Originally Posted by
LaVieClaire86
After testing a Kestrel CF frame and a Litespeed Ti frame, I was totally shocked that a seamless [which I assure you was big deal back then] steel bike could ride and handle the way the bike I mentioned performed. I had [light] Aluminum on the brain, at the time, so my friend's recommendation to try a high-quality steel bike was nearly disregarded...but damn if he wasn't right on the money: and that's why I'd like to rediscover that brand name again. Put another way, I've ridden a lot of different brands -- and all of them were "exotic" in those days -- so I was very surprised that a steel bike could perform like that. If I'm thinking about a "retro" bike, why not try to find one that has already proven to be a winner?
On the other hand, I'm sure that the frames have evolved over the past 20+ years, so I wouldn't be surprised to find a [new] high-quality bike that rides and handles great...but "retro" is the key word here. Thanks very much for the post.
Seamless wasnt a big deal in the 90s. It wasnt a big deal in the later 80s even. For example, Tange Infinity has proven through the years to be just as reliable as any seamless tubing with the same butting profile.
You are waxing poetically about what was cutting edge from 3 decades ago- as you mention, things have changed.
If you want a steel frame, cool. Have at it. All my road, gravel, and touring bikes are steel frames so I certainly wont talk you out of it. But mine are steel mostly because I like the aesthetic and ease of build since I build all my frames. I dont clutch to any misconceptions about steel being inherently more comfortable or better performing or whatever. All that is design- frame geometry and tubing choices are critical for any frame you buy whether its steel, carbon, aluminum, or titanium.
Go get yourself an old frame, but if you want it to ride like you remember then you better buy one that has the geometry and tube butting that the bike you remember had.