MookieBlaylock

I have seen comments related to this, so sorry if I'm beating a dead horse. I'm sure many of you have experienced this, but I went into a few LBS to talk about something new for my wife. I ride steel because it is more comfortable to me than Aluminum, and I feel it unnecessary to drop a bunch of money on a bike that is supposed to be for exercise. Anyways, after talking to the people at the bike shops, I left thinking I am missing out on new technology.

I don't go on competitive group rides, and I'm not obsessed with the cycling scene. I just don't know what I am missing out on. I ride a hard 15-20 miles, and that wears me out. Do you guys/gals have other bikes besides vintage steel? If so, why do you like it? Does it make you want to ride more? Carbon Fiber feels like a cloud, but I just don't see the need to make the jump. It's peer pressure, I admit.

brockd15 

I've had carbon, titanium, aluminum, and steel but currently just have aluminum and steel. I don't think the frame material is the biggest factor, I think it's components. Handlebar shape and lever ergonomics are one of the big differences for me, along with easier shifting while climbing with brifters.

iab

If it makes you happy, material choice is irrelevant. If you are worn out at 15-20 miles, it is entirely about you and has nothing to do with the bike.

rccardr 

^^ This.
I ride vintage steel and vintage aluminum and speed and endurance is directly tied to my physical condition and training.
Last year bought a carbon Canyon 11 speed with STI for local fast club rides, and while it makes it slightly easier for me to keep up with the pack, I don't feel I'm losing out when not riding it.

Barrettscv 

I have four carbon fiber bikes and seven steel bikes. The steel bikes are excellent, and provide excellent performance. The carbon bikes offer some features I consider to be important, including the ability to fit fatter tires and disc brakes while keeping total weight to less than 19 lbs.

I recently purchased a Canyon Endurace which has a carbon frameset, hydraulic disc brakes, 2x11 drivetrain and can fit 700x32 tires. It's an appealing combination of race-bike responsiveness and sport bike comfortable.

Modern bikes offer incremental improvements in materials, gearing, braking and can run a super smooth and fast tire at comfortable air pressures. I enjoy saving older racing bikes from neglect and I'm rewarded with a lively performance while riding my steel bikes. However, modern carbon bikes can deliver enhanced performance and versatility.

gearbasher

I had and aluminum frame. Hated it. Not responsive and very springy. I rode a friends CF. It just felt dead. Like I couldn't feel the road.
Feeling worn out after 15-20 miles can be more from how well the bike fits you than the material it is made from.

jimmuller 

When I first saw this I read it as "the ability to fix flatter tires" and I wondered how one tire could be flatter than another.

To answer the original question, noop. No carbon, no alunimunium. Just steel.

Chrome Molly

Classtime 

thumpism 

Steel, plus a carbon hardtail mountain bike. I had an aluminum road bike but did not like the sound of it. How's that for a critique?

friday1970

I have an aluminum department store Nishiki road bike. Bought as full aluminum. After replacing the fork, stem, handlebars, and seat post, it's very comfortable to ride now. Almost as much so as my steel road bikes. I recently completed a 200k on it, and I felt great afterwards.

Ex Pres 

beicster 

I have had three aluminum bikes over the years and have been perfectly happy with the ride quality. I gave one to my stepson because it was a bit too small for me, I sold one because I was not riding it (lull in riding, not because I did not like it) and I still have the other. I ride steel because I just like the way the way the smaller tubes look. I ride vintage steel because I like the challenge of buying an inexpensive frame of good quality and building a bike out of it.

gomango

I have a Yeti SB5 plus which features a 5.5 pound CF frameset.

I could care less about the tech that goes into the bike.

However, I do care about the ride and the feeling of control as I hit the trails here in Minnesota.

It's an incredible confidence booster, let me tell you.

After riding the last two summers in Moab and Fruita, I can't wait to get this baby out there for the first time.

It handles a much wider tire than my old SB5, so I'm pretty pumped to see what that does as well.

https://www.yeticycles.com/bikes/sb5-plus

crank_addict

I do occasionally and have been loaned modern CF -Felt, Trek, Giant. Super machines. I'm often the mindset of wanting but do come out of the ether. I don't race competitively and honestly can't justify, especially when I feel to 'have earned my workout' after riding some interesting old steel bike. And that includes my satisfaction riding really lower end vintage. Its the soul.

Would I take a modern CF if the price was irresistable -without question. Di2 please. Now if I had the green light, flush with money and pushed to buy a modern CF, I wouldn't. My dough would go to a custom fitted builder -steel with classic modern vibe.

As for aluminum and in my eyes call them modern, have a 1998 Cannondale road drop conversion, brifters, big wide 700c plus Headshock. Most plush riding bike... by far plus all the gears I would ever need. Its quite heavy and think it looks ugly. But its a great bike in other respects. Bike is mint and cost the same as a fine pair of tubular tires.

On the same 'path', got rid of a modern 2010 Giant rapid-1. Aluminum hydroformed with carbon fork. Like the above, converted to a drop bar. Terrific all round rider, set it up and made changes, used it for various events. Single long day events, gravel roads, hill climb territory, etc.. fit 32c / 700 and very capable. Great one would think but for longer saddle time, its harsh. Came in at 19 lbs. this bike like the above cost the same as a fine pair of tubular. Mint condition, away it went and in came a 79 Colnago. No brainer.

Edit: Allow me to rephrase 'no brainer'. Current project is maddening to likely crazy. Very early as in first US production Ti (incl. fork), with some interesting components, gearing for climbing walls to tall for wind on your tailside flats. Known as whippy and prone to breakage, I want to experience the vintage exotic, much like many want to experience the modern top tier exotic.

With that -go for it and happy riding

2cam16

I have three aluminums in my herd but to tell you the truth, I don't really care what a bike is made out of. Just as long as I'm happy with the ride, I'm good.

MookieBlaylock

I'm not sure what this means.

jtbadge

Those thinking steel is the only material worth riding need to try more modern aluminum. I has a CAAD10 and loved it, but the fit wasn't right, so I passed it on. Now my main road bike is a Rock Lobster with aluminum tubes. Lightweight for climbing, stiff with immediate power transfer, but the large diameter tubes eat up road buzz. Most comfortable bike I've ever owned, and I've ridden a stack of steel bikes before getting here.

MookieBlaylock

The gearing options is something that is appealing. I think I have a 13x24 right now. I also don't have the need to accommodate the wide tires that you mentioned. I guess that's why I feel content on steel. My bikes fit 25mm with the exception of one in the front. I like the challenge and the hunt to fix up a bike that once was the best of its day.

MookieBlaylock

That's interesting that you mentioned the CAAD10. That is the bike that I was reading about yesterday that some people compare the ride quality much closer to carbon than what used to be the common belief.

Oldguyonoldbike

I have one carbon fiber bike and two steel bikes that I ride regularly. The cf bike is ten years old, the steel bikes are twenty-three and thirty-four-years old. I bought the cf frame used, an ex demo in pristine condition, mainly out of curiosity. It does dampen road buzz, but it is also jarringly stiff on seems in the pavement or potholes. All in all comfort levels seem to even out. More road buzz on steel, but they are springier on rough roads. Being stiffer and about four pounds lighter than either of the steel bikes I can average slightly faster speeds on the cf. That being said, on mostly flat roads my fastest bike is steel.

The only aluminum bike I've ever had was a mid-range Raleigh cyclocross bike that never quite felt right, but that was due as much to geometry as to frame material. I was using mostly as a foul weather bike on the road. As a cx bike it probably would have been fine.

In short, it's all good. Fit and fitness are what really count.

MookieBlaylock

I like that mentality.

MookieBlaylock

The confidence booster is appealing, I must admit. I'd like to see what I can do on a newer bike, but then I'd be content and wonder why I spent the money. Ha

iab

Changing bike materials won't make you any less worn out. Only changing your fitness will.

gomango

The new mtbs are interesting.

For example, my SB5 plus has 5" of travel in the rear suspension.

In my case, it's not about speed. It's about keeping rubber on the trails and rocks for maneuvers and braking.

Definitely enhances stability, at least in my case.