Modern Steel Road Bike Appreciation Thread
01-26-16, 03:24 PM
#451
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I can just about guarantee that 953 feels the same as any steel alloy from plain 1010 carbon steel to 953 IF the two frames have the same geometry, tubing wall thicknesses, tube diameters, and butting profiles. That's because all the steel alloys used for bicycle frames have virtually the same density and Young's modulus (stiffness), and similar elongation (ductility/brittleness).
01-26-16, 03:36 PM
#452
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...^^^^what, by all that seems to define them, is a modern steel road bike. I think it might have been the last year for them in steel.
I got it because it was available, relatively cheaply as a used bike, and i was curious about all the Columbus FOCO buzz. Color me unimpressed.
Certainly it is very light, and thus has some certain advantages in climbing and accelerating. But it is much less fun to ride than a yellow Paramount. Riding a yellow Paramount makes me smile
, riding that Specialized just makes me worry that I look stupid upon it.That's why I've asked multiple folks if it rides like steel or more like Ti. Keep hearing "real steel feel"
They say steel rides like steel, regardless. I've found that to be true with No Name 4130, Reynolds 520, Reynolds 853/725 and True Temper OX Platinum so far. Wondering if 953 is the same or something else.
....in addition to the above pictured bikes, I have a Spectrum (Kellogg) unobtanium/titanium alloy framed bicycle. Because, like you, I am a curious person.
My personal take as a gourmand is that both those higher zoot, more moderne bicycles are lighter and faster overall, but I've done some wheel swapping for comparison, and wheels/tyres have far more impact on how a bike "feels" than frame material once you get up about 800 bucks on end of season sale prices. Exclude a full plastic bike, because my experience with owning and riding begins and ends with metal alloy bikes, with an occasional plastic fork thrown into the mix. It's difficult to argue that you are experiencing "the feel of steel" when one of your wheels is riding on CF reinforced plastic.
That yellow Schwinn is hard to beat in terms of just an enjoyable ride, but if the wheels are rolling, there's air in the tyres, and it's not raining, i pretty much have fun on anything.
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01-26-16, 03:37 PM
#453
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You totally missed my point. I said in identical tube and frame designs, one steel rides exactly like another. When the designs are different, you aren't feeling the steel in the sense of its alloy chemistry. You are feeling the differences in the tube and frame designs that are invoked to take advantage of the advanced properties of the stronger steels. Your list of "steels" weren't distinct steels as much as different tube sets. The CrMo based tubes were likely very similar to each other. The tubes made out of the stronger steels could have still been the same dimensions as Reynolds 531 or 520 tubes. Maybe they were and that explains it. But maybe they were thinner. If thinner, maybe they had longer butts, larger diameters, etc. that balanced the feel of the frames made from them with the more traditional frames. Or maybe the feel isn't the same, but it is just hard for amateurs like us to tell.
01-26-16, 09:15 PM
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OK, first bike for this test: Pashley Stainless Sprinter. Made from Columbus XCr stainless steel, with old school Pashley styling. Columbus carbon forks and I think a 1 1/8th inch threadless steerer tube. Old school "GB" brand handlebars, which look identical to the ones I had on my 1980s Dawes Lightning.
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01-26-16, 11:02 PM
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I think we need to appoint one poster to make case-by-case decisions on which bikes meet the standard. I would nominate 3alarmer .
01-26-16, 11:12 PM
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cloud like softness combined with enough firmness to make a spirited ride enjoyable while enjoying the buttery smooth resonance while on the way to meet a trim beauty by the pond with a crusty baguette, some savory gouda, and a tart Pinot at the edge of ripeness and bursting with farm fresh flavor
or--- it could be like my small size 53 race machines, --- stiff, unforgiving with a punctuated ride quality
or--- it could be like my small size 53 race machines, --- stiff, unforgiving with a punctuated ride quality
Last edited by DMC707; 01-27-16 at 03:50 AM.
01-26-16, 11:32 PM
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01-27-16, 04:30 AM
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There is the definition of "thread"---a very thin string (the dimensions of which can be debated) and then ... there is the Meaning of "thread."
I'd say the thread linking some of these posts is very thin indeed ... and "meaning" is way beyond my ability to decipher.
Interesting reading, though, and cool bikes.
I'd say the thread linking some of these posts is very thin indeed ... and "meaning" is way beyond my ability to decipher.
Interesting reading, though, and cool bikes.
Where would I point the bars on a fixie with no brakes?
01-27-16, 04:41 AM
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Someone mentioned custom paint jobs on steel. Here is a 2007 Jamis Aurora frame that I bought on CL. A family member who works for PPG painted it for me then I built it up. It is black in the back and fades to the light green in the front. Metal flake throughout. He sanded the whole thing down to bare metal to begin. The silver places (fork, chain stays, "Brewpastor" lettering, is all the bare metal clear coated with pin striping. Very impressive work. It's a great bike as a commuter. I have intentions to do some touring with it. Definitely not the same ride as the Indy Fab bike I posted earlier (post 131).
Sorry the picture isn't staged. I took it under a sign at the church that says "No Skateboarding Bicycle Riding or rollerblading." I like to park it there regularly! ;-)
Sorry the picture isn't staged. I took it under a sign at the church that says "No Skateboarding Bicycle Riding or rollerblading." I like to park it there regularly! ;-)
01-27-16, 12:58 PM
#460
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I'm still figuring out how to take good pics of the bike. Some of the pics on here are really awesome. Here's a couple I shot today. Classic Western PA, it was overcast.
01-27-16, 01:02 PM
#461
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What was that bike originally? I know it's not a custom because it looks like Taiwan built steel frame. Jamis? Bikesdirect?
01-27-16, 01:06 PM
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You are right on the frame. It frame is a 2007 Jamis Aurora I pulled from CL for $65. Then I built it up.
01-27-16, 01:08 PM
#463
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You are right on the frame. It frame is a 2007 Jamis Aurora I pulled from CL for $65. Then I built it up.
01-28-16, 05:26 PM
#464
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Here's some nice steel bike porn: Ten of Our Favorite Builder Bikes of 2015 - ENVE Composites
01-28-16, 06:33 PM
#465
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Here's some nice steel bike porn: Ten of Our Favorite Builder Bikes of 2015 - ENVE Composites
01-28-16, 07:10 PM
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Lugs are a older method of tube joining which is extremely functional, yet fairly simple to employ. Unfortunately they limit the design freedom of the builder since the exact set of lugs has to matched to the tube diameters and joint angles. Fillet brazing and welding require more skill. Brazed lug construction was well suited to the metals that bike tubes used to be made from. Also they predated advances in welding technology. Nowadays there are few limitations on how tubes can be joined. Lugs are, as you suggest, mostly chosen these days for their historical, aesthetic, and nostalgic value.
01-28-16, 07:15 PM
#468
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Well, they're not strictly ornamental; lugs do add strength to tubing joints. The fact is, though, lugged, fillet brazed, and TIG-welded joints are all sufficiently strong enough if properly executed that the tubing should fail before the joints, usually by bending or buckling.
I just thought it strange that none of the steel frames in the ENVE Composites link mpath provided were lugged. Maybe I'm just a retro-grouch.
I just thought it strange that none of the steel frames in the ENVE Composites link mpath provided were lugged. Maybe I'm just a retro-grouch.
01-28-16, 07:20 PM
#469
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So what is the very fanciest, newest, state-est of the art steel tubing?
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01-28-16, 07:24 PM
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01-28-16, 07:27 PM
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01-28-16, 07:46 PM
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In spite of the arguing, some of which I have been responsible for, I have really enjoyed this thread and have learned a lot.
01-28-16, 08:03 PM
#473
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Saw this on Bike Rumor today, simple, modern, beautiful fillet brazed frame.
01-28-16, 08:16 PM
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