Why was Chromoly phased out?
#26
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Add Rayleigh and Co-Motion to the list of chromoly bikes still being made. All models of Co-Motion touring bikes are chromoly.
Go to a touring bike site and there is a decided steel bias. Standard recipe on Crazy guy on a Bike: steel frames and forks, bar end shifters, Brooks saddles and Swalbe marathon tires. Bonus points if your racks are chromoly as well (Tubus brand). Double bonus points for 8 speed drivetrains.
Go to a touring bike site and there is a decided steel bias. Standard recipe on Crazy guy on a Bike: steel frames and forks, bar end shifters, Brooks saddles and Swalbe marathon tires. Bonus points if your racks are chromoly as well (Tubus brand). Double bonus points for 8 speed drivetrains.
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#28
#29
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#30
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Add Rayleigh and Co-Motion to the list of chromoly bikes still being made. All models of Co-Motion touring bikes are chromoly.
Go to a touring bike site and there is a decided steel bias. Standard recipe on Crazy guy on a Bike: steel frames and forks, bar end shifters, Brooks saddles and Swalbe marathon tires. Bonus points if your racks are chromoly as well (Tubus brand). Double bonus points for 8 speed drivetrains.
Go to a touring bike site and there is a decided steel bias. Standard recipe on Crazy guy on a Bike: steel frames and forks, bar end shifters, Brooks saddles and Swalbe marathon tires. Bonus points if your racks are chromoly as well (Tubus brand). Double bonus points for 8 speed drivetrains.
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Looks like 3 sets of Marathon tires though, plus Ortlieb bags, the other CGOAB obsession.
Shoot, looks like two of those guys have brifters!! hard to believe they are CGOAB members in good standing. Did you photo shop that?
Shoot, looks like two of those guys have brifters!! hard to believe they are CGOAB members in good standing. Did you photo shop that?
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#32
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Lest we all forget: Steel is Real
Real Nostalgic
Real Heavy
Real Expensive
And be careful about that Carbon Fiber cuase it assplodes. And watch out for your Aluminum frame bending in half.
Real Nostalgic
Real Heavy
Real Expensive
And be careful about that Carbon Fiber cuase it assplodes. And watch out for your Aluminum frame bending in half.
#33
Banned
I wouldn't say it has been phase out. Still lots of bikes still being made with chromoly steel. It goes by different brand names, like 4130, Reynolds 853 tubing and what not. Surly has their own name for the chromoly tubing they use, I think it is Natch
From what I have read aluminum frames can be cheaper to manufacture. At the price point of the bike you posted they are probably mostly aluminium frames.
Look for a touring bike and I would guess the majority of them will be steel.
From what I have read aluminum frames can be cheaper to manufacture. At the price point of the bike you posted they are probably mostly aluminium frames.
Look for a touring bike and I would guess the majority of them will be steel.
you can look up.. it has no trademark..
a range of tolerances is listed here.
- 0.28 - 0.33% Carbon
- 0.8 - 1.1% Chromium
- 0.7 - 0.9% Manganese
- 0.15 - 0.25% Molybdenum
- ≤ 0.035% Phosphorus
- 0.15 - 0.35% Silicon
- ≤ 0.04% Sulfur
- The rest is Iron, of course.
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-26-20 at 12:21 PM.
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#34
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Surly, Soma, Black Mountain, All City, Cinelli all deal exclusively or almost entirely in steel frames.
You also have mass produced steel offerings by niner, bianchi, colnago, fuji, fairlight, ribble, ritchey, twin six, and many more.
After that, you come to the higher costing frames that are custom built by dozens of brands across North America and Europe. Dozens.
So yes, besides all the others, Surly is the last steel bikes standing.
You also have mass produced steel offerings by niner, bianchi, colnago, fuji, fairlight, ribble, ritchey, twin six, and many more.
After that, you come to the higher costing frames that are custom built by dozens of brands across North America and Europe. Dozens.
So yes, besides all the others, Surly is the last steel bikes standing.
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#35
Banned
Many brands of bikes use the contract manufacturing resources of Maxway, Ltd TW .
& import & warehouse them for distribution to your Local Shop..
Surly is a customer of Maxway. as is their Salsa brand too..
..
..
& import & warehouse them for distribution to your Local Shop..
Surly is a customer of Maxway. as is their Salsa brand too..
..
..
Last edited by fietsbob; 06-26-20 at 12:32 PM.
#36
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I thought my carbon frame bike had some issues when riding downhill on a rough concrete surface. Then, I remembered I was use to riding my Reynolds 853 steel frame down the same rough road and none of the harshness was present. Quality steel just has a better ride quality IMHO.
#37
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It seems the factory frame sticker is missing. How can I tell if my bike is chromoly?
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#38
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Go to a touring bike site and there is a decided steel bias. Standard recipe on Crazy guy on a Bike: steel frames and forks, bar end shifters, Brooks saddles and Swalbe marathon tires. Bonus points if your racks are chromoly as well (Tubus brand). Double bonus points for 8 speed drivetrains.
In reality, repairing a modern, high quality, thin walled steel bike isn’t something that “any idiot with a welder” can do. It’s a very thin material that requires a lot of skill to do without just burning holes in the metal. I’ve known this for nearly 40 years now based on a repair done on a long ago discarded mountain bike. The welder is a very competent welder and was amazed at how thin the steel was and how easy it would be to burn through.
The same welder, by the way, repaired a broken aluminum frame. It was much easier and, contrary to common knowledge, was permanent. I actually sold that bike rather then discarding it.
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#40
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Man, people seem wound a little tight around here.
Wasn't passing opinions on which was better or why, just sharing information. My Rayleigh Tamland is steel, not a co-motion but not a low end bike either.
Oh and yes I know 4130 is an alloy designation. Was only trying to key the OP into some of the acronyms he might see to know he was looking at chromoly bikes.
Since the site seems to be populated with detail oriented braniacs, perhaps one of you can tell me what word is used to describe how well a material transfers vibration? I'm well acquainted with material property terms like nil ductility temperature and malleability, but is there a similar term for transmitting vibration?
Reason I ask is I do a lot of metal working in my garage. I commonly bend steel by clamping it in a vice, pressing one end with my left hand than using a hammer to bend it. The first time I tried that with a piece of aluminum I thought the bones in my left hand all the way to my wrist were going to shatter, the aluminum transferred the vibration unlike anything I've ever experienced with a piece of steel. Had to use a block of wood to apply pressure on the aluminum.
Think maybe the speed of sound might give some clue as to an alloy's ability to transfer vibration?
Have to wonder if that is why some aluminum bikes ride so harsh.
Wasn't passing opinions on which was better or why, just sharing information. My Rayleigh Tamland is steel, not a co-motion but not a low end bike either.
Oh and yes I know 4130 is an alloy designation. Was only trying to key the OP into some of the acronyms he might see to know he was looking at chromoly bikes.
Since the site seems to be populated with detail oriented braniacs, perhaps one of you can tell me what word is used to describe how well a material transfers vibration? I'm well acquainted with material property terms like nil ductility temperature and malleability, but is there a similar term for transmitting vibration?
Reason I ask is I do a lot of metal working in my garage. I commonly bend steel by clamping it in a vice, pressing one end with my left hand than using a hammer to bend it. The first time I tried that with a piece of aluminum I thought the bones in my left hand all the way to my wrist were going to shatter, the aluminum transferred the vibration unlike anything I've ever experienced with a piece of steel. Had to use a block of wood to apply pressure on the aluminum.
Think maybe the speed of sound might give some clue as to an alloy's ability to transfer vibration?
Have to wonder if that is why some aluminum bikes ride so harsh.
#41
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The OP said he doesnt see many cromo bikes and wondered why. You posted that Surly is mostly the last steel bikes standing.
I disagree and listed tons of brands that have steel frames still.
Your goalposts moved, which is typical of a cycco discussion.
I'm out.
#42
#43
If I want to run my bars low, I would have bought a 54. I wanted the bars at the lowest, even with my seat, and in reality, a little higher. I bought a 56. Had I bought the 54, I would have a lot of spacers.
They also "tweaked" the geometry to make it more nimble for general riding. They shortened the chain stays by 10mm. I bought my LHT because it had those nice long chain stays, because the bike is slightly more stable loaded at speed. Mine is dead stable at 45mph descents, fully loaded. Will the new one be? Who knows. The new frame looks nice, but it isn't the same as an original LHT. That is good or bad, depending on who is looking to buy it. It definitely looks like a nice frame overall though.
Last edited by phughes; 06-26-20 at 01:45 PM.
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#47
Senior Member
I have seen it. At first I was skeptical, but overall I think they did a decent job. I still like the original though. I thought it was funny that they said they increased the stack height because they saw so any builds with high stacks of spacers under the stem. My thought is if people bought the right size frame they wouldn't need so many spacers.
If I want to run my bars low, I would have bought a 54. I wanted the bars at the lowest, even with my seat, and in reality, a little higher. I bought a 56. Had I bought the 54, I would have a lot of spacers.
If I want to run my bars low, I would have bought a 54. I wanted the bars at the lowest, even with my seat, and in reality, a little higher. I bought a 56. Had I bought the 54, I would have a lot of spacers.
So personally I'm happy I can now get a frame that is high enough while the reach is reasonable.
#48
Senior Member
Steel may be heavier than aluminum and CF, but most riders I see would be better of taking 5 lbs off their bodies than 5 lbs off their bikes. That's not meant as criticism of my fellow riders. It is just an observation.
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#49
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A. A good 1990s steel racing bike is about 20 pounds, that's light enough for me.
B. I like the ride. I'm a long distance rider so that's pretty important to me.
C. To me, steel frames are just better looking than any of the others. That's totally an esthetic preference, so it can't really be argued either way, but I like to look at my steel bikes, and I don't really like the bulby look of carbon and aluminum bikes. For my needs, the performance issues are basically a wash, I'm pretty fast on what I ride.
D. YMMV and that's ok.
B. I like the ride. I'm a long distance rider so that's pretty important to me.
C. To me, steel frames are just better looking than any of the others. That's totally an esthetic preference, so it can't really be argued either way, but I like to look at my steel bikes, and I don't really like the bulby look of carbon and aluminum bikes. For my needs, the performance issues are basically a wash, I'm pretty fast on what I ride.
D. YMMV and that's ok.
#50
Senior Member
Definitely a lot of reasons for steel becoming a niche product in the cycling world. Not mentioned yet are geopolitical developments such as George W. Bush's 2002 steel tariffs designed to protect U.S. industry to shore up slumping economy and the economic effects of 9/11.
I really like steel, even entry level and middle of the road steel has virtue. (IMO, the same cannot be said for entry level aluminum which is seems harsh in all the wrong places.**) True, there is a weight penalty which I really only notice now that I have a sub-20-pound carbon bike. Yes, I could lose 5-pounds (or 20) but I like bourbon too much. My next bike will be a light custom steel build from Milwaukee Bicycle Company.
**My opinion only. Comment not meant to start a holy war here.
I really like steel, even entry level and middle of the road steel has virtue. (IMO, the same cannot be said for entry level aluminum which is seems harsh in all the wrong places.**) True, there is a weight penalty which I really only notice now that I have a sub-20-pound carbon bike. Yes, I could lose 5-pounds (or 20) but I like bourbon too much. My next bike will be a light custom steel build from Milwaukee Bicycle Company.
**My opinion only. Comment not meant to start a holy war here.
Last edited by powermatt99; 06-26-20 at 03:14 PM.