local Minnesota based company built to ride in all weather. I was wondering why he didn’t mention them either. Maybe there’s too many too cover or it’s in another video? I haven’t checked yet
Richtiger Endlarry what do you like about it more than a Wabi? Just curious.
Been riding a (dented) aluminum 21 speed road bike with carbon forks. Decided to buy a used single speed steel bike with horn handlebars as a second bike. I have been hooked on modding out and riding the steel bike and haven't ridden the road bike since, lol. BTW both bikes feel about the same weight in current setup.
The video is interesting, but where do all the information you give us about the strength of carbon and aluminium come from? How can you say that aluminium and carbon frames are weak? I'm not saying this might not be true but is there like a scientific research you are basing your assumptions on? To me it seems like you are making your point on just your personal experience, that I suspect is very limited when it comes to anything but steel
Maryon syk Hi, aluminium frames are prone to breaking and or cracking when they have been impacted, whereas Carbon very much depends on who makes or lays the carbon together, any mistakes or different mixing ratios during the construction can cause the carbon to snap. Titanium is a great metal for bike frames but very difficult to work. Quality steel can be easily worked and repaired.
Aluminium isn't weak, the problem is it is prone to metal fatigue. As a frame is subject to cyclical loading, this will eventually lead to cracking.
Carbon fibre is also subject to cracking if the resin is damaged, and I can imagine these effects will increase as the material ages (and picks up more flaws)
My first bike was a Nashiki Olympic 12 I bout when I was 15 in 1987 and I rode that thing all the time and everywhere. A few years after that I “upgraded” to a Canondale that just didn’t feel as nice, ended up selling it and didn’t ride for years. I just recently bought a Kona Rove DL in butted chromoly steel and love it. I’m looking forward to hopefully as many adventures with that bike as I did my old Olympic 12.
Disagree on the looks. Aluminum can be hydroformed, and carbon can be shaped to anything, so frame detailing and styling can get pretty wild. Steel bike designs are always a combination of tubes, which is more limited.
I like the vintahe estetic of steel frames but this is a pretty good point
steelframes = Helvetica / carbonframes = comic sans
You're right but vintage bikes still look better to me. Some of the carbon bikes are hideous. Just my opinion. But Im all for anybody riding whatever. Its a great way to get around and stay in shape.
The trouble is that with a world of possibilities there is a world of problems. It is hard to mess up a frame built with all round tubes- everything inherently matches. Carbon and aluminum bikes can look amazing when designed well, but there aren't a ton of great looking carbon bikes out there (they sure as hell do exist though).
@@johndef5075 Some carbon frames looked neat when carbon bikes first started coming out,now that everybody has one........generic is the most common thing I think of. Disposable is the next thing that comes along. The idea is to keep buying the newest thing on the market every 2 years and keep the bike industry afloat. Let wretched excess rule. People know old carbon can be problem carbon so it aint worth much when used.
Well, I'm more worried about my components rather than my frame. I ride a CrMo frame, it's lightweight and resistant but I'm always worried about my hubs and fork, especially now that I have tannus tires and parts of the road here in my country are a nightmare. I used to ride steel and now that I've tried it again, it feels so stiff and resistant but great.
Hard to find now Adams but 853 was my ride of choice. The tensile flex really made the bike very efficient for my weight and power range. Took the bumps well and loved the overinflated 28 tires.
About 6 years ago, I had a Pinarello Amatore pista in blue and it was one of the best steel frames I've ridden since!
Got a Schwinn supersport from 1984, all steel, still good 😃
Thanks, Zaxh. THAT cleared the air a bit! And, gotta say, the Reynolds Bob Jackson in my cellar is looking better all the time! Only, here in Switzerland, things can get -- news flash!! -- kiinda HILLY, and the Jackson is a 2x5, end of story. I could hack that 40 years ago, but today, I ride a much less attractive, still-ancient, Al 3x8. But when I was in (flat, flat, flat) Hamburg a couple of months ago, I couldn't stop drooling at all the real deal, ancient steel on the street. Oh, the thinness! Oh, the lightness (though maybe only perceived)! And those thin, elegantly curved fork blades! In the aircraft industry, there's this term: ramp speed. That's when a plane looks like it's doing 350 knots just sitting out on the tarmac. Old bikes had it: RAMP SPEED!!!
People that complain about weight are people that race , the extra 2-3 pounds may add up to a few seconds on a mile as most people could care less.
zach, don't do that, youre loosing your credibility, you should at least throw in some non sponsored (or sponsored by other brands) videos
Manuel Gruber. ¿Losing?
@@Dragon_rls loozin*
I remember when I was living in SF I had this sexy full carbon pinarello road bike and my buddy pulled up on his new steel road bike that was sized waay larger than mine. I lifted his bike to my dismay it was severely lighter than my bike. I learned a real lesson that day.
When I rode my steel Stinner for the first time, I knew I wouldn’t ever want to ride a carbon bike again. It felt so ALIVE.
Thanks, steel works for heavyweight riders!
I have a 2004 De Rosa Neo Primato, Campy Chrous CT and I love it.
Very good Video Sir. I am over the discussions with some of my riding buddies about whether to remove the second water bottle or not or removing the saddle bag carrier etc....because of the extra ounces that they weigh|||IAs you stated, if you are so serious about optimum speed with micro minimal weight.....loose some body weight.
I own a few bikes that I really enjoy riding.
The newest a Composite Carbonfibre Giant TCR Ultegra Groupset...., Two Europa Cycles (made in Australia Reynolds 531 Chromoly Steel running Shimano 600 Tri Color Groupset (made1994) and a Repco Superlight (70's)Columbus steel with Shimano 600 Groupset. With the Covid 19 Lockdown in place I have taken to bringing all the steel bikes out and given them a full maintenance that they deserve.
I am continuously amazed as to how beautiful and Sexy the Steel bikes look. The Giant is a beautiful bike no question......but the steel bikes just have this unique appeal that seem command your attention.
In so far as the riding goes, I use the steel bike for commuting (a 70Kms round trip). So smooth....fantastic absorption and great comfort. I would never swap them. Really debating upgrading from the downtube Indexed Shifters to a 10 speed Brifter......but totally undecided as to whether to keep the bike fully authentic or not!!!!
Steel rusts and that's a good thing for me. My beloved 20 years old steel bike was hit like 500 times, the paint flew away, and rust is on 10% of its surface. Random spots. That's why it was never stolen !!! For me it's beautiful. For the thieves it looks like crap. That's good !
Thanks for the video Zach. All of my favorite bikes have steel frames.
I ride my 90s chromoly steel bike ("MTN TEK" - probably built by Trek) every day and love it, with new tires, seat, and cantilever brake pads.
I have a classic and beautiful steel Aliverti with an 11 speed Campy in nearly new condition.
High-end carbon bikes feel like cheap plastic to me. I grew up on steel, as that's all there really was at the time. But I do like the feel of a good aluminum frame quite a bit. There's so much carbon being thrown into the equation on modern race bikes that, to me, you don't even feel the road or any sense of even riding a bike at a certain point-carbon frame, forks, handlebars, shoes, etc...there's no "road feel" remaining. No thanks. The thing to remember is that in terms of performance, it's more about the legs. Wanna ride longer and faster? Ride more. On anything.
Best road bike ever owned is a De Rosa Replica 1957 with lugged "Speciale" Columbus tubing.....have done 203 miles w/ 13000+ ft of elev gain
in one day. Sweet bike!
Sir your point well made well taken. I liked your point: lose some body weight if you want a lighter "system"!
Started a channel on a hipster trend to be cool but the content is more about image than anything else . It seems he doesn't really have any knowledge about bikes in general other than some basics. I dont think he likes working on them either. Then after the casuals moved on to the next trend it's also as if he lost interest but was to committed. Now only ups a brand for the bag so it just became a wabi commercial. Sorry, tried but I cant... unsubscribed
okay okay I'm going to build a steel bike now.
After owning bikes made from all these materials over the last 35 years my last bike purchase was my Titanium road bike I've been riding for the last 2 years. I too have moved away from carbon all together because it doesn't last and is a bad value, and is actually scary when you know how easy it fails. I love the ride of my Ti bike and the beauty speaks for itself when I catch people eyeballing it or their comments wanting to know more about it.
I've had two plastic bikes. One in the early nineties when nobody else had one. I got over it. Only steel from now on.
Plus, 525 victories and two Triple Crown Victores in cycling history were accomplished using steel bikes 💪...nobody with their "super carbon bikes" has been able to surpass those accomplishments! 😂
Nothing rides like steel. My 2K full carbon bike feels dead, compared to my vintage steel racer I grabbed for 300 quid.
I have 15 bikes, most with carbon fiber or titanium frames. However, my go-to bike for longer rides and for rides when I just want to enjoy myself is a steel Pegoretti Duende.
Stll riding my Raleigh Grand Sports from 73.That brooks saddle still looks good.However,the rear quick release broke on me just b4 christmas. I got a used GT VIRAGE for 10 bucks about a month ago and,im gonna get it ready to go and,save the raleigh for my ride like the wind days. By the way,the virage is 7005 heat treated aluminum😕Now you have me worried! But i have taken it apart and,have it about 75% done.Didnt see any worrying issues though.Just have to get the rear wheel replaced.Good video👍
I've ridden steel, titanium, carbon and aluminum bikes over the years and each has it's own pro's and cons. That said, I strongly believe that titanium is the ultimate frame material if it's well constructed. They're fairly light, relatively indestructible, don't rust and can be a stiff and smooth as anything ever produced. That said, my carbon Trek is the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden (important at age 60), and I had a road bike years ago made from Tange Prestige tubing that just squirted with each pedal stroke.... probably the most fun bike to pedal. Aluminum seems to be a neutral material that isn't nearly as strong as steel or titanium, but works well off the shelf but won't last forever. To menthe ultimate commuter would be an old titanium frame, with a cheap paint job (to hide the fact that it's titanium, and solid wheel set that's not too flashy..... Just my experience over the past 40 years !!!
Wabi doesn't use titanium therefore it won't get mentioned.
I have no real experience with Ti frames. I did buy one, but never got round to building it. I have read that they tend to break easy, usually cracking or welds giving up?
I own 22 bikes. Everything from basic chromo, to Reynolds 853, carbon, aluminum and of course--titanium. My personal preference is titanium, then steel (any type, really), carbon and lastly, aluminum. I built a 1x9 urban explorer up from a 1990 GT Xizang, which is a 26" MTB frame. I'm a big dude--6'4", 250 and can average 15mph on it all day. It's light, quick and comfortable. Two of my road bikes are titanium, a 1996 GT Edge, and the 2013 reissue heritage edition. Both are crazy comfortable. The carbon GTR is unforgiving and harsh. Of course, much of it has to do with tire size and pressure, saddle and rider weight.
“Just go to the bathroom before your ride...” 😂😂😂
Bravo. I just bought a Pashley-Morgan 110, Reynolds 725. Utterly wonderful steel bike.
Your voice sounds like it is made of steel. Nice vid, bud. Lookin sharp, and hip.
hey zach, i've been enjoying your videos since 2016, so i've kind of begun to stop watching your content. we know your preferences pretty thoroughly by now, but you keep coming out with these. one thing i value highly about your content is that you have a high degree of autonomy and will go whatever direction you care about. so i don't need for you to cater to us, but i thought i would give some simple feedback.
Love my 1973 Gitane (steel) … still looks almost new
I have a 71 TdF which I bought new 4/1/71 ( I have the receipt) . It has more miles on it than I care to count. It has been upgraded over the years and it rides like a dream. Old french steel , can't beat it.
I have chromoly fixie... thats amazing..
The frame is the heart and soul of a bicycle....it matters
mate, those brake-levers are just absolutely gorgeous
I agree with practically everything you said. I once was a weight weenie and all it got me was parts that would break a lot and end up having to replace more often. My last bike purchase was the most expensive at more than $8000 and because of that expense I wanted a bike that was going to last so I chose Titanium. I now have a beautiful 19 Lbs. bike that rides like a dream and as long as it doesn't get stolen will last the rest of my riding days.
Gunnar Roadie, just absolute pleasure to ride. Fast, great handling, solid as a BMW seven series riding downhil @ 50 mph. Everything about this hand crafted steel bike inspires confidence and joy when riding.
Great video. My son rides a 1985 Murray that I upcycled years ago. It's a department store bike and hi tensile steel, but it still rides great 36 years later. The only work that I've done to it is swapped out the steel rims for aluminum rims. When the rear derailleur failed, I had Ray's Cycle in Vacaville install a new one for $45 parts and labor.
I own 3 steel bikes. 83’ Stump Jumper , 93’ XO2, and a 12’ Surly LHT. The Bridgestone XO2 is purple like the one in your video. I did ride a titanium frame once and was surprised at the “flexyness” of it. Aluminum is good for a kids bike. The carbon has come a long way. Carbon forks on cyclocross bikes is common. But once it’s even a little cracked, it’s toast. It shatters with no warning. So many great steel frame builders out there today, just go on IG #steelbike 🤤 Great looking bikes on this video! Thanks.
Still riding my Benotto 850 I bought in the summer of 1987...Columbus high tensile Zeta tubes...Still rides great!!!
Stiffness isn't always the best thing. It hurts your knees on long rides because the applied force is high over a short arc length compared to a flexible frame. People make the mistake of confusing flexibility for hysteresis. A good example of the difference is a strip of latex rubber compared to vulcanized tire rubber. The latex is less stiff than a tire, but it releases its energy more efficiently after being stretched than the stiff tire rubber (Latex whips back to its original shape fast = Low Hysteresis; Tire Rubber doesn't return to the original shape as fast = High(er) Hysteresis)
excellent comment and observation
The one drawback I've seen is that the top tube of steel bikes isn't diagonal as in a Giant TCR bike design. Instead, its very flat and parallel to the ground. It makes it harder to find good enough top tube to inseam clearance.
agreed, most bikes are 23 inch frame, made for 5'10" +taller
I've got 11 bikes all of which have steel frames. Their year of manufature goes from 1947 to 2009. The best riding bike of the collection is a 1950 Bates BAR. Two of the bikes have been in wrecks and needed repairs; no problem. Mark Nobilette repaired them and they are as good as new.
i choose aluminium not because of weight reasons, but because it does not rust, my Mountenbike has like double the weight of yours...... ok it is an e-mtb......
If you use your bike to commute during the winter this is definitely something to consider. I've had steel frames crack due to corrosion.
Amen!! great vid . very well articulated. Love the San Rensho, Beautiful Bike!!
Been up in the air about purchasing new bike. Still riding old Cannnondale from the 80s. Shifts on frame. Believe you have convinced me to go steel.
Thank you for your excellent commentary on the advantages of using a steel bike frame. You pretty much covered everything on the subject. The only thing I'd add is that steel seems to have optimum stiffness, damps transient vibration while being economically affordable.
Currently riding a 25+ year old custom 58cm track bike w/ Reynolds 'Competition 531' steel tubing, full Campy drive train, hubs & rims, 3TTT drop bar & stem, and a Brooks Pro leather saddle. Also running a Suntour Superbe Pro front brake with a bar end shifter w/o its' ratchet as the brake lever.
To answer your request on what types of steel ... I'm familiar with Ishiwata 022, Columbus SL, & Reynolds 501 / 531. All are quite good, but the 531 feels the best to me.
Where can I send you photos of my ride?
I love steel bikes I've had aluminum and carbon and a mix of the two but I love the stiffness. Not gonna say what my favorites are cause I don't want them going extinct..
Bring back more 'fixie points'!! I understand you feel bad being negative, but I don't think you should, especially because viewers have to volunteer their builds knowing they'll be poked fun at. I know those videos in particular allowed me to explore the culture of fixed gear riding and to get an idea of best practices for fixed riding and components, but in a lighthearted and funny way.
Very good. Thanks. This is one of the most intelligent bicycle vids around.
If it's got two wheels I'm good to go. I've never been someone that's die hard one or the other.
Good discussion, I've never owned a carbon bike but maybe someday. I had never heard of planing before but what you described is true for me, I have 10 bikes, 6 steel, 4 aluminum and I have experienced planing on all of them. Some days it just seems like I could ride forever when that exact gear/cadence combination is found, its hard not to accelerate and just keep going. Thanks.
Back in 2000 I had a Bianchi with carbon-fiber forks that shattered just going over a railroad crossing. The bike shop said I was too heavy for the bike. I was 5'6" tall and weighed about 150-155 pounds. A representative from Bianchi gave me a bunch of free gear and had the bike shop replace the forks. I'll never ride anything but steel all around.
I've had that bike before
ohhhhh
Agreed! Great video.
Recreation cyclists do not need carbon racing bikes !!!! Stupid idea !!!! It's like a car owner starting to drive a Formula 1 car !!!!????
I'm fat & old.
I still ride my '95 Trek 750 with lugged steel frame.. (not as much as I should) .. the same one I bought in '95 when I was young & lean. Commuted & toured all over with it. It's indestructable and comfortable... same geometry as their 520 tourer, if I remember right .....
steel is the best material
Not taking issue with any of his points, but a fair assessment would include other disadvantages other than weight. For example: rust. I have a fifteen year aluminum frame bike that I'm planning on getting at least another five years out of. I've had one crash and numerous derailing of the chainring to the inside. This has resulted in several inconspicuous places where the paint has chipped off. The bike still looks pretty good so I have no inclination to repaint and I don't have to worry about rust.
Alot of misinformed information with the biased of steel.
If carbon is soo unreliable then try to get the airliners to convert from carbon to steel since thats a pretty relevant case affecting thousands of people a day who fly.
Try telling all of the pro mtb'er that really put their life's on the line that their $5k carbon frame is taking a chance because of how biased we are towards steel that they should be using steel instead.
Try saying that the 1-2lb difference from steel is marginal on a road or mtb bike since they also incorporate alot more parts than a fixed gear. Convert everything on those bikes that are alluminum or carbon to steel and see how much that 1-2 so-called marginal difference goes up. A 5700 groupset that came out a few years ago weighs 723g. Convert all of the individual parts of that groupset to steel and it adds up.
How about the alluminum rims that add to rotational weight. If alluminum wasn't reliable then why waste our time with all the advancements? Where's all the rims that fall apart from this very delicate alloy.
Crap alluminum and crap carbon are what's bad. Good carbon and good alluminum will last forever just like steel. Forever as in the conditions the avg person puts them through. Of course carbon and alluminum will have a shorter lifespan than steel for a pro but we aren't talking about pros. We are generalizing things by talking about the general public who rides for the fun of it.
Bet you anything that if this guy wasn't getting paid for his videos then he'd clearly be saying something else. That's if he would even continue making videos at all... For free.
Airliners and bicycles are in two different leagues of engineering. Yes, airliners use carbon (not for the vast majority of structural components, but I digress), but the engineering and manufacturing quality that goes into an airplane is at such an astronomically higher level, it might as well be a different material. Seriously, check out Hambini's UA-cam channel and see how many carbon frames from reputable brands are total shit. Aerospace use of carbon is irrelevant here.
Carbon MTB frames are also a lot different to road or track frames. They're built to be durable, while road frames are built to be light. Besides, even aluminium frames are considered to be wayyyy more durable than carbon ones in the MTB world.
I'm still not sure how you managed to miss the fact that this video is about frames, not complete bikes. The whole point about the weight was in regards to the frameset, genius.
Also, aluminium and carbon definitely will not last as long as steel. Carbon tends to lose integrity when the resin that holds it together ages, and delamination can also be a factor. Aluminium fatigues and develops microfractures. It's pretty well documented that steel does indeed outlast the other two, unless it rusts.
@@MarchuxProductions
1. The video poster was generalizing the differences with the 3 different materials (Carbon, Steel, Alum). This generalization gives justification to what audience he was marketing the video towards being the general public.
2. If you rewatch the video and thoroughly analyze it more then you will see that he does mention bike "Materials" and "Stuff". He even goes as far as saying at 01:43 "The weight of the ENTIRE bike system". Clearly this video was not just intended for the frameset..... Genius
3. Please show me any examples in the Road bike industry for a typical end user that owns a 'quality' alum/carbon frameset that does long distant rides like the video poster or anyone with a 'quality' MTB allum/carbon frame from their weekend warrior escapades that has experienced frame fatigue to the point where it has become an overwhelming life threatening risk factor at a massive scale? If anything this would be quite pronounced with the low budget constructed aluminum bikes that are offered at the big box stores. That simply is not the case.
I would say that a good portion of issues come from the inexperienced lazy DIY that work on their own bikes at home that don't properly torque components down per spec adding additional stress to the delicate frame material that later on experience a fracture due to their handywork. Then there's the so-called bike mechanics at the local shops that are low paid and could care less about their job that also over torque causing the client to experience a frame fracture later on. It's not like every shop requires their technicians to be UBI or BBI certified since those are the 2 largest institutes in America in this field. Nor is there a predominant amount of bicycle institutes in general across America to say the least just for the assurance that the technician are more competent. Instead what you get apart from an institurtional assurance are either the inhouse certifications by either course or simply by word. It's almost the same thing as Geek Squad. It's simply nowhere near the same scrutinized requirements involved with Automotive, Aerospace, Marine. Therefore with this type of incompetence and/or low pay, you can be assured of lots of shop 'technicians' to be a factor to why frames would fracture under 'normal' stress.
4. I will agree that steel and alum will degrade overtime however carbon CAN last indefinitely as long as you don't crash or abuse the frame. Aluminum will degrade faster than steel but when has this been a problem with the general public having their bikes for years?
I still ride my 1980 Panasonic DX 2000 converted to single speed. I also have a 3 year old carbon Specialized gravel bike, I'm hoping to sell this summer. I'll never sell the Panasonic.
I have a wonderful old steel bike, what I mean is that it flies when you touch the peddles. People say of high tensile steel bikes is that the bike feels "alive", this is very true. It was made in early 1946 so the Reynolds 531 steel was a new aircraft steel that was reserved for the war until then. What makes it so efficient is the long wheelbase so that the bike seems to fly over the bumps in the road (still break spokes of cause and most of the front spokes have been replaced). The transmission is very efficient Sturmey-Archer 4 speed thin oil lubricated which makes the bikes transmission much lighter than most bikes and the same as a super bike. The tires are high pressure 1 1/4" (32mm) wide this also makes a difference.
These Raleigh bikes were sold to last 100 years with an indefinite guarantee on defective parts.
The gears change as easily as a switch none of the hassle of a derailleur gear and were available in close medium or wide spacing at the time. My hub is the wide spacing but the sport cyclist Reg Harris used a Medium spacing hub on this bike. Every time I have got on the bike over the past 50 years since dad gave me his bike there has been a lovely wow this bike just wants to go feeling about it.
The bike is a Lenton sports.
A nice bike, I remember 3 speed Sturmey Archer hubs working quite well and much better than the equivalent Shimano 3 speed hubs
@@truthseeker8483
Modern bikes are generally lubricated with grease so they don't roll so easily at speed. British bikes made 3 speed hubs usually are a bit more notchy still easy though there is an internal alignment issue I understand. My four speed changes as Sturmey-Archer describes you keep peddling or applying slight pressure in a forward direction and the gear changes in a moment. With the most reliable type the three speed you usually need to move the peddle backwards as you change gear.
The oldest 1902 ones don't slip if the cable is not correctly adjusted, I understand. They are heaver than 1Kg of hubs like my more modern 1950 hub.
blog.andrew-lohmann.me.uk/2018/10/lenton-sports-bicycle.html
Keep it real Keep it steel......they go on forever
I got hit by a car in early December last year. Only thing bent was my finger and my fenders. Getcha self a steelie. ;D
I like how you completely get a hard on for steel bikes... lol
You know he rides his Wabi every night 😏
Had a Chris King “Cielo” for 6 years now. Absolutely stunning. Fantastic ride, fairly light 16.5lbs and a man with a welding torch can repair it if the need ever arises. I had 2 Trek Madones crack on me and I’m very careful with my rides and riding. Would wholeheartedly recommend.
Back in the early seventies I owned an "International" bicycle with Reynolds 531 chrome moly steel frame with brazed lugs. Campy accessories. a great value back then at about $125 on sale in a shop in thousand Oaks, CA.
Universal were a good quality brand, I miss the one I had many years ago
@@truthseeker8483 - International, like the trucks.
@@scootergeorge9576 Oops haha :-D
I raced pro on steel, a bike built to my specifications in the 1980's. There is talk of high tech steel, that is stronger and lighter than carbon, but have not seen it in production yet. The problem remains with steel though, bottom bracket flex so bad the chain will drag on a properly adjusted front derailleur when climbing or accelerating. Today I like aluminum with steel curved rake forks, best of all worlds. There is no reason to buy an all steel bike today, the aluminum frame/steel fork is the finest bikes for your money today.
you just need to lose weight buddy, there's a reason high end bikes don't use aluminium, it's cheap crap. titanium or steel is the only way to go
I concur.
I'm a former staff member of Bicycling Magazine, and Bicycle Guide Magazine, 1982/86.
I rode the best of the best from that era, from Japan, Italy, France, England, and quite a few handmade in. USA. Each country has its strength and weaknesses.
The most amazing bike of all was a Pinarello, the same model that Alexi Grewall used to win the '84 Olympic road race... it had that perfect springiness... you could never ride that bike fast enough... it pushed you to ride faster... I wanted one, but could never afford it.
I saw your 3Rensho... Yoshi Kono is a great builder. I have a bike made by him that was a prototype for Specialized, when they were thinking of adding bicycles to their accessories product line. Of all my bikes, I've the most miles on this one.
Specialized had the magazine road test it, I rode it, was smitten, and also surprised that they would sell it to me, with front and rear racks and panniers... I still ride it, a lot.... no index shifters either.... like playing a fretless sting instrument.
My other favorite bike is a Bruce Gordon... like the Pinarello, it just jumps...
I've a custom Fat Chance from '85, one of the few that were made back then. It is a very light bike, made with a Tange tube set...
Thanks for this video...
How did you make a video about the benefits and superiority of steel bikes and not mention that quality steel bikes are extremely thin walled, and the superior ones use double and triple butting? There is so much disparity between a junk 70's Huffy dept. store bike and high quality steel frames, that it's a bit disingenuous to just characterize steel as better. Finally, though I appreciate your fandom of steel, you might be missing all the benefits of aluminum and carbon because it's lost on you how much better they are. If not mistreated, why assume a carbon or aluminum bike won't last? It's easy to dent or ruin a steel bike in an accident too.
My vintage Fuji uses high tensile steel I know that’s special!