Duffeymt

Budget is $4,000 ideally, maybe up to $5,000. Riding style is weekend group rides, occasional fast solo rides, and group/charity centuries. No racing for me. I came from a carbon roadie and an aluminum tri bike but am seriously contemplating steel...

I do have an R3 on my mind just in case - I am going back and forth but am very interested in going steel or ti.

Seven and Serotta custom options are available, but those are just our of budget range, I beleive.

Interested to hear what people recommend.= given my budget.

mulliganvi

I can't speak to this bike from experience, but it sure looks fancy.

https://cielo.chrisking.com/bikes/sportif-details/

jwible

I have an '86 Ciocc Columbus tretubi in 56 or 57. Hand made Italian. DA and Ultegra / Ultegra 600 mix. Ofmega wheels. I'll see it to you for $4k.

JoelS

At that price point, I'd seriously be looking at a custom Guru steel frame.

sced

One like Scooper's.

thehammerdog

at that price seems you can get almost anything...Ritchey Road Logic https://www.ritcheylogic.com/dyn_prodfamily.php?k=600491

jrobe

I have an R3 and a steel Bianchi and enjoy both. I bought the steel bike to have it converted to a travel bike with S&S couplers so I can take it on trips.

I wouldn't buy a steel bike again though unless I had a specific goal I was trying to achieve. You could easily spend $5k on a custom steel frame and not like it as much as an R3.

Fred B

These bikes were each built for the price you are contemplating -



For details on the components - https://www.flickr.com/photos/7645270...in/photostream





For details on the components - https://www.flickr.com/photos/7645270...in/photostream

Latif

I've been riding a steel Seven Axiom that I picked up used, built in 2005, for the past three months and it's my dream ride and very well made. I've got a 2012 Spesh Sectuer which is a fine bike but I much prefer the Seven. I was very lucky that it fit me so well. If you order new which should be in your budget you'll get a custom fit as well.

surgeonstone

This baby would absolutely get my vote and my money. Love it. I also love steel. My main ride is a Merlin Ti/Carbon fiber from 2004 which is great. I also have a 1976 Freschi ( Emiliano Freschi was the chief frame builder for Pogliaghi bicycles, I believe, in Italy in the 70's). I still have it, perfect condition and though a bit heavier, is a great ride.
But for a new steel....this Baum has classic, great, unique and classy written all over it.
Heres the link....
https://www.baumcycles.com/bikes/ristretto

MetalPedaler

I'm with Fred B.! Get yourself a nice vintage Eye-talian or Frog bike with modern components. You can buy a darn nice vintage steel bike for $1500-$2000....so buy two!

chaadster

Very hot! Those are the fattest steel tubes on that Ristretto that I've ever seen!

I've still got a soft spot for Independent Fabrication's Crown Jewel, which at about $2.4k, could be built up within range if kept humble. Maybe the OP would like Andy Hampsten's Strada Bianca, which is in the same range, and an absolutely gorgeous bike.

HBxRider

Can someone school a newbie on what the benefits are of a steel frame on that high end budget? I'm assuming its for durability, longevity and people like classic looks. But how much difference is there between a $300 steel frame and a $3000 steel frame?

Bacciagalupe

OK, but... why?

To be more precise: Which road bikes have you used so far, and what changes are you hoping to accomplish with a different frame?

As noted, you can get a custom steel frame on your budget. But I'd say that unless you have unusual fit dimensions, you need to be able to articulate what you're looking for to really get the most out of it.

rebel1916

Nicer frames are lighter and hopefully better designed. The difference between a $300 frame of any material and a $1500 frame is likely to be noticeable. The difference between a $1500 and a $3000, less so. At least while riding. The $3000 frame may have some design elements that look purdy. Custom adds money and may be worth it for people with unusual dimensions. Steel is pretty much an aesthetic/nostalgia thing, although it is a relatively inexpensive way to get a custom ride. Claims of special durability and longevity are pretty much imaginary. A lightweight frame of any material is gonna have some compromises durability wise.

coasting 

Amazing how expensive steel bikes have become. I have a nice 531 tubed bike from early 1990s. Maybe buy one of these used.

marqueemoon

I'd go with a less glamorous name custom with Red and some handbuilt 28/32 wheels.

There are builders out there who don't charge silly prices for custom steel.

chaadster

While I don't necessarily disagree, I'm reluctant to distill the issue to just that. In my own experience, I've owned fairly nice aluminum framed MTBs from GT and Cannondale, and very nice steel framed MTBs from Bridgestone, Fat City, and DeKerf. Without projecting too much onto road bikes, where I have much less frame experience, when riding those MTBs at race pace, neither alu bike had the same kind of vibrant feel any of the steel bikes did. Granted the Fat and the Dekerf were considerably pricier, but even an MB-4 Bridgestone (Ritchey Logic tube set) had more "feel" than the Zaskar or M800.

Yes, it was also a long time ago, and in addition to alu tech changing quite a lot, so too the vagaries of memory!

Anyway, I guess I agree with you-- I love the svelte look of steel-- but I don't want to! I want for there to be a special magic to steel, but it may exist only in the rarest of cases!

One thing of recent interest in the development of steel road frames is the new Breezer Venturi. It's the first production post-weld heat treated road frame (or maybe it was first PWHT road frame with hydroformed steel tubes?), and it takes advantage of the PWHT process to drive up strength and durability. It's the same process that Odyssey revolutionized BMX when they released the 41 Thermal forks more than 15 years ago, and the same process that rocketed Sunday BMX frames to preeminence 10 or so years ago, so it definitely makes steel stronger and more durable.

I just picked one of the Breezers up, but haven't had a chance to really ride it yet, being that it's been a fairly snowy winter. Hopefully it will prove that my passion for steel is more than just aesthetics and nostalgia!

qcpmsame 

Either a Tomassinni steel or a custom built form one of the elite builders then do the components to your budget. If you want a complete bike in steel my choice for a good, reliable model would be the Masi Grand Criterium, you woould have enough money out of your budget for some good wheelsets.

Bill

garciawork

I built a custom steel steed from a local builder with Campy Chorus and Fulcrum 2-way 3's and nice components right around $4500 all in if memory serves. Sounds like you can pretty much pick your builder (within reason) and go from there. By the way, haven't regretted the decision to build a custom steel ride at all. Rode it yesterday, still brings a smile to my face!

David Bierbaum

Cro-Moly steel has one thing you just can't get with other materials: that bell-like TIING sound when you flick the tube!

MetalPedaler

Lots of people still riding 30 and 40 year-old steel bikes. How many of today's carbon bikes will still be on the road ten years from now? How many 10 year-old CF bikes do you on the road now?

There's something very un-nerving about carbon......

RoadMike

Have a look at some of Rob English's work. With your budget, that would be where I would go for steel...the man is an artist. https://www.englishcycles.com/

adrien

well, have a look at the Breadwinner Lolo. Brand new company formed as a JV between Tony Perreira and Ira Ryan. Sweet looking ride.

rebel1916

Only for people who are ignorant about how strong it is. Watch this video.

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/santa-c...-test-lab.html