High-end steel options?
 

I'm on the lookout for a new high-end steel CX/gravel frameset or complete bike with discs. I'd like Reynolds 853 tubing or equivalent, so I thought I'd throw my current shortlist up here to see if I'm overlooking anything. Please chime in if you know of something I should also be considering. TIA.

- All-City Macho King. Reynolds 853 and a CX-specific bike, which I might lean toward b/c I may try some more races.
- Voodoo Rada. Also Reynolds 853. This one's more of a gravel setup, but wow what a nice looking bike. The challenge will be finding one to test ride.
- Ritchey Swiss Cross Disc. A classic. Certainly in the top 2 or 3 on my list.
- Ritchey Outback. A gravel version of the Swiss Cross. The more I look at this one, the more I like it. And the 2019 will come in navy blue, which looks really nice.
- Genesis Croix de Fer. Another 853 offering. I'm curious about whether I could put a carbon fork on this one (and if so which ones). Here's a link to some pics of this frame, for reference:
https://bikerumor.com/2018/03/06/gen...ing-road-bike/

Anything else?
Thanks!

The Genesis is a 1 1/8 straight steerer so limiting in the forks that will fit, most are 1 1/8-1 1/2 tapered. There are carbon 1 1/8 forks but mostly you will find they are quick release rather than through axle. Whiskey makes one, China makes a bunch :) Ebay is your friend.

Van Dessel WTF 853LTD

Niner RLT 9 has a 853 steel option

Crust Dreamer frameset?

Fairlight Secan (UK) frameset.

If your budget is up there, you could do custom through a local framebuilder.

Rodeo Labs Flaanimal. Even cooler since it's local to you.

Flaanimal is Reynolds 725 tubing. Still a nice frameset, just not 853 per OP.

+1

2018 frames are $899 at Competitive Cyclist right now.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/n...-frameset-2018


-Tim-

Neither is the Ritchey Swiss Cross. They're "high-end", per the title.

OOOOPH! They have my size..crap..

Thanks for all the replies so far, everyone -- great suggestions, and some offerings that I've never even heard of!

Leaning somewhat toward a Macho King frameset, but I just read that the rear triangle is 4130 chromoly -- is that standard practice?

The Niner is *really* tempting at that price. Hmm.

On the custom side, Mosaic here in Boulder does steel frames, but they're a bit out of my price range. There are some showroom frames on eBay right now for a lot less, but they're all 54cm instead of 56. Nice looking frame sets though!

You don't like the Flaanimal? Maybe you should go down there and visit the guys. They are super active and have quite the following built up, so there'd be lots of events to participate in. Man, if I lived anywhere near Denver I'd be all over that.

Definitely not ruling anything out. It looks a little more on the adventure bike side of the spectrum vs. the cyclocross side, but my thinking is evolving as to where on that spectrum I want to end up. Initially I was thinking more of a CX bike that I could use for both road riding, some (poor attempts at) cyclocross racing, and some gravel riding. Now I'm leaning more toward the middle, which I guess would be a gravel bike. We'll see.

I hear ya. I think we've all been there. It really depends on what type of "gravel" you'll be riding the most and how serious you are about the pavement road riding part of the equation. I myself like the raw speed and agility of a true road bike on the road. A cx or gravel bike just wouldn't do it for me. If I really could only have one bike it would be the best and lightest carbon CX bike I could find, but if you are budget constrained that might not be in the cards.

Rock Lobster Cycles


Brent

I'm surprised Waterford and Gunnar haven't come up yet. Definitely great steel frames.

https://waterfordbikes.com/now/home....ommand=showall

Custom Bicycle Frames from Gunnar Cycles USA

+1 on Waterford and Gunnar, and if you are near Boulder you should visit Vecchios, they can tell you about the options, stock vs custom etc. Also, it is a great shop and fun to visit.

its fairly common to see the main triangle built with a flashy tubeset and the stays be built with a different type of tubes.
different does not mean worse. Different simply means different.

if it's done right, the different tubes can be an advantage, depending on the builder's goals and the rider's needs.

in terms of all city, it's most likely done to keep the price under a certain tier. So cost avoidance. I say this because the frames are built for all types of riders and therefore not spec'd for any individual.

when it comes to custom or semicustom, the stays can be selected to fit the rider and riding style. They can be thinner for more flex, thicker for less flex, shaped for flex, lighter for a small rider, etc etc.

also, 853 chainstays are really tough to bend and square due to the steels inherent structure. Ive tried bending 853 stays then Columbus Zona stays, then Reynolds 531 stays when they are all in the bottom bracket shell but not yet brazed to seatstays.
The difference between bending each is noticable.

4130 stays will be perfectly fine. You may save 40g by using some lighter tubes, sure, but is that needed and beneficial? Unless you can confidently say its needed, enjoy the bike as it is.

If you really want high end steel then have R+E Cycles in Seattle build you a frame from True Temper S3 tubes. Look at the Phinney Ridge model.

Custom Bicycles | Rodriguez Bicycles and Tandems in Seattle

S3 tubes are about as high end as steel gets. My R+E fixed gear frame is 1463 grams (3.23 Lb).

https://www.pedalroom.com/bike/2018-...z-custom-37179

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b0a956f7eb.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...af2eaeae12.jpg

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...504c467148.jpg


-Tim-

Black Mountain MCD
Mike specs his own steel. Keeps it under wraps.
He has fans all over Bike Forums.

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/w...NhdDEwMDE3MQ==

https://cdn.wilier.com/sites/default...ant-jaroon.jpg

That won't be possible, since True Temper no longer makes any bicycle frame tubes.

I was going to post that, but I still see people building with tubes that haven't been made for 20 years. R+E built so many TTemper bikes, it wouldn't surprise me if they didn't stock up before the end. We had about a year's warning. I considered stocking up on their lightweight steerer tubes, but I didn't

I have always thought that there are tubes from other companies that are just as good as the S3 tubes. I think mtb builders are the ones that miss TT the most.

http://www.henryjames.com/true-tempe...eout-sale.html

TT tubes are still for sale. And as mentioned, many builders have inventory.

whether S3 is a good tubeset to build a gravel bike with is certsinly debatable based on riding style and weight, but it's still avaiable if its determined to be good for the rider.