4 ms·
Touring cyclist != randonneur. In any event, for tourers those handmade frames tend to be steel, and the majority of LBSs (i.e. specialist shops in a handful of
by Mediterraneo10 6y ago
Touring cyclist != randonneur. In any event, for tourers those handmade frames tend to be steel, and the majority of LBSs (i.e. specialist shops in a handful of countries aside) are reluctant to stock steel touring frames because they will seem too heavy and overkill to the majority of local consumers. As for leather saddles, maybe the margin on a Brooks isn't actually that high.
- jeffbee 6y agoI guess I'm lucky that around here there are shops that cater only to steel frame buyers (like Stone's Cyclery in Alameda), shops that sell mostly cargo and family bikes (Blue Heron in Berkeley) and several others where you won't find anyone from the carbon and lycra crowd hanging around. Those folks are well-served by places like Mike's Bikes, but I don't want to go to a bike shop where most of the customers arrive in cars.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- mixmastamyk 6y agoWhy would one want a steel frame, besides it being somewhat cheaper? I've seen Al for $250 so the savings don't seem to be so great either. Maybe as a beach cruiser.
- trashcan 6y agoSome people prefer steel frames over aluminum because they transfer less vibration to the rider. So the aluminum-framed bike is usually a harsher ride. It's also generally more durable.
- pmontra 6y agoI own two bikes, a gravel bike with carbon front and steel frame, and a touring bike with aluminum frame. I did some 200 km day rides on both at about the same pace. The gravel bike is more comfortable off road. The touring bike is more responsive and probably faster on paved roads but I do my serious cycling with the gravel bike now. Those are the expected characteristics of steel vs aluminum. A full carbon frame would be the best, comfortable and fast.
- jeffbee 6y agoSteel frames generally have a plenitude of attachment points for bags, which is important for people who need to carry all of their food, clothing, and shelter (and tools and spare tires) on the bike.
- hansvm 6y agoAluminum is generally more challenging to machine and weld correctly. I've personally had stock aluminum frames split, and I know that failure mode is much more likely than in steel. For those and other reasons steel is also easier to safely modify if you ever need.
- petre 6y agoIt's not necessarily cheaper. Only budget hi-ten steel models are cheap. You'd want a quality steel frame if you have skinny wheels and value ride quality or if you're a tourer and want a bike that has many attachment points as is weldable in any shop or if you're a BMX-er and throw your bike around all day long or if you're a bike messenger or a fixie type and want a long lasting serviceable bike or if you simply like the looks of skinny tubes.
- lokedhs 6y agoSteel frames gives you a much smoother ride, and unless you do a lot of short climbing, the difference in weight doesn't matter that much. In fact, a heavier frame carries more momentum, which can be a benefit in some cases.