Why is steel out of favour?
#76
Senior Member
Thyssenkrup is doing exactly this with steel:
https://bikerumor.com/2019/07/18/thy...tweight-steel/
And to say welding tubes together is outdated is simply wrong. Welding air hardening steels increases strength at the heat-affected zone, avoiding many of the shortcomings of previous steel tubes. Welding metals is far from something manufacturers don't do any more.
And hydroformed frames are STILL WELDED! Thyssendrup welds the two halves of the frames together. So much for "outdated" manufacturing processes!
https://bikerumor.com/2019/07/18/thy...tweight-steel/
And to say welding tubes together is outdated is simply wrong. Welding air hardening steels increases strength at the heat-affected zone, avoiding many of the shortcomings of previous steel tubes. Welding metals is far from something manufacturers don't do any more.
And hydroformed frames are STILL WELDED! Thyssendrup welds the two halves of the frames together. So much for "outdated" manufacturing processes!
And yes welding is certainly not outdated! Brazing with oxy-acetylene torches largely is outside the world of framebuilding however. But it still works very well especially on bikes.
#77
Senior Member
I didn't say welding is outdated. I said welding off the shelf tubes together is outdated. The link you had about Thyssenkrupp developing pressed/formed steel is exactly what I was talking about- this is the way forward for steel. Hopefully their technology will lead somewhere.
Meanwhile for today's craft steel frame makers, they should start doing more of this:
Meanwhile for today's craft steel frame makers, they should start doing more of this:
#78
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Note - I have two steel bikes and two CF. The two steels are in a three-way tie with one of the CFs for 'Favorite Bike'. Each one has the edge for favorite till I ride one of the others. The other CF bike? Close Fourth. But definitely fourth.
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#79
Perhaps, but a 13 year old, high end steel bike stands at nearly the pinnacle of steel frame development, whereas by comparison carbon fiber is a much newer technology that has changed considerably in the last 13 years. And of course there's a substantial amount of nostalgia for steel - see this thread for example - that doesn't exist for CF. Yet.
Note - I have two steel bikes and two CF. The two steels are in a three-way tie with one of the CFs for 'Favorite Bike'. Each one has the edge for favorite till I ride one of the others. The other CF bike? Close Fourth. But definitely fourth.
Note - I have two steel bikes and two CF. The two steels are in a three-way tie with one of the CFs for 'Favorite Bike'. Each one has the edge for favorite till I ride one of the others. The other CF bike? Close Fourth. But definitely fourth.
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#80
Senior Member
Carbon bikes have been on the market for over 30 years and many of the mass-produced brands are still reliably on the road such as the classic Trek 5500. Lastly, since almost all of the current higher-end steel road bikes utilize carbon forks and other critical carbon components will you banish them to the wall as well in 13 years?
#81
Senior Member
Not so sure about that, bicycle history is littered with standards that are no longer supported; Italian bottom brackets, 120mm rear wheel spacing, freewheels, various seat post sizes, down-tube indexed shifters, etc. There are always workarounds and those will exist in the future for current technology.
Carbon bikes have been on the market for over 30 years and many of the mass-produced brands are still reliably on the road such as the classic Trek 5500. Lastly, since almost all of the current higher-end steel road bikes utilize carbon forks and other critical carbon components will you banish them to the wall as well in 13 years?
Carbon bikes have been on the market for over 30 years and many of the mass-produced brands are still reliably on the road such as the classic Trek 5500. Lastly, since almost all of the current higher-end steel road bikes utilize carbon forks and other critical carbon components will you banish them to the wall as well in 13 years?
Not sure where you are getting your info from...
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#83
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Not so sure about that, bicycle history is littered with standards that are no longer supported; Italian bottom brackets, 120mm rear wheel spacing, freewheels, various seat post sizes, down-tube indexed shifters, etc. There are always workarounds and those will exist in the future for current technology.
Carbon bikes have been on the market for over 30 years and many of the mass-produced brands are still reliably on the road such as the classic Trek 5500. Lastly, since almost all of the current higher-end steel road bikes utilize carbon forks and other critical carbon components will you banish them to the wall as well in 13 years?
Carbon bikes have been on the market for over 30 years and many of the mass-produced brands are still reliably on the road such as the classic Trek 5500. Lastly, since almost all of the current higher-end steel road bikes utilize carbon forks and other critical carbon components will you banish them to the wall as well in 13 years?
Most of the components will be fine just like most of the bikes probably will, the standards are a concern of mine also but we’ll see how it all washes in a couple years
#84
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Steel has been around awhile. I don't think it is going out of favour anytime. I don't have an aluminum or carbon bike in my garage, there have been a couple pass through, but none have stuck around.
#85
Senior Member
I think you missed my point trying to prove yours. There will always be workarounds for legacy technologies and this will continue going forward. Solutions to press-fit BB's or whatever items you are concerned do and will exist.
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#89
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Rode this bad boy today just for the helluvit. Not a round tube to be found. The cows liked it but wanted to know about the saddle. I told them synthetic.
After getting a new wheel set with Conti 5000s for the carbon, the Gatorskins will be going. Enjoy the differences between the bikes.
Is that a leather saddle?
After getting a new wheel set with Conti 5000s for the carbon, the Gatorskins will be going. Enjoy the differences between the bikes.
Is that a leather saddle?
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#91
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Not to me, of course, but as I mentioned I love my steel bikes, too, even though the youngest is twice as old as that sweet Serotta.
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#93
#94
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#95
Senior Member
Please explain. To my knowledge, the last ten years have brought no advancements in the metallurgy of bike frames nor in the methods used for assembling them.
#96
Full Member
I really like my modern steel bike. Here are some thoughts on design...
https://fairlightcycles.com/strael-c...v=79cba1185463
https://fairlightcycles.com/strael-c...v=79cba1185463
Last edited by RockiesDad; 09-25-20 at 03:04 PM.
#98
Honestly, would you pick a 12k Giant, Specialzed or Trek over that gorgeous, custom, handmade Italian beauty?
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/reviews/66...rco-xcr-review
Last edited by Mulberry20; 09-25-20 at 04:29 PM.
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#100
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No my point is that the peak of steel bike production (in terms of quality) was not 50, 20 or 10 years ago. The modern steel bikes that are being made are lighter, stiffer, more comfortable and I would argue more beautiful than ever.