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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Traveling Nomad
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    6,763
    Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
    Again, I'd look at Jamis, the Quest to be exact, for a nice steel road bike. It'll go as fast as your legs will take you and likely ride far nicer than a comparably price aluminum bike. I strongly disagree with the assumption that all steel bikes are slow. Again, it depends on the bike and its intended purpose.
    I just looked up the Jamis Quest Femme, and the stated weight is just 18.75 lbs, so I can certainly see that being a plenty fast bike! Wish the smallest size didn't have such a high standover (29.1") -- I'd be interested myself! It's a really pretty bike!

    http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...estf_spec.html
    Emily

    2011 Jamis Dakar XC "Toto" - Selle Italia Ldy Gel Flow
    2007 Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD "Gloria" - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow
    2004 Bike Friday Petite Pocket Crusoe - Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    6,034
    I'd be willing to make a 60-mile special trip for a bike. That's nothing in the grand scheme of a bike's life. I'm just sayin'.....

    Jamis or not, you asked about steel bikes and I felt the need to disabuse you of the notion that they're all heavy clunkers. As Crankin said, compare apples to apples.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    369
    I don't think people meant that you can't go fast on a steel bike. You definitely can as evidenced by Crankin's son. Steel won't prevent you from going faster, you definitely can as you improve. It's just known for comfort and durability instead of speed but plenty of people in steel bikes can probably run circles around people on carbon bikes - its more dependent on body condition then the type of material the bike is made of

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Between the Blue Ridge and the Chesapeake Bay
    Posts
    5,203
    Getting faster is up to you. Riding more, riding smart, riding intervals, and riding with people who are (slightly) faster than you will make you faster. A carbon bike that is 3lbs lighter than a steel bike will not do that all by itself. Nothing against carbon, just be cautious of believing that the minute you get a carbon bike that you will be fast automatically.

    That being said, when I bought my steel Jams Coda Comp with 700x28 tires bike for commuting in 2003 to replace my 1986 steel Specialized Stumpjumper with knobby 26x1.5 tires, yeah, I cut 10 minutes off my 10-mile commute the first day I rode it. But that's a pretty extreme upgrade, and mostly had to do with the wheels, I suspect.

    I do get a kick out of people who are sooooo concerned with having the lightest bike, the lightest components, even the lightest shoes...when really just losing 5-10-15 pounds, whatever, will make them much faster than a lower spoke count.

    Ride lots of bikes and then make your decision.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    404
    Quote Originally Posted by emily_in_nc View Post
    I just looked up the Jamis Quest Femme, and the stated weight is just 18.75 lbs, so I can certainly see that being a plenty fast bike! Wish the smallest size didn't have such a high standover (29.1") -- I'd be interested myself! It's a really pretty bike!

    http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...estf_spec.html
    That is a high standover. I'm 5'0" with short legs. I have to shorten my petite pants I agree, though, it's a good looking bike.

    Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
    I'd be willing to make a 60-mile special trip for a bike. That's nothing in the grand scheme of a bike's life. I'm just sayin'.....

    Jamis or not, you asked about steel bikes and I felt the need to disabuse you of the notion that they're all heavy clunkers. As Crankin said, compare apples to apples.
    And I appreciate everything you had to say. It turns out there is a shop only 45 miles away so I'm planning a little road trip.

    Quote Originally Posted by tulip View Post
    Getting faster is up to you. Riding more, riding smart, riding intervals, and riding with people who are (slightly) faster than you will make you faster. A carbon bike that is 3lbs lighter than a steel bike will not do that all by itself. Nothing against carbon, just be cautious of believing that the minute you get a carbon bike that you will be fast automatically.

    That being said, when I bought my steel Jams Coda Comp with 700x28 tires bike for commuting in 2003 to replace my 1986 steel Specialized Stumpjumper with knobby 26x1.5 tires, yeah, I cut 10 minutes off my 10-mile commute the first day I rode it. But that's a pretty extreme upgrade, and mostly had to do with the wheels, I suspect.

    I do get a kick out of people who are sooooo concerned with having the lightest bike, the lightest components, even the lightest shoes...when really just losing 5-10-15 pounds, whatever, will make them much faster than a lower spoke count.

    Ride lots of bikes and then make your decision.
    I'm not looking at a carbon frame bike. Just the fork. I am not one of those people that runs out to buy the latest and greatest (or what the advertisers tell us we "need"). As a matter of fact, I'm a little rebellious in that sense. My cell phone is years old, and if they'd let me, I would still use my 35mm camera. I can usually see past gimmicks. If it's a "trend", I stay away This is why I'm doing all this research, so I make the right decision for me. And it's also why I sincerely appreciate everyone's input. I know "lighter" doesn't mean better or faster - that's up to me.

    So, really, thank you. I'm finding the research fascinating.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    portland, or
    Posts
    190
    Quote Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry View Post


    I'm not looking at a carbon frame bike. Just the fork. I am not one of those people that runs out to buy the latest and greatest (or what the advertisers tell us we "need"). As a matter of fact, I'm a little rebellious in that sense. My cell phone is years old, and if they'd let me, I would still use my 35mm camera. I can usually see past gimmicks. If it's a "trend", I stay away This is why I'm doing all this research, so I make the right decision for me. And it's also why I sincerely appreciate everyone's input. I know "lighter" doesn't mean better or faster - that's up to me.

    You can definitely do a steel frame with a carbon fork! That's what I have on my cross bike.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    404
    I know, I know! I'm concerned about the fit. The Dolce fits so well. How do you test ride something that's not yet built? What happens if the geometry is just not right? The guy in the store seemed so willing to help, and I would love to work with him and have him build something just right.

    I have to get through these midnight shifts, then I'll get off the computer and back into the store

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Central Indiana
    Posts
    6,034
    Ah, your inseam complicates things, as you probably already know. I didn't realize that was an issue, too. I assume the Pacer comes in some smaller sizes. Perhaps that's the option to consider, then.
    Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.

    --Mary Anne Radmacher

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    central NY
    Posts
    404
    Quote Originally Posted by indysteel View Post
    Ah, your inseam complicates things, as you probably already know. I didn't realize that was an issue, too. I assume the Pacer comes in some smaller sizes. Perhaps that's the option to consider, then.
    I didn't realize it would be an issue, either. I thought I would just need a smaller size. But, yup, I noticed the top tubes on the steel bikes don't seem to slope much.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Beautiful NW or Left Coast
    Posts
    5,619
    the Surly long haul does come with 26" tires and 42cm; that ought to work for someone 5 feet tall.
    I like Bikes - Mimi
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    Davidson Custom Bike - Cavaletta
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    Old Raleigh Mixte - Mitzi

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    perpetual traveler
    Posts
    1,267
    I am just short of 4'11" and rode a Salsa Vaya a few days ago in their smallest size. It seemed pretty comfortable, except for the fact that the handbars were hugely wide. I could standover the top bar without a problem.

    And the new red color is striking.
    Trek Madone 4.7 WSD
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    1969 Schwinn Collegiate, original owner
    Terry Classic


    Richard Feynman: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.”

 

 

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