want new steel bike
 

After looking at several choices, I have narrowed down my perfect steel bike to the soma smoothie, 56 cm. however, they are out of stock at my LBS's distributors and I seem to be out of luck. I am looking for a good bike to train on (aggressive angles and shorter chainstays) but still want to be able to use it when i sell off a few other bikes. I like the braze-ons for racks. I would prefer to use a fork like the alphaQ cs10, but can go steel. my ultimate goal is some entry level racing next spring, but for now just longer rides and training during the week. will do a few centuries on it. Ti has even been considered, but trying to keep this below 1k frame, fork and headset.

I have also considered the raleigh clubman, kona kapu, soma speedster/stanyan, and the traitor exile. I have no real preference for welded vs. lugged.

This

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gunnar-Roadie-Ro...item25581f6d98

Honestly, you will not do better for what you're looking for and the price.

I vote for the Kapu. Sweet Deda lugged frame that can handle 28s with a rack. From racing to commuting in one nice, retro package. I believe that Kona is discounting 09 leftovers, but the orange creamsicle from 08 is the Schizzle.

The smoothie wouldn't be a bad choice. I considered it recently when I was looking for a fairly inexpensive steel bike but I wasn't excited about the frame weight. They list it as 4 lbs for the 54 cm on their web site.

I ended up finding a virtually new 2009 Bianchi Imola frame on Ebay for $560 (same steel frame as the Vigorelli) and upgraded a few components for well under the price of a Soma. Steel frames (even newer ones) can be had for good prices on the used market.

why not the surly pacer?

the stanyan is a nice frame. i am also stuck between which steel frame to build up since our fav website has shimano 105 groupset for 550.

sigh....

You can get a frame and fork from Bob Jackson in England, for about $800, including delivery to the states. Braze-ons are about $20-$30 extra, and you choose the paint no charge.

+1 Gunnar Roadie. Fits your requirements.

Cinelli supercorsa. Go ahead and buy it.

Gunnar. Or, how about this lugged beauty? http://www.masibikes.com/framesets/speciale-premio/

The Gunnar geometry will be much better to race than the Masi. I have to say, I like the Cinelli option, though!

what now?

http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/9...build019bu.jpg

Why not get the real thing instead? http://www.milano3v.com/history/

I got the real thing right here! Waterford R33 with that AlphaQ fork... might be outta the price range though. Custom frames start at $2k with the fork.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2csarr7.jpg

saw a couple gunnars at the shop yesterday, none had braze-ons. rode a soma pacer- heavier than i was looking for, but it rode well. took out a masi speciale primio, thought the surly rode better. then took out the kona *****, and damn. but no braze-ons. rode a "handsome devil" and the masi cyclocross bike, and it re-affirmed that a cyclocross bike isn't what i want. now i am tempted to go and price the stanyan and the speedster it replaced. all i would need is a new set of brakes.

Buy that bike I posted (which I have no connection to), send it to Waterford/Gunnar and they'll put whatever braze-ons you want on it.

Honestly, this one is a no-brainer.

Oh, and chzman, very nice....I hate you.

It's got a couple hours to go and no bids.....

beware the stanyan's short headtube... beautiful bike otherwise...

OP, I know you won't go for it, but option B with all necessary mounts and racks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gunnar-Road-Bike...3D10%26ps%3D63

call Bob Jackson...they have really good prices on their "off the peg" frames (standard sizes and painted how you want) They have custom frames too for more $$

Or this.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Colnago-Crystal-...item53df171bb7

I know it's not *NEW* but this is really a steal. no pun intended. note the 57 cm size is with respect to the center to top dimension of the seat tube. c-c of the seat tube is 55, and c-c of the top tube is 55.5 or so.

full ultegra w/ ultegra hubs laced to mavic reflex sups.

good luck!

absolutely no relation to the person selling the bike -- just a heads up.

Marinoni Sportivo. This one's ti, but available in full steel and steel w/ carbon stays.

Love those hi-tech bum bars.

:) cool thing about bikes is the parts can be swapped out.

the masi of years past were made by the best craftsmen with the best tubing...the masi of today are made to look like those of the past, but they are made with 4120 tubing by automated welders.