Steel road bikes, who has one?

[Over50Newbie]

I have the steel Terry Classic and I LOVE IT!!

Lynette

[NbyNW]

My steel Rodriguez is probably not in your budget even though it is also technically a stock frame size.

My other steel bike is a folder: a Dahon Speed Pro TT. In some ways I am more comfortable on it than on my Rodriguez.

Here is an 18-speed flat bar version that would be in your budget, if you are at all inclined to consider a folding bike:
http://www.shopatron.com/products/pr...15786.0.0.0.0?

ETA: Check out the "Show us your Mixte!" thread. You might get serious Mixte envy. And by and large they are affordable, and steel.

[moderncyclista]

I love steel frames. I used to own Aluminum frames and the "road buzz" from the frame vibrating killed my hands (made em' numb no matter how much I moved em'.) Steel soaks up vibration and is tough. If it cracks it can be re-welded. (Steel is more prone to rusting than Aluminum - treat your frame with Frame Saver) Aluminum cannot be rewelded if broken. Carbon definitely cannot. Aluminum fatigues. Carbon fatigues (developing stress fractures.)Carbon fiber fails alot. I don't trust it. There is a whole website devoted to carbon fiber part and frame failures - (the name escapes me.)

No offense to those who ride carbon - I personally don't trust it.

Titanium is supposed to be the best - I've never ridden it but I'd love to.
Scandium (a blend of Titanium with other metals is used on bikes by Salsa, but they're quite expensive to start with $2000.00 at least.)

Trek 520, Jamis Aurora, Surly Long Haul Trucker, Surly Cross Check, Surly Pacer, Raleigh Clubman, etc. are all Steel bikes. I personally think if you can nab a Jamis Aurora 2009 for under $1000 go for it. I own one and like it alot. If you can get in on any of these for under $1000 it's a good deal for a steel bike.

[ny biker]

I love steel frames. I used to own Aluminum frames and the "road buzz" from the frame vibrating killed my hands (made em' numb no matter how much I moved em'.) Steel soaks up vibration and is tough. If it cracks it can be re-welded.

Hmmm. I have a friend whose steel Bianchi cracked around the bottom bracket, and he was advised that the bike needs to be replaced.

[PscyclePath]

Jamis is one of the good(er) choices for a steel road bike under a thousand clams... particularly look at the Aurora and the Aurora Elite.

And don't forget Surly... the Cross-Check is basically a steel road frame with a higher bottom bracket. That's my main ride these days, though I have a carbon Orbea for the faster club rides...

Tom

[moderncyclista]

Hmmm. I have a friend whose steel Bianchi cracked around the bottom bracket, and he was advised that the bike needs to be replaced.

Well, bottom bracket cracking would be rare and possibly under warranty. It might be hard to re-weld a bottom bracket - to be fair. Bianchi isn't known for good customer service on warranty claims. Trek on the other hand has been good to me in the past.

[ny biker]

Well, bottom bracket cracking would be rare and possibly under warranty. It might be hard to re-weld a bottom bracket - to be fair. Bianchi isn't known for good customer service on warranty claims. Trek on the other hand has been good to me in the past.

It's at least 10 years old, so I doubt it's under warranty. Anyway I just sent him an email asking if he had looked into the possibility of having it repaired. Could be that they've already determined it's not possible.

[moderncyclista]

It's at least 10 years old, so I doubt it's under warranty. Anyway I just sent him an email asking if he had looked into the possibility of having it repaired. Could be that they've already determined it's not possible.

Trek has a lifetime warranty on their frames (if you're the original owner and bought from a licensed Trek dealer.) What they'd probably do is replace the whole thing with something comparable. I'm really not sure how Bianchi handles warranty claims, so I'm guessing from how Trek handles them.

[eofelis]

I'm a steel bike rider. As a smaller rider, 110lbs/5'2", I prefer the ride of steel over aluminum. It can be a bit harder to find tiny steel frames.

For 4 years I rode a 42cm Surly Pacer. It's not a light and fast bike, but it's very comfortable and durable. For ~$400 for the frame and fork, it's a great deal!

I recently switched that frame out for a Gunnar Sport frame that I got on ebay for a pittance. It was someone else's custom but it happens to fit me as well! If you really know your size you can find some deals out there.

I also have a Surly Long Haul Trucker touring bike (a real workhorse), a Gunnar Rockhound hardtail mountain bike (another ebay find) and an older style Novara Randonee touring bike frame that is now my flat bar commuter bike.

My lone non-steel bike is a full carbon Specialized Ruby Expert. It was a leftover, giveaway price, my size. I felt a bit like I was betraying my stable of steel bikes when I got it, but it is fun to ride. It's stiffer and faster than my steel road bike, but I'd rather take the steel bike out for a century ride than the carbon.

I think the Jamis steel bikes are pretty nice. I also thought the Bianchi steel bikes looked good too.