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forum
Do I need a custom built steel frame?
Some of you may have seen my 'dilemma'posta month or so ago, very briefly when my insurance payout (hopefully!) comes through I will be in the market for a new bike, most likely I will end up riding carbon bike in the 2.5 - 3k range.
I am constantly drawn back to looking at a custom steel frame, Ricky Feather is based nearby as is Arthur Caygil, very much old and new skool.
I like my bikes fast and to handle, comfort is important but I'd take the former if I could only have one of those!
Should a steel beauty be left as a 40th birthday present when it really will be a bike for life?
Would love to hear from those who have gone from a 'good' carbon bike to steel - both positive and negative!
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- cyclisto 3 min 52 sec ago
I have used hooks to hang bikes too and I would never pay £160 for hanging my bike, but at least this system has a lot of components of various...
- Paul J 2 min 52 sec ago
And yet we have multiple of those ~10 athletes ending up on women's podiums. Which is statistically completely impossible, if TIMs have no...
- Surreyrider 8 min 42 sec ago
I saw that BBC story and thought it was odd and disturbiung. There is no war - except the one they falsely try to create.
- open_roads 12 min 7 sec ago
I'd go further and just make it legal for the police to knock them off by whatever means they have available - with zero right of recourse for any...
- Joe Totale 26 min 1 sec ago
This is all conjecture but I guess that a more conventional wheel would not have just disintegrated like this one did and although would have been...
- KDee 36 min 45 sec ago
Sure that's not the non-AXS model? Even in the EU, this model has a list price of 4900 euros.
- Kendalred 59 min 45 sec ago
"Another cycle lane in Poole made national headlines after upset locals complained to the Daily Mail, Telegraph, and GB News" Nuff said...
- webbierwrex 1 hour 10 min ago
He has a great youtube channel with "shorts" detailing where he is at. Also shows the testing he has put in to the higher is more aero side of...
- chrisonabike 1 hour 24 min ago
Surely you'd do as well with a carbon-fibre sofa and some balloons (I bet this think isn't great in a gale either)? Or - if the goal is to get...
- Hirsute 3 hours 58 min ago
I think the driver would have accelerated more with the same result.
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3 comments
I had a 2k carbon bike and last year invested in a bike fit with a view to upgrading into the 3k + range . After the bike fit I found it all most impossible to get an off the shelf bike that could be made to fit me. (long arms - not that I drag my knuckles !!!) if I had gone to the professional size frame (they come in half sizes) I could have got one but at 4k + fit out they were out of my price range !!! So I ended up going for a steel frame (Waterford USA) with a high end fit out by a local bike shop (which came highly recommended) hand built wheels , carbon bars, 11 speed etc total wt (incl pedals ) is 7.5 kg and it's fast very fast on the first run out it shaved 12 mins of my best time on my short 43 mile training route. ! And that was while I was still working my way throught the gears (11 speed) and using single sided road pedals (after SPD's)
I love it !!! But I would recommend that you have a bike fit then work out if you can buy a bike that fits or not and go from there ! Steel frames have come a long way and if I had fited carbon wheels then it would have been just under the 7kg mark
Not as twitchy in a cross wind as the carbon frame and (because of the perfect fit to me. ) 100 + rides are comfortable in terms of position etc
Which evert way you go injoy !!
They look pretty grim
Not the frame, it's a work of art but the whole thing just looks wrong.
That does look very wrong, as do several of the other Continental builds.