Vintage Steel vs Aluminum
08-24-19, 01:37 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
Vintage Steel vs Aluminum
I'm wonder what the difference would be between a mid 80s Aluminum bike and a mid 80s Steele bike be.Lets sat a 1987 Cannondale SR500 and my 1987 Centurion Ironman Expert.
Weight differences ,Ride differences any other differences?
Weight differences ,Ride differences any other differences?
08-24-19, 02:21 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,053
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3015 Post(s)
Liked 3,792 Times
in
1,406 Posts
Sounds interesting. Buy both bikes. Set them up identically. Report back here. Thanks.
Likes For iab:
08-24-19, 02:57 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 1,142
Bikes: 1983 Univega Super Strada, 1986 Panasonic DX5000, 1984 Fuji Team 85 Univega Gran Turismo, 1984 Lotus Unique, 1987 Centurion Expert, 1987 Centurion Ironman Master,
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 677 Post(s)
Liked 459 Times
in
182 Posts
08-24-19, 03:18 PM
#4
Bianchi Goddess
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 27,858
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
Mentioned: 192 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2930 Post(s)
Liked 2,923 Times
in
1,491 Posts
The cannondale might accelerate and climb better but is likely to a harsher ride overall.
__________________
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Likes For Bianchigirll:
08-24-19, 05:36 PM
#5
aka: Dr. Cannondale
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,729
Mentioned: 234 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2152 Post(s)
Liked 3,402 Times
in
1,203 Posts
I own both, pretty much: an 88 SR500 and an 86 Ironman.
The difference is...not much. Both are efficient at transferring rider effort to forward motion. Both look great. Both are totally reliable. I'd ride (have ridden) either one on a century or multiple day series of rides. Neither is 'better' than the other. Love 'em both.
The difference is...not much. Both are efficient at transferring rider effort to forward motion. Both look great. Both are totally reliable. I'd ride (have ridden) either one on a century or multiple day series of rides. Neither is 'better' than the other. Love 'em both.
__________________
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Hard at work in the Secret Underground Laboratory...
Last edited by rccardr; 08-25-19 at 06:03 AM.
Likes For rccardr:
08-24-19, 07:19 PM
#6
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,782
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,398 Times
in
1,932 Posts
The Cannondale has larger diameter frame tubes and will be stiffer than the steel frame. Whether or not you find this preferable to the steel bike is a subjective judgement. In general, larger/heavier riders prefer stiffer frames because the longer tubes and greater weight flex more while smaller/lighter riders prefer less stiff frames, as excessive stiffness can make the bike hard to control, especially on rough surfaces.
08-24-19, 08:23 PM
#8
Senior Member
My vote goes to the Ironman. Extra points for brand new racing wheels and tires.
08-24-19, 09:06 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,434
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
08-25-19, 04:47 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,674
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1372 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,751 Times
in
938 Posts
Generally, I prefer the feel and look of steel. My Cannondales, and Treks and even my Quintanna Roo are just too stiff and, in my opinion, ugly thanks to the over size tube sets...
I did like the ride quality of the Vitus 979 and loved the feel of the ALAN. I will build another ALAN if granted the opportunity to do so.
I did like the ride quality of the Vitus 979 and loved the feel of the ALAN. I will build another ALAN if granted the opportunity to do so.
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
08-25-19, 05:08 AM
#11
Death fork? Naaaah!!
Not only are the Alan and Vitus different than the steel of the era, they are different from each other.
Top
__________________
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
You know it's going to be a good day when the stem and seatpost come right out.
(looking for a picture and not seeing it? Thank the Photobucket fiasco.PM me and I'll link it up.)
08-25-19, 07:18 AM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 4,777
Bikes: Numerous
Mentioned: 150 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1676 Post(s)
Liked 3,089 Times
in
911 Posts
Fixed it for you.
__________________
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
N = '96 Colnago C40, '04 Wilier Alpe D'Huez, '10 Colnago EPS, '85 Merckx Pro, '89 Merckx Century, '86 Tommasini Professional, '04 Teschner Aero FX Pro, '05 Alan Carbon Cross, '86 De Rosa Professional, '82 Colnago Super, '95 Gios Compact Pro, '95 Carrera Zeus, '84 Basso Gap, ‘89 Cinelli Supercorsa, ‘83 Bianchi Specialissima, ‘VO Randonneur, Ritchey Breakaway Steel, '84 Paletti Super Prestige, Heron Randonneur
08-25-19, 07:53 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,223
Mentioned: 654 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4722 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,036 Times
in
1,874 Posts
As noted, the Cannondale will be stiffer, lighter and consequently more responsive to power input. However, the stiffer frame will also make it more fatiguing over long rides. How much this is noticeable will depend on several factors, notably how aggressive you ride and the roughness of your road surfaces. Some riders may not be able to notice the difference and the tables can be turned by something as simple as tyre choice and air pressure.
08-25-19, 09:11 AM
#14
Member
As noted, the Cannondale will be stiffer, lighter and consequently more responsive to power input. However, the stiffer frame will also make it more fatiguing over long rides. How much this is noticeable will depend on several factors, notably how aggressive you ride and the roughness of your road surfaces. Some riders may not be able to notice the difference and the tables can be turned by something as simple as tyre choice and air pressure.
08-25-19, 03:38 PM
#15
Senior Member
I tried to give two aluminum bikes a go but ended up selling them after a fairly short period of time. One was a Raleigh Technium (road bike) and one a Cannondale M800 (mountain bike). Both were way too stiff for my liking. I would get sore forearms every time I rode them. No aluminum for me. I currently have 19 steel frame bikes (one of which is an Ironman) and 1 carbon.
08-25-19, 07:16 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: NW Suburbs of Minneapolis
Posts: 83
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Crave, 2018 Fuji Tahoe, 1989? Nishiki International, SOLD Miyata 712, SOLD Stumpjumpers- several, SOLD Specialized Sirrus, SOLD Raleigh Technium, SOLD Lemond Zurich...
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 20 Times
in
13 Posts
How about the Nishiki International?
Mine is an 1986 model with cyclone components.
Tange 1 frame, just like the Ironman but the lesser known Tange 1 Oversize steel tubeset.
The best of both worlds, responsive, responsive and light. -or- stiff, unforgiving and rigid?
I guess that I should put more miles on it before I make a judgement and a I no longer have a conventional steel frame to compare it to.
Tange 1 frame, just like the Ironman but the lesser known Tange 1 Oversize steel tubeset.
The best of both worlds, responsive, responsive and light. -or- stiff, unforgiving and rigid?
I guess that I should put more miles on it before I make a judgement and a I no longer have a conventional steel frame to compare it to.
08-25-19, 07:31 PM
#17
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
For a Cat 3/4 crit in the local parking lot series, I'd probably take the aluminum. I'd probably still finish dead last.
Otherwise, the steelie.
Otherwise, the steelie.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
flash2070
Classic & Vintage
34
03-24-18 07:58 PM
Chingyul
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
7
10-03-11 08:09 AM
