Why do you ride that old steel road bike?
#276
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My riding is for me and my enjoyment. Never felt the need to prove anything to anyone else in the past and guess what.....I still don't, LOL!
Oops, dang it I had to come edit this because I realized I just lied. I do have some strava data on a C.F. bike. Just recently picked up an old 2001 Trek 5200 with a Triple setup to build up as a decent climbing machine for me. Still sorting it out but there are a couple of "test" rides on it and one longer climbing ride where I totally blew up. The smoke from the western fires has jacked up my lungs like never before and it got me on that ride.
Of course if I run the highest avg speed on this carbon bike when I get around to it for my "19 mph avg" challenge won't I look silly? Still a little surprised that the Y-Foil hasn't been the fastest because it seems the fastest on the rides.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
Last edited by jamesdak; 09-03-21 at 09:40 PM.
#277
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But now it is a problem.
Last edited by chaadster; 09-03-21 at 09:45 PM.
#278
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You win, I'm full of ****. Now you can feel better. Does that work for you? I will now sell all my steel bikes, get a carbon one and ride it blissfully unaware of what my own actual experiences have been. Thank you Chaadster for making me see the light.
Oh but dang it....smarta$$ remarks aside. There's a lot of rides there on my Y-Foil and it's quite a good ride for old carbon. You can see those on my strava too. But since we're playing games now, you'll have to find that too. I prefer to remain forever known as the guy full of "cheap braggadocio" in your eyes.
It's been entertaining but this old geezer needs some sleep. Nite now Chaadster!
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
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#280
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#281
Full Member
I ride classic steel because:
I like the look of smaller tubing and the frame proportions seem right
The BSA bottom bracket isn’t some bizarre proprietary model and I’ll be able to get parts for it down the road. Same for the external headset.
The rear can be cold set if spacing standards change.
It has a pump peg so I can carry a full size frame pump
Durability - within the stresses I’m putting on the frame there aren’t any fatigue limits
The ride is better than any CF or aluminum I’ve ridden
The frame material isn’t holding me back one iota. Nobody has proven any correlation between frame material/stiffness and speed. If I was down to 2% body fat then the minimal weight difference may make a difference on climbs, but since that will never be the case, it’s not even a thought to me
I like the look of smaller tubing and the frame proportions seem right
The BSA bottom bracket isn’t some bizarre proprietary model and I’ll be able to get parts for it down the road. Same for the external headset.
The rear can be cold set if spacing standards change.
It has a pump peg so I can carry a full size frame pump
Durability - within the stresses I’m putting on the frame there aren’t any fatigue limits
The ride is better than any CF or aluminum I’ve ridden
The frame material isn’t holding me back one iota. Nobody has proven any correlation between frame material/stiffness and speed. If I was down to 2% body fat then the minimal weight difference may make a difference on climbs, but since that will never be the case, it’s not even a thought to me
#282
Senior Member
I have a very good old bike. I don't think my budget allows spending for an equivalent new bike. If my budget allowed the spending, I don't have space for a 2nd bike. Further, the production bikes I can ride around here would not fit me as well as my current bike does.
I could, perhaps, find a used bike at a low price. I'd rather ride than shop. Hell, I'd rather do almost anything than shop.
If you don't understand why some people rid old steel bikes, do you ever realize that as soon as you roll your new bike out of the store, it's old, no matter what materials are used in making it?
I could, perhaps, find a used bike at a low price. I'd rather ride than shop. Hell, I'd rather do almost anything than shop.
If you don't understand why some people rid old steel bikes, do you ever realize that as soon as you roll your new bike out of the store, it's old, no matter what materials are used in making it?
#283
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The old steel frames are great for learning about how to completely strip and rehab an old beater. Also they make great entry level touring bikes!
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#287
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#289
Senior Member
There are wonderful carbon road bikes or even high end aluminium ones that feels like a breeze in your legs. They are fast, agile, reliable and super responsive. The look manly and futuristic and you are getting cool points just by riding them. Some though, choose to ride beat up, heavy oldschool road bikes instead. Why?
Please express yourself.
I ride them because I feel like they are my adoptees. I took them almost dead and with some work & a little bit of live now they are happy and alive again. And also because each one has a history to tell
Please express yourself.
I ride them because I feel like they are my adoptees. I took them almost dead and with some work & a little bit of live now they are happy and alive again. And also because each one has a history to tell
#290
Senior Member
A dozen years ago, I came upon a screaming deal ($85) on a very-lightly used Trek 1100 (aluminum frame/700c wheels, etc) at a garage sale. It still had the original tires! Absolutely pristine.
I figured it would be a step up from my only other road bike at the time - my '75 Fuji S-10S.
Nope! I HATED the harsh ride. I sold it at a loss (after spending $$ on new tires/tubes)
and then I joined the enablers at BF.net... so now I have many more Japanese road bikes, but ALL are lugged steel!
I figured it would be a step up from my only other road bike at the time - my '75 Fuji S-10S.
Nope! I HATED the harsh ride. I sold it at a loss (after spending $$ on new tires/tubes)
and then I joined the enablers at BF.net... so now I have many more Japanese road bikes, but ALL are lugged steel!
Last edited by Cougrrcj; 09-09-21 at 03:17 PM.
#291
Senior Member
#292
Member
Because it was the first major purchase I ever made
(about $80 brand new in 1975) and because I still have it, and can't see not taking it out once in a while.
I really ought to give it away but I don't even know how safe it is anymore, there is some pitting in the forks.
(that seat is a padeed one someone gave me and I stuck on. The original seat was hard plastic with no padding at all)
(about $80 brand new in 1975) and because I still have it, and can't see not taking it out once in a while.
I really ought to give it away but I don't even know how safe it is anymore, there is some pitting in the forks.
(that seat is a padeed one someone gave me and I stuck on. The original seat was hard plastic with no padding at all)
#293
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Mainly because I don't want to spend the money for a new steel road bike. Not to mention a sexy, bare metal titanium framed bike.
#294
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Why does it need to be one or the other? Steel or CF.
I ride steel (old & new), CF, Ti - and previously Al.
imo, a better Question would be:
Why do you ride just one or two bikes?
or
Given the affordability of vintage bikes, why don’t you ride at least 4 of them? Reynolds, Columbus, Tange, Ishiwata tubing.
You can become a better cyclist faster by riding your bike rather than fixating on the frame material. No nostalgia required.
I ride steel (old & new), CF, Ti - and previously Al.
imo, a better Question would be:
Why do you ride just one or two bikes?
or
Given the affordability of vintage bikes, why don’t you ride at least 4 of them? Reynolds, Columbus, Tange, Ishiwata tubing.
You can become a better cyclist faster by riding your bike rather than fixating on the frame material. No nostalgia required.
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Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
#295
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Because those are the ones I can afford. Oh, wait. My road bike is carbon. Three MTBs are steel.
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#297
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#298
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#299
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I'll bite. I still have a few vintage steel bikes. Why?
They resonate with something nostalgic deep inside for me. They're the type of bike that I would not consider spending the money for when I was in high school or college, and got too busy to care in my early career or during the child rearing years. But now, I can re-live those happy simple times when I rode for hours, even if now I ride for maybe an hour and call it good.
The best steel bikes with fine wheels, if properly fit and set up, can ride awfully nicely. They're quite pleasant.
Do they ride better than modern bikes with light, aerodynamic frames and improved ergonomic controls? Um, no, they don't. Modern materials, well made frames, lighter components groupsets and wheels, even modern saddles all contribute to a pretty darn terrific ride.
So, fewer and fewer vintage bikes measure up for me. I keep a few that trigger sentimental memories of my youth and my friends growing up. And that's about it.
They resonate with something nostalgic deep inside for me. They're the type of bike that I would not consider spending the money for when I was in high school or college, and got too busy to care in my early career or during the child rearing years. But now, I can re-live those happy simple times when I rode for hours, even if now I ride for maybe an hour and call it good.
The best steel bikes with fine wheels, if properly fit and set up, can ride awfully nicely. They're quite pleasant.
Do they ride better than modern bikes with light, aerodynamic frames and improved ergonomic controls? Um, no, they don't. Modern materials, well made frames, lighter components groupsets and wheels, even modern saddles all contribute to a pretty darn terrific ride.
So, fewer and fewer vintage bikes measure up for me. I keep a few that trigger sentimental memories of my youth and my friends growing up. And that's about it.
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#300
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I ride steel when it is really windy because I don’t get blown around like I do on my wide carbon tubed bikes. Nice to have a fall-back.
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