Steel bike

Steel is real 😄

Geometry, weight and overall style of frame design are what determine a bike's "purpose", not material. Carbon is very popular now as is Titanium but there are still plenty of folks riding around on steel. If you are willing to shell out the ducats for a high end frame from a manufacturer like IF or, Vicious or Serotta, you can even find some steel frames made from modern high-tech stuff like Reynolds 853 that is super light, comparible to aluminum in weight but 10 times superior in comfort.

NW

I thinking of getting a Pegorotti steel bike. I understand they produce great steel bikes.
Is there anything I should look out for in a steel bike before I actually buys it?

Steel is generally a little heavier(though not much) than the other materials, but it has a much longer service life(excepting titanium). Of the bikes I have, the steel frames feel more solid on the pedals in high power output, but feel is more controlled by design of the tubing and configuration.
For sustainability, steel has it over all of them. It can be welded if it cracks, repaired if it breaks. Only thing to watch for is rust. Treat it with rust preventives before entering service and you will have no problems. My steel roadie is going on 20 yrs and my steel mtb is going on 14 yrs.

I love my steel MTB, no shocks or extra [censored] on it. It rides like a dream with slick tires. Every autumn when I take it apart for a cleaning I also spray some rust proofing spray into the interior of the frame. No rust yet after 5 years.

Hi,

All my bikes are steel. I love them all. I race my steel road bike that is 18 years old now, it is holding up real good. I am also 250 pounds and mash big gears.

Pete

Kiara2K said:

I thinking of getting a Pegorotti steel bike. I understand they produce great steel bikes.
Is there anything I should look out for in a steel bike before I actually buys it?

To answer your question, no, not really--nothing you wouldn't consider while buying any other bike. Pegoretti, by the way, makes gorgeous frames. Good choice!

Kiara2K said:

I am thinking of buying a steel bike . My question is, are steel bike meant for long distance touring or for races ?
Anyone of you guys riding steel bike for races?

Thanks

I own a Pinarello Opera which is Dedacciai 16.5 EOM steel. It is plenty light and very responsive. It sprints as fast or faster than my aluminum Pinarello and I will definitely be racing it.

Thanks for all the info on steel bikes. Looks like steel bikes are great bike too.
I am going to get a steel bike soon.
Happy riding.

I have a 2000 LeMond Zurich. All steel. I prefer it to my carbon-fiber Scattante. Nothing rides like steel, especially for heavier riders like me.

i have been riding alloy bikes for a few years now but i still have a 1995 steel framed univega bike mtb, its a bit old-school but the ride is delicious...nice and springy with butted racelite 4130 tubing....i love it still.

My wife and I are sticking with aluminum. We are both light weight, under 150 lbs., and ride at a casual 10 miles per hour, give or take a mile per hour or two. The lighter weight of the aluminum is noticable, and makes for better traveling. IMO But for serious riders who really push a frame's abilities, I bet it WOULD be hard to beat steal.

NRW77 said:

Steel is real 😄

Geometry, weight and overall style of frame design are what determine a bike's "purpose", not material. Carbon is very popular now as is Titanium but there are still plenty of folks riding around on steel. If you are willing to shell out the ducats for a high end frame from a manufacturer like IF or, Vicious or Serotta, you can even find some steel frames made from modern high-tech stuff like Reynolds 853 that is super light, comparible to aluminum in weight but 10 times superior in comfort.

NW

I have a Reynolds 853 steel '02 Lemond Alpe D'Huez. It's the best riding bike I've ever ridden. Sure, there are lighter bikes; and if I raced for a living I suppose I would have a high zoot carbon bike so I could gain a few seconds on a climb. But this bike at 20~ lbs. is plenty light enough for the average cyclist.

I have a custom made steel bike and a Gios aluminium/carbon rig.
The steel unit is as good as the Gios. Comfort and durability of the steel means that it has become my main form of transport and the other bike kept for racing. The Gios geometry is such, that, it appears to be more responsive, but it is really minor. Many manufacturers are making great bikes of steel with the weight of other materials.
As mentioned before, steel is relatively easy to repair, but I too,recommend rust prevention as soon as you take delivery.
Good luck on your choice. Whichever bike you choose, good riding.🙂

Hi Oldtimer1

What would you say your custom steel frame weighs in at compared to your gios?

Also, what tubing is your custom job made of?

PS, I have a steel gios which I love, but thinking about replacing as I've had it a few years now. Just love that gios blue and chrome.😎

darrenf said:

Hi Oldtimer1

What would you say your custom steel frame weighs in at compared to your gios?

Also, what tubing is your custom job made of?

PS, I have a steel gios which I love, but thinking about replacing as I've had it a few years now. Just love that gios blue and chrome.😎

Hi DarrenF.
My steel bike is constructed from Nivachrome Columbus steel.
The steel bike weighs approx 8.2 kilos, the Gios 8 kilos.
The Gios I have is a A90 Ultralight. I guess that the colour was something akin to Henry Fords T model. You can have any colour as long as it's blue.
I find the quality of ride of the Gios extremely good. I race every weekend and it is comfortable on a long ride. Carbon forks appear to soak up most of the road shock but the frame is tight and responsive. As a mature ( insert-old) rider competing in Masters events, I find the geometry of the bike an asset.
I am rather biased in my view of the Gios, so an impartial views regarding the bike will not come from me.

I'm planning to get a new frame over the summer and it's going to be a steel frame made by Independent Fabrication http://www.ifbikes.com It's very light, strong, most of all, custom made. Some of my teammates use'em and they love it. It's little pricy.

sooray02 said:

I'm planning to get a new frame over the summer and it's going to be a steel frame made by Independent Fabrication http://www.ifbikes.com It's very light, strong, most of all, custom made. Some of my teammates use'em and they love it. It's little pricy.

You will never regret buying an IF. Mine has started to feel like an extention of my body, it's an incredible machine. Besides that they are a great company and it's easier to feel good about spending that kind of money on something you feel you not only have a personal attachment too, but the people who made the bike do as well.
As far as pricey goes, sure they aren't cheap but it's all relative. An IF Crown Jewel SE, steel with Reynolds Ouzo Pro fork and sterling silver headbadge sells for $1900 including the fitting process. You have to pay more than that for several mass produced aluminum framesets I can think of from European manufacturers, and I won't even get into the prices Serotta charges.
IF is definitely the way to go. Enjoy it!

NW

Kiara2K said:

I am thinking of buying a steel bike . My question is, are steel bike meant for long distance touring or for races ?
Anyone of you guys riding steel bike for races?

Thanks

Last year I had a Dellas Santa Columbus SLX NOS (new old stock) built up for me and love the ride , handling and light weight. See link. bobswoodshop.comDCP 1793.JPGOpen ↗
I own 4 bikes and all are steel, the one non-steel bike I had was aluminum Schwinn 927 Paramount Design but I never cared for the ride.
Then again being 60 I'm set in my ways and steel helps to these old bones from rattling.... Bob in Frisco bobswoodshop.comDCP 1820.JPGOpen ↗

After 10 + years riding aluminum, I purchased a colnago classic a few years back. Very comfortable ride on long distances and still able to maintain my average speed (not super--15-17mph). not much heavier than my last alu frame but wins in the comfort department. I haven't noticed much difference in my speed--but I can tell you this bike feels MUCH better than the alu I rode before.

maybe someday I will shell out for an IF--I've heard nothing but good things about them.