Global Cycling Network I quite like it. my steel 80s road bike is super comfy and eclipses my very stiff aluminium frame for comfort over long easy miles

I've had carbon frames, titanium frames, steel frames and aluminum frames over the years. The only ones I didn't care for the ride of were aluminum. No more aluminum for me.

Medium Rick what didnt you like about aluminium frames?

Had a steel frame bike commuting to college . . . and still have it 20yrs later. It has big 1.5 inch tires and a great ride. Custom gearing but a little rust on the chain stays. Love it till the rust god takes it away. Did have one wreck, which destroyed the front wheel but no damage to the frame or fork. She is heavy but a blast to ride fast downhill with the tall gearing :)

Still riding steel bikes, mainly because I can't afford to replace them. :)

my extra weight is from a certain appendage

@@mikes1984 then I wouldn’t bike at all. Those saddles suck

What about people who are over 6'6" (2 m)?

😂😂😂😂😂

Mine is not coming from my brain lol

Charlie Dillon I assume this was steel not aluminium

The "Chromo" in the name implies it. (CrMo steel)

That a carbon frame would have been in pieces is just speculation on your part. A car ran in the back of me, completely destroyed the wheel and damaged the rear derailleur but did nothing to the carbon frame, not even a bent drop-out. The frame is still going strong over 20 years later. Who knows what would have happened if I had been on a steel frame; I don’t because I wasn’t. In some accidents frames get damaged and in others they don’t, irrespective of the material.

Did you have a replaceable derailleur hanger by chance? My point was my frame was bent to a full 90 degree bend, sat for a few days, and was bent back with a wrench. Carbon ain't doin' that. Anyway, glad you were lucky and got some good use out of your frame!

The hanger is an integral part of the dropout, but no, everything was fine.

Don't back down. All of those terms are definitely reasonable.

I fully support your claims. Can Lasty please be Emperor Palpatine then? And if Matt wants to be included too, he can be Padme, so we can have the whole scene.

sulfuratus that was implied.

What will be in the GCN bottle, and what will be stuffed down the tubes of the Canyon. That is what we really want to know? How

Niels Heldens It is rare to be in the presence of true genius.

Nikhil Ram Mohan i've got a relay bicycle that was made in Nottingham prior to the war still ride it runs good

Plus small dmg and aluminium or carbon is likely scrapped

yes fam

I'm no GCN but I live by and have meet the guys at BOO Bicycles, I plan to hit them up in spring to try the lot, road, commuter, CX, and MTB. They told me it shines best in MTB where you have a lot of torsional load on the frame that bamboo dampens a bit.

wouldn't you get sick of being chased by Panda's?

hahaha that comment made my day. but i dont think id have much of a problem living in Ireland. i hear the frame multiplies so buy one and you never have to worry about buying another frame again

or you buy one for your kid and it grows with them so you never have to buy them another bike. Until they get inadvertently munched by a Panda.

Damn, you stole my joke.

I agree with you. I have everything from Tange Prestige, True Temper, Reynolds to Ti to Carbon as well as aluminum. I absolutely love my Reynolds 531 steel bike. But my GT Edge Ti is insanely comfortable. The carbon bike feels dead to me. I know a lot has to do with your tire width and pressure, but man, I love my steel and Ti bikes. I also admire the craftsmanship that goes into building a steel or Ti bike.

How does the Reynolds 531 stack up against Reynolds 520? I'm considering buying the 2017 Jamis Renegade Expat but I'm second guessing the 520.

Sorry, I meant Reynolds 853, not sure why I typed 531. Not sure about the 520, never rode it. Good luck with your choice though!

@@pastagreyhound 853 = Brilliant Tubes

Simon Richardson, a.k.a.. "Si Ri The Science Guy".

Are you being serious though? No wonder the lights didnt turn for me when I was on aluminum bike lmao

Mike Marino Rob is British ex pat

un less your racing super enduro bat shit intercontinental masacisam and then steel ftw

Brian Cartoscelli I race a carbon Sava bike but my training is 90% on a GMC Denali 6061 30 lbs alloy. People always ask me why are you so slow during training but win on race day? I point to their bike and say : Is that the bike you trained with ? Their answer is YES . I tell them next time take a backpack and add 18 lbs to it then go train and tell me how it goes. They storm off looking pissed.

If you train for same amount of the time, it doesn't matter on what bike, because the watt you produce will be the same just at lower speed. if you train at same distance then you are right, because you maintain the watt output for longer period time on a slower bike Sorry for my English :D.

Sharif Naddaf Indeed it's the same 40 km course. On the Carbon it feels like a joke. On the 14 kg road bike it is a challenge. In my opinion ( just me ) a 6 kg bike does not add enough resistence to train for maximum output on shorter courses. 14 KGS with 175 lbs + 25 km wind going 32 km/hr is not that easy to pull off. And you will need some legs to pull that off for 40 km straight. Not many can pull it off specially on a 14 kg bike with 32c tires . That is the type of training I do. This is why I train on a heavier bike as the resistence is passed to the legs much faster and your body has to maintain a constant flow of oxygen to maintain those speeds. Some pros actually do this type of training. They use the same bike but loaded with bottle weights. This type of training is never discussed because it really is only for top level cyclists who want to have that extra edge. Looking at Chris Froome for example if we both did a short 20 km course with 14 kg bikes Chris Froome would be dropped in the first km. However if we both did a 200 km course on 14 kg bikes ( full max output ) I would be dropping out at 70 km and would DNF. Different bodies , different tools. Long distance smaller weight and lighter bike. I am built more for track cycling so 200km runs are not possible ( at full max output).

Idk the times for pros haven’t changed much since they still all rode steel so I think in reality it’s just like carbon, quality is what matters not material

But it's no longer durable.

Shannon Trainer yes it is. Way more. Can carry. Tons of cargo too, that’s why touring bikes are made out of it.

@@shannontrainer5857 It's easily the most durable material you can make a bike from while aluminium being the least durable.

Kandi Klover That’s because those use much thicker steel. The Trek 920 is made out of... wait for it... aluminum.

@@shannontrainer5857 I would never call a trek 920 the best bike.

The steel vs aluminium/carbon comfort is certainly a common feature bonus that I've heard about. The thing is, you can engineer all of the materials, within limits, to specific ride qualities. I just wonder how much of this is about customer preferences vs. actual material performance. That said, I've never ridden a steel frame road bike, they went out of mass market before I got interested. Getting one just for the experience (and switching frames once in a while) is certainly tempting.

nimeq titanium should give you even more comfort, at lower weight. I got myself a titanium MTB frame, and it definitely feels great. I'll definitely consider it for a road bike but it would be great to see a video where they talk about it, since they are less common and it's hard to find a bike to test

As much as I love my two classic steel frame road bikes, I would jump at the opportunity to ride a titanium frame. As you said, though, they are exceedingly rare (even in bike-friendly Minneapolis) and they are expen$ive.

I've ridden and raced different steel, carbon, titanium and aluminum frames since I first started racing in 1987. By far, the most agile and high performance ride has been a Scott CR1 (saunier duval edition). This is in comparison to a Basso Gap (columbus SL), Kellogg (ishiwata 020), Giant Team TCR, and a Merlin Road, in addition to others such as Devinci, Fetish, and cannondale. I still have all these bikes, btw, in addition to several others. My comment is - if you didn't have your mind blown by the performance of a well--built carbon frame, you weren't riding a well built carbon frame. There really is _no_ comparison. There is a reason the pro's ride carbon, and it isn't because they're paid to. They ride the bike that will help them win. This is why you sometimes see a pro riding a bike with a name on it (usually the teams frame sponsor) that was built by someone else - and it's never a steel frame anymore.

Zen Cycle - Complete BS! Loads of high level national cross and road races are won on titanium, steel, and aluminum bikes each year. Pro's ride what the sponsors give them, and by and large the largest bike companies out there that have the $$$ to sponsor pro teams are pushing carbon fiber bikes because that's what they mass produce and make the most $$$ off of. I've ridden a Crumpton, a Parlee, and a custom Calfee and none of them blew me away with their performance. Used to have a Look 585 carbon fiber frame, a pretty well regarded frame ridden by several top euro teams. Nothing overly amazing about it either. Have ridden both Specialized S Works, and Cannonale CF bikes (both have been ridden by multiple TDF Pro teams). Again, nothing that blew me away or suddenly out of the blue made my performance shoot to the moon. At the end of the day it is always about the engine, and no carbon fiber frame including a Scott is going to suddenly make anyone worlds faster or worlds better. Components and wheels have gotten so light that any reasonably well built steel or ti frame with a CF fork and a nice set of light CF wheels and can easily be brought down to at or very near the UCI weight limit so there is no huge weight advantage either when you look at the total bike package. I have a steel Vanilla as one of many examples that with Dura Ace and my Zipp wheels is 14 lbs and change in a size that would be the equivalent of what most frame makers call a stock 57 size. And that bike rides as fast and as well as any of the "high foot" CF frames I have ever ridden including the Look, the Parlee, the Specialized, and the Crumpton, which are all regarded as very good CF frames. A guy name Alejandro Valverde (not a bad rider, LOL) rides a Canyon Ultimate, yet often trains on old school steel frames, and is on record saying he could easily ride several of those frames in races and be competitive with the right groupsets and wheels.

My 1990 MASI is the same,Ive ridden it a whole lot and it doesnt have a scratch on it,killer paint and clear coat still looks new. Quad butted reynolds 753,silver soldered at low temp,internal lugs,MASI did some good work.

That's one beautiful bike you have

Good to hear about the Resolution....I was looking at getting a Mason bike

I still have my first custom built Ciocc from 1985... it's a thing of beauty and rides like a dream. 6 speeds in the rear with Shimano 600 SIS first itteration. Only issue after a 1/4 century was having a drop tube shifter fail and I found a new old stock one at a local bike shop that has been around longer than I have (and I'm about to turn 56.)

Phil Ward Me TOO

Interesting. I’ve found that it’s the consumers who ultimately push the sales of carbon by demanding lighter materials, hidden cables, etc. It costs millions to manufacture the bikes so manufacturers simply aren’t going to do it if the demand is not there. True they will Do a test run of bikes to gauge demand but it’s ultimately up to the consumer. If the vast majority want alloy, then it’s what will dominate the market.

Touring bikes are made of steel. They are reliable, low maintenance, and robust. You can beat/abuse them and they keep on going. Even after riding in the rain and not lubing the chain or anything but occasionally pumping the tires up for 2 years.

Kandi Klover when you’re talking about not maintaining a bikes components (chain, derailleur, tubes, etc) you’re not really comparing frames anymore lol. Those components can be swapped out and have no relevance to this discussion looool.

When looking at what is available as perhaps an long term upgrade or replacement in case of theft or destruction for my “entry level” steel bicycle, I am reaching the conclusion that I need to hang on to my current bicycle for as long as I can, because they don't make them anymore as they used to. If you want steel including the fork and a horizontal top tube, your choice is almost nothing. It seems to be down in choice to the amazingly beautiful “Superleggera” made by Wilier (nice one!). The only option with choice and local availability seems to be titanium, which is rather expensive. The whole market for mid range bicycles which last well, seems to have gone down the tubes of aluminium or carbon fibre, and they all look like children's bikes with a sloping top tube, even though most people on “road bikes” (race bikes) are not competing in races. If anyone knows about more full steel road bikes, please leave a clue. People who aren't even racing, care too much for the last bit of speed, while disregarding the environment and the longevity / repair of the item. My “road bike” is 11.5 kg, which is just a few kg heavier than aluminium ones, which is about 2-3% of the total weight. This is marginal for all but people in competition, isn't it. Try beating the feeling of overtaking people on top end plastic bikes, on the beautiful harmony of a “real” bike, obviously a little heavier than theirs ! ;-P Literally everyone who sees my steel bike says “whoaaaa that is beautiful !” Conclusion: an entry level Bianchi (gold race special) made in 2000, is today at the top of the line in bicycles for people who are not competing. Because the building overall frame building just went *down* so much since then, just as it did for fixed gear commuter bikes, once Gazelle gave up on their craft (they now build their old version again, which is and will always be a superb bicycle). Most people want shiny throw away crap. You see this everywhere. The market for quality is tiny. I guess titanium is the future than, since it combines most of the benefits. I read alimunium does not deal with metal fatigue and eventually gives way. For me that's a non-starter. I don't even look at aluminium frames anymore after that, plus it is apparently hard to repair. Who needs a bicycle which will eventually fail, even if that is in 20 years, but for sure ? I don't understand people.

Marc-André Lavoie A customer brought a Saffron into my shop. It was one of the prettiest bikes Ive ever seen !!

thanks for that pmsl niice

0:44 'Maganese'

Oh I was so pleased to read your comment. I just think that steel bikes are aesthetically pleasing, and thought I must just be some kind of nut!

Wally May Yeah we'd love it, thanks!

Same here

LameBeluga _23 That is precisely why you look as far ahead as you can and not 2-3 feet in front of you.

Thoughtyness so looking into the sky would be the best ? while technicly the sky is the most far away objekt i can look at ? doesn't sound that save to me :P

Thoughtyness The point was that the hole was not visible due to snow covering it...

Hilarious comments here

Is the bike okay?

graphine.

A 183g graphene frame.

famous for its chainstays that crumple with kick stand clamps. Might as well have carbon. Really though I like steel, just don't know why surly is so stubborn about saving a few grams on their chainstays. Seems they've just become dug in on being right on it.

Well to be fair you can weld aluminium too but chances are it will brake there in 1000km.

@@Bartooc Aluminium will break sooner and the frame will never feel as good after 10 years. Steel however, can feel as good as when it rolled off the shop.

There already is titanium like on Litespeed bikes.

Upcoming²: Magnesium

Magnesium

Upcoming: Scandium the least known frame material

+ Columbus Gilco.

Carbon plus 105=perfection without rhe pricetag

Have you tried a high end carbon bike? One with thick tubes? I have a full carbon bike Nike (used to have chromo, steel, and aluminum). All the bikes were fun and I rode them all into the ground, but one think I noticed about the carbon bike is it’s intense stiffness. Tho I’ll say, some carbon bikes are designed to flex in certain areas to give the rider more comfort, it’s called Carbon Fiber Tuning. They can make the bike as stiff as they want, or make it flex. Try to find a stiff carbon frame (race variant, they don’t flex so much)

Sorry just realized this is a year old reply.

@@KillersFromTheWest Do you have a specific name of bike that has stiff carbon frame, what do you ride?

real.. prone to rust

Only if you don't do your maintenance every once in a while.

Does that mean i'm not real? Wait, i'm typing this on a plastic keyboard. What's happening? Holy shit. I'M JUST AN ILLUSION

Juan Bautista I ride a Buff Mirage it is really steely good.

Prone to rust if you don't look after it probably and leave it out in the wet and damp! I know someone with a 50 year old steel frame. Resprayed looks great and no internal damage. Keep it dry and wipe it down after it gets wet. Superficial rust will form eventually, but can be removed. If you don't look after it, then yes it will rust badly after many years. If you don't shave or wash you will have a long beard and stink after a year! Look after your bike and it will look after you!

Yep, steel's the best material for commuting.

there are people who ride steel and ti and then a bunch of people who dont know what there missing lol

Duncan De hulst wow your so tough and strong, I inspire to be as great as you

Steven Dolman lol you dont have to obey me my friend :)

Basically aluminum gets close to the rigidity of carbon fiber frames without the high cost. Steel, well good luck even finding one in your average local bike store. Also aluminum can easily be melted down and turned into other products when the bike is end of life. I think the best bike for commuting is the 15 year old bike that nobody really wants to steal(not steel) anymore.

Alex Paulsen Well it's tricky because steel just doesn't trump carbon in many areas at all. Yes stainless doesn't rust but man alive is it expensive. You can buy cheap carbon but not cheap stainless. Also, from what I'm told stainless is hard to re-weld, whereas actually carbon repair is very secure. Can't argue with your last point but mas sproduced steel bikes also break.

Simon Richardson 21 years later and my steel frame is still going strong. Composites are the future of lightweight bicycles, but the touring and randouneuring guys will definitely have a strong bias to "reliable" old steel. Either way, both are still more enjoyable than aluminium. Carbon repairs are still a specialist repair, especially if you want to be able to trust it. Any good frame builder can probably reweld one of their own frames and guarantee it.

It's perhaps the only thing I don't like about GCN and how cycling is evolving: all the buzz about technology and materials, all the needs and wants you're talked into (electronic shifters, hydraulic brakes, sliders on your frame, 'aero'). That's not what cycling is about for me. That's as fascinating as hearing a carpenter talk about windows.