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Oh this is such a thing. The lack of compatibility also makes things less customizable. I used to always add a horizontal brake lever for reaching when I lift
by aidenn0 3y ago
Oh this is such a thing. The lack of compatibility also makes things less customizable. I used to always add a horizontal brake lever for reaching when I lift up from the drops (which I do when in traffic), but now that every shifter is different and every shifter is integrated into the brake levers it's not really an option.
Somewhat unrelated I also kind of hate how popular aluminum has become (or at least was when I last bought a road bike). Since all the mass produced frames are aluminum, the only options for a steel frame were more exotic models and thus expensive. In retrospect I wish I had just bought a steel hybrid frame and built a bike myself, but I was rather busy at the time, and it probably still would have been more expensive since so many of the parts are non-interchangeable.
- CobaltFire 3y agoI ride a Niner RLT Steel (bought as a frame) for that exact reason. It was a tossup between that or a Lynsey, and I snagged a close out color of the Niner for 1/3 of the quoted price of the Lynsky at the time, and that included a carbon fork. I’m actually overhauling it now with an entire group set after riding the last one since 2016. Interesting fact that relates: the first couple years of the RLT Steel shipped with a fork that is 15x100 thru axle; nowadays the gravel/cyclocross market has settled on 12x100. So I ended up getting a set of New Old Stock (NOS) 29” wheels from that same era that are 15x100/12x142 and 22.5mm wide. Perfect for my bike, but vanishingly hard to find now as a set due to the oddball matchup.
- aidenn0 3y agoYeah, that frame costs more than my entire bike did. There were steel-framed options at the time, but the cheapest ones were pushing $2k.
- CobaltFire 3y agoI was going to say I paid around half of what they list for, but it looks like they are closing out last years color right now. Inflation adjusted I paid about what they are asking today ($1,300). Pretty pricey, but I also got a bike fit and some other stuff and wanted a frame to just be done with it and ride. It’s served me well, and has many years of life left! Random side note: I just realized this is the second time in two days I’ve responded to you (other was regarding a 7 seat vehicle). HN can be quite a small place!
- lancesells 3y agoIf you're using it in place of a car $1,300 is cheap. Plus you're much more friendly to the environment and your own health.
- CobaltFire 3y agoI commuted on it for a few years, and now that I’m retired it’s getting plenty of recreational use.
- aidenn0 3y ago> If you're using it in place of a car $1,300 is cheap. Plus you're much more friendly to the environment and your own health. Except it was being compared to a $700 bike (not frame, assembled bike), by the person with whom I share financial decisions.
- jacquesm 3y agoKeep an eye on that fork and treat it with kid gloves. I'll ride any bike (even experimental ones) but no carbon forks for me.
- fingerlocks 3y agoMy Ritchey carbon fork is nearly 20 years old, still going strong! And this is on my former racing bike.
- CobaltFire 3y agoFork has been hammered to hell and back over the last 7 years, though no major crashes. Not an issue so far, nor are there any reported issues (Niner RDO carbon fork) with anyone else using it.
- prmoustache 3y agoIf you buy wheels with DT Swiss or Hope wheels you can usually swap the end caps to fit different standards. I am using almost exclusively DT Swiss 350 hubs and some of my wheels have been in use with quick axle, 15x100 and 12x100 frames. I even converted some 12x142 wheels to 12x148 (boost) mountain bike standard with the Boostinator kit from Wolftooth components.
- CobaltFire 3y agoDT Swiss is what I ended up buying, though they were already the setup I needed.
- geephroh 3y agoSame for Industry Nine and a couple of others. But you really have to re-dish the wheel if you're going from 142 to superboost or 157.
- prmoustache 3y agoTrue. I am used to wheel building so it was no big deal to me.
- tomtheelder 3y agoOut of curiosity, why would you opt for a steel frame? Durability?
- midoridensha 3y agoThere's a few reasons some people prefer steel. 1) You can weld it pretty easily, if your frame cracks. I guess this is nice if you're bikepacking through Nepal or something, but I don't really see the practicality for normal people. 2) It's cheap (well, not any more). 3) It's more flexible than aluminum, so some people prefer the way it rides. These days, I'd say #3 is the only really valid reason for most people. Steel bikes are generally heavier than aluminum however, but it is possible to get them close if you use a high-grade cromoly steel, but then that removes most of the cost advantage.
- chasontherobot 3y ago#1 matters if you want to own and ride a bike for a few decades, which used to be a relatively common thing.
- midoridensha 3y agoI've seen no evidence that aluminum bikes don't last a few decades. Frame failure is not a common failure mode in bicycles.
- wiredfool 3y agoI've had two frames fail with fatigue cracks at ~ 10k miles or less. One steel (at the chainstay bridge weld) and one aluminum (at the seat tube/bottom bracket weld).
- Xylakant 3y agoNot only can you weld steel, it also is more forgiving in the failure mode. Steel bends and the damage to the frame is better visible (and could be corrected, if you prefer so) while aluminum frames can develop hidden defects and catastrophically fail.
- andrewshadura 3y agoNot sure what country you live in, but here separate brake levers and steel frames are still easily found.