Modern Steel Road Bike Appreciation Thread
02-28-16, 09:53 AM
#751
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I spent yesterday at NAHBS in Sacramento, and Rob English showed this fillet brazed 953 steel race bike at his booth. Weight as shown is 9.94 pounds. One of the booth employees encouraged me to pick it up, and I could hardly believe how light it was.
02-28-16, 12:38 PM
#752
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English is a total sick-o! 
02-28-16, 08:12 PM
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Wow.... Did it have a price tag? i wonder what it would be like to ride????
My only experience with this kind o weight is a demo Trek Emonda at the local Trek shop. Weighs about 10 lbs. and picking up a whole bike at that weight is kind of surreal. They want $15K for it...although I'm sure they'd consider serious offers for a lot less. Been there for almost a year now, BTW.
STP
My only experience with this kind o weight is a demo Trek Emonda at the local Trek shop. Weighs about 10 lbs. and picking up a whole bike at that weight is kind of surreal. They want $15K for it...although I'm sure they'd consider serious offers for a lot less. Been there for almost a year now, BTW.
STP
Last edited by Porschefan; 02-28-16 at 08:18 PM. Reason: Add'l comment
02-29-16, 05:57 AM
#754
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So the English bike is certainly impressive, but some analysis of how it was done is instructive. It is hard for me to see the details, so a lot of what I comment about below is guess. Anyone feel free to correct me, but this is what it looks like to me:
The frame tubing is not oversized (at least not much). It wouldn't be out of line to predict noodly ride characteristics for the frame considering the ultra-thin tube walls. It is a steel bike, but almost half the seat tube is replaced by a carbon seat post. That helps frame stiffness, but not ride stiffness. The seat stays certainly resemble spaghetti. The saddle is minimal and unsuited for many riders. The pedals (which really shouldn't be included in the weight anyway) appear to me to be an obsolete design, long discarded by the industry. The rims appear to be very low profile by modern standards, sacrificing stiffness for weight reduction and little aero improvements. Such rims were never intended to be combined with so few spokes. The stem is fully slammed to give the lightest weight regardless of required riding position. I can't see the hubs, but guess they are of the ultra-light type that are not really suited for everyday riding. And so on.
If you can do this with steel, how much lighter would that bike be if a carbon frame were molded and built up including all those compromises?
The frame tubing is not oversized (at least not much). It wouldn't be out of line to predict noodly ride characteristics for the frame considering the ultra-thin tube walls. It is a steel bike, but almost half the seat tube is replaced by a carbon seat post. That helps frame stiffness, but not ride stiffness. The seat stays certainly resemble spaghetti. The saddle is minimal and unsuited for many riders. The pedals (which really shouldn't be included in the weight anyway) appear to me to be an obsolete design, long discarded by the industry. The rims appear to be very low profile by modern standards, sacrificing stiffness for weight reduction and little aero improvements. Such rims were never intended to be combined with so few spokes. The stem is fully slammed to give the lightest weight regardless of required riding position. I can't see the hubs, but guess they are of the ultra-light type that are not really suited for everyday riding. And so on.
If you can do this with steel, how much lighter would that bike be if a carbon frame were molded and built up including all those compromises?
02-29-16, 06:24 AM
#755
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So the English bike is certainly impressive, but some analysis of how it was done is instructive. It is hard for me to see the details, so a lot of what I comment about below is guess. Anyone feel free to correct me, but this is what it looks like to me:
The frame tubing is not oversized (at least not much). It wouldn't be out of line to predict noodly ride characteristics for the frame considering the ultra-thin tube walls. It is a steel bike, but almost half the seat tube is replaced by a carbon seat post. That helps frame stiffness, but not ride stiffness. The seat stays certainly resemble spaghetti. The saddle is minimal and unsuited for many riders. The pedals (which really shouldn't be included in the weight anyway) appear to me to be an obsolete design, long discarded by the industry. The rims appear to be very low profile by modern standards, sacrificing stiffness for weight reduction and little aero improvements. Such rims were never intended to be combined with so few spokes. The stem is fully slammed to give the lightest weight regardless of required riding position. I can't see the hubs, but guess they are of the ultra-light type that are not really suited for everyday riding. And so on.
If you can do this with steel, how much lighter would that bike be if a carbon frame were molded and built up including all those compromises?
The frame tubing is not oversized (at least not much). It wouldn't be out of line to predict noodly ride characteristics for the frame considering the ultra-thin tube walls. It is a steel bike, but almost half the seat tube is replaced by a carbon seat post. That helps frame stiffness, but not ride stiffness. The seat stays certainly resemble spaghetti. The saddle is minimal and unsuited for many riders. The pedals (which really shouldn't be included in the weight anyway) appear to me to be an obsolete design, long discarded by the industry. The rims appear to be very low profile by modern standards, sacrificing stiffness for weight reduction and little aero improvements. Such rims were never intended to be combined with so few spokes. The stem is fully slammed to give the lightest weight regardless of required riding position. I can't see the hubs, but guess they are of the ultra-light type that are not really suited for everyday riding. And so on.
If you can do this with steel, how much lighter would that bike be if a carbon frame were molded and built up including all those compromises?
02-29-16, 08:17 AM
#756
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Who cares how light a bike can be built, if it isn't functional? That is no accomplishment. And apparently Porschefan is as clueless as I am. He asks what it would be like to ride. Go figure, huh?
02-29-16, 09:55 AM
#757
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That Rob English bike was built for a CAT 1 rider that's 5'9" and weighs 140 pounds, so for someone that size and weight the standard diameter tubing is probably OK. The gal at the booth said that for a larger, heavier rider the bike would be heavier implying larger diameter thicker walled tubing.
02-29-16, 10:48 AM
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So, if it's built for a racer, will it be built up to be raced with heavier components, or is this just a light bike because s/he wants a light bike? I'd assumed it was sort of a display thing rather than something that would be ridden. Cool either way.
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02-29-16, 11:47 AM
#759
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The chainrings appear to be CF.
Some photos: English Cycles 2016 NAHBS 9.9 pound bike
02-29-16, 12:36 PM
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I had a feeling it might draw some heat here, lol.
I guess Rodriguez can't continue to claim the lightest steel bike anymore.
02-29-16, 01:55 PM
#762
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Vintage bikes and steel frames at NAHBS day 1 | BikeForums Classic & Vintage
02-29-16, 06:19 PM
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I am familiar with it, but it has no purpose for me. If that is what underlies English's display, to me it is deceptive. "What, it rides like crap? But of course! What do you expect? I didn't intend for anyone to ride it."
Who cares how light a bike can be built, if it isn't functional? That is no accomplishment. And apparently Porschefan is as clueless as I am. He asks what it would be like to ride. Go figure, huh?
Who cares how light a bike can be built, if it isn't functional? That is no accomplishment. And apparently Porschefan is as clueless as I am. He asks what it would be like to ride. Go figure, huh?
STP
02-29-16, 09:17 PM
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See 2nd to last post on this page. https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...roadhouse.html
03-01-16, 04:14 PM
#765
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Old and new. My $40 Panasonic and my Craigslist Jamis. I think it's a good looking bike even with the triple.
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03-01-16, 06:54 PM
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I think that's a really attractive triple crank (I'm a huge triple fan, but that looks a lot more attractive than most modern cranksets). What is it?
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03-01-16, 08:06 PM
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03-01-16, 09:44 PM
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That Rob English bike was built for a CAT 1 rider that's 5'9" and weighs 140 pounds, so for someone that size and weight the standard diameter tubing is probably OK. The gal at the booth said that for a larger, heavier rider the bike would be heavier implying larger diameter thicker walled tubing.
03-01-16, 10:37 PM
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Looks about right to me. Not as nice up close, but still a lot better than those squids Shimano was putting out a few years back.
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03-13-16, 04:39 AM
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Hi Vinnems, Im with ya on this, could you please email me at racinman@juno.com
Tx, Van
Tx, Van
I just ordered one of the new De Rosa Nuovo Classicos. That blue chrome I could not resist:
Don't know why all the American and other sites were charging so much for it ($3500!!!!). I found a dealer in Sweden who is getting it for me $1300 shipped. I'm going to build up the same as De Rosa shows, with Campagnolo Athena and Deda seat post, stem, and bars, probably look pedals, and I don't know what wheel set yet but something to compliment it.
Here's a source that I hope some others may find helpful. It's a spreadsheet I made for when I was searching for modern vintage, as I referred to it as. Basically, new frames that are made of steel with lugs. I would love to add to this list if you have any other companies, frames, and other info you want me to put on it.
Don't know why all the American and other sites were charging so much for it ($3500!!!!). I found a dealer in Sweden who is getting it for me $1300 shipped. I'm going to build up the same as De Rosa shows, with Campagnolo Athena and Deda seat post, stem, and bars, probably look pedals, and I don't know what wheel set yet but something to compliment it.
Here's a source that I hope some others may find helpful. It's a spreadsheet I made for when I was searching for modern vintage, as I referred to it as. Basically, new frames that are made of steel with lugs. I would love to add to this list if you have any other companies, frames, and other info you want me to put on it.
03-13-16, 05:13 AM
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nice
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03-13-16, 07:38 AM
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Hey, Bridgestone! That's some nostalgia there, for me! My first MTB was my futile attempt to make my '87 CB-3, a gift from my parents for me to take to college, into something trailworthy. I later had an MB4 frame which I built up pretty sweetly and had fun racing on. It wasn't great, and a marked step-down from what preceeded it, but it served me well.
I'd like to know more about Neo-Cot frames, but they seem kinda dated. Maybe they need a little of Grant Peterson's pixie dust over there!
Hoestly, I'd get a kick out of the Bridgestone brand being back in the USA, and would seriously consider adding one to the herd, if just for old time's sake, but the MTBs do look sweet.
I'd like to know more about Neo-Cot frames, but they seem kinda dated. Maybe they need a little of Grant Peterson's pixie dust over there!
Hoestly, I'd get a kick out of the Bridgestone brand being back in the USA, and would seriously consider adding one to the herd, if just for old time's sake, but the MTBs do look sweet.
03-13-16, 05:38 PM
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03-13-16, 05:45 PM
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NAHBS 2016 - Rob English?s bikes blow minds on road, gravel, dirt and city - Bikerumor
It's Rob English's race bike.
It's Rob English's race bike.