My sincere feeling is that if more people tried quality steel with modern components and quality wheelset, they would prefer it to carbon.

Steel is incredible, and so are rim brakes and mechanical groupsets, hopefully we see all this things make a comeback!

Greetings from Germany. Thank you for this video. What many people forget is what happens if a bike gets disposed. A steel frame can easily be recycled, while carbon frames can't. I'm currently saving money to get a custom steel frame and I'm looking forward to riding it. I wish you all the best, keep up the good work.

About six weeks ago I took delivery of a custom steel road bike. Columbus Spirit tubing, Dura Ace Di2, Enve fork, stem, seat post. Industry Nine aero wheels. 17.5 pounds all up. Hands down the best riding bike I've ever had. And made for me and my body; not to one of six available factory sizes. After a century on my Specialized carbon bike, I can't walk for a day. 100 on this bike is damn near a walk in the park. Super-fast, responsive.....I can only imagine what a fast rider (unlike me) could do with the bike. And less money than what I would've spent on a comparable carbon bike. I was back on my carbon bike this morning for 35 miles (on vacation; only brought the one bike); it was like driving a dump truck and I'm icing my knee as I write this. As Ferris Bueller said, "If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

I bought a steel frame for my "retirement" bike. I'm in the UK and had my frame "made to measure". I specified "Dutch bike" geometry and Mercian (Derby, UK) built me a frame based on their "King of Mercia" design. The tubes are Reynolds 725 chrome-moly. The fit is perfect and reminds me of donning a made to measure suit or shouldering a fitted shotgun. If you get a made-to-measure steel frame I am confident you will not regret it. I certainly don't

A new performance bike with externally routed cables and rim brakes! Thanks for pushing back against the trends.

I was out for a 12 mile ride today on my 1980 Univega Specialissima. They don't make them like that anymore and it's a shame. It's all Tange double butted tubing and is very light. You can feel that the frame is "alive" under you as you effortlessly ride along. Best $400 I ever spent in 1980. Made in Japan by the Miyata corp. The best company in the world at that time. Have upgraded it to a more "upright" riding position.

Louis couple of makes missing from the UK is Condor using Columbus tubing and Genesis using Reynolds.. both excellent and well respected. With great racing history. I’ve just ordered a Condor Acciaio frame and fork which uses Columbus spirit tubing and is built in Italy 😊 going to be running Chorus 11 speed 😃😃🤩👍🚴🏻 Pete

My Surly Pacer has always been my choice for lunch workouts. Ride it 5 days a week. Rim brakes, 10 spd 105 group set w/DuraAce downtube shifters in glorious disco tomato. Ride it in the fall and spring as well using 32mm tires. Like you said previously, care free riding but with no compromises in quality. Thanks for keeping cycling alive!

Thank you so much for being on team steel! I just don’t get how disrespected steel is anymore in cycling it’s just so bizarre to me. Now I have those steel bikes that are vintage, but absolutely hope to build a true modern performance steel bike such as yours. I appreciate all the insight for the dark star!

Great subject. I ride a 22 years old Olmo 16.5 EOM frame with C Record 10 and as we used to say "Steel is Real" I really appreciate a steel frame when out of the saddle sprinting and climbing. Steel also fatigues the body less on long rides.

Torelli a California based importer of handmade Italian steel road bike . I’ve bought a. lot of handmade frames in the past. This one here was purchased eight yrs ago , provides a smooth stable ride outfitted with Campagnolo Chorus.

Another performance steel road frame consideration might be the Rivendell Roadeo. A 55cm frame weighs less than 4 lbs, despite its beautifully lugged construction. Designed for fast club riding with pacelines, etc. with a lowish bottom bracket and clearance for 35mm tires. Rim brakes only. Quill or threadless stem.

There are several Italian brands mentioned here, but you don't mention Casati. i'm riding a Casati Espresso. Hand Built, fillet brazed, Columbus Spirit tubing. Very Light weight, responsize. Absolutely love riding this bike.

I'm so glad that I was able to get a Waterford gravel bike last year, especially now that they've ceased operations. Between that and my 1998 Bianchi Mega Set, I am not tempted by carbon frames at all.

Marinoni made in Terrebonne near Montréal, Canada since 1974. So great bikes that supplied us olympic team in the eighties (branded Raleigh)

Built up and rode many frames over the years and I must say I prefer steel overall. If you’re not racing competitively get a good quality steel bike

Great topic and even better channel-well done Bro. Scott. Please don't forget (like most do) JAMIS! Probably the best kept secret for over all value in America today. Eclipse, Coda and Renegade ;Reynolds 853, 621 and 520 respectively have been fantastic!!

I built my own lugged Steel Cyclocross frame in 2011 after watching a video by Richard Sachs and reading a book by Marc Chimonas and it was a phenomenal experience. It was way easier than I expected. It is a fantastic ride and super light and smooth. Steel today is not the steel we grew up with in the 70’s and 80’s and anyone turning their nose at it in favor of Carbon needs to consider a bit more knowledge and understanding research. Don’t let the manufacturer’s dictate what is best cause they have no clue.

Sorry you had that experience in those stores. I work in a shop that sells Trek and Giant, but also the QBP brands (Salsa, Surly, All-City), and at least half of our staff have steel road bikes. I got my self the last production steel bike Trek made before discontinuing it last year, the 520, and also have an 80s chromoly frame from Japan. Some shops employ people who love bicycles of all kinds, and some shops turn into marketing parrots for their major brand partners. I don't want to suggest people go into a shop with deceptive intentions, but go in with a bike in mind that you want (regardless of whether or not they have it), describe it's aspects, and see how close they get to it with their recommendation. I've personally told customers that we don't have what they are looking for, but help them find it, and put forward that we're still happy to service whatever bike they get. It's rare, but sometimes the All-City Zig-Zag doesn't cut it for steel customers.

As the saying goes... Steel is Real. Wish more people spoke the truth like you.

That Alchemy frame is an absolute beauty, very nice build too. I like the Deda furniture. Built up a Fairlight Secan last year. Its my favorite bike now for Audax/Brevet type rides and off road adventures. I still like my Specialized Tarmac, but I only ride it for training rides now.

Luis! This stuff is great!. I don't know why you don't show up in my feed more often. I am an old man (74) and have two frames I got back in the early '70s-- identical Ron Kit time trial frames that have performed flawlessly for 50 years. One of my regular rides (mostly around my neighborhood) ia a Ron Kitching time trial frame that, believe it or not, endured a full bike tour from Le Havre, France, to Florence, Italy and back with a load, because we didn't know better. That frame has been in my daily service for 50 years. Even as a drooling dotard, I can feel the responsive spring of this steel frame (Super Vitus tubing) that seems to propel me forward rather than hold me back. Keep up the good work. Your deep analysis is so welcome. Thank you. PJT

Thank you for taking the time to do these. I really enjoy your videos!

17 lbs for your new ride is very comparable to most carbon bike weights! Beautiful build and looking forward to hearing more about your next ride. Also Im quite jealous of you flatlanders with your big chainrings and tiny cassettes 😂

Steel is a hard sell to those who don't look past Specialized/Giant/Trek. The fact is that you can now get a custom steel frame, made exactly to your specs and measurements, painted as you wish, for appreciably less than the price of an S Works. Factor in the fact that the 500-700g weight disadvantage is actually immaterial until you're at least Cat 2, and that is a better purchase for most riders. If something off the shelf fits, both in terms of spec and size, then even better.

A nice test to do in order to see how a bike flexes is to support yourself in a doorway or otherwise, grab the brakes and stand on the pedals with them at the 3 o'clock position. With your full weight and pressure of both legs, you should be able to see the BB move from side to side. You can then compare this with your Colnago VR4. It would be interesting to see the difference side-by-side in a video, with the same wheels. Steel probably flexes more, but that energy is not lost. It is returned and you can feel this spring when you dance on the pedals and bunny hop over items.

I’d like to mention two great Canadian performance steel frame manufacturers. Mariposa Bicycles out of Toronto and Marinoni Bicycles out of Montreal.

Had a 6’5” friend get a carbon handlebar for his steel bike. I told him that he should just go steel on the handlebar. Suffice to say, the carbon handlebar broke, and he went to steel and has been happy and safer ever since.

I’ve heard someone else say this and it rings true through my experience: “steel is real!” I’ve used my steel frame bike for multiple 70.3 triathlons and it has never steered me wrong, literally or figuratively. They definitely can perform.

Very interesting. I'm a casual rider who doesn't really know all that much about bikes, honestly. I ride a Bianchi Vigorelli, a 631 steel bike with ultegra components that I bought new in 2001. I've loved the bike enough to keep it for 22 years. I've noticed on more than one occasion I've brought it to the bike shop for this or that fix and the techs, rather than trying to tell me my ride is trash, express admiration for my beautiful old ride.

Funny ....on my ride this morning I was thinking that the big manufacturers have side-lined steel as a viable frame material....and here you are shedding light!

Thank you for making this video! A few other companies making modern steel bikes: Stoemper, Pegoretti, Ciocc, Battaglin, Officine Matteo, Ligor and my favorite, Daccordi Cycles.

Luis - thx for yet another excellent video. I'm glad the new Darkstar frameset is performing well so far. Be well, sir.

Dutch brand Gazelle did a run of 250 steel road frames back in 2017/2018 to celebrate their 125th birthday. A Reynolds frame with a Cervelo carbon fork (Gazelle and Cervelo are both part of the same parent company). Gazelle had long since stopped producing road bikes, let alone steel ones, but for this occasion harkened back to their famous Champion Mondial model that ran from the '60s through to the late '90s / early 2000s, which, as the name suggests, at one point won the world championship and utterly dominated Dutch amateur racing. I'm not sure I ever found out who they commissionned to build the frames for them - I might have forgotten or never found out in the first place. It was a beautiful thing, but too expensive for me, plus I'm happy as can be with my' 1992 Champion Mondial built with modern components.

In April I had the opportunity to test ride a Cinelli Nemo (Gravel) at our local bike shop/café in Munich. Cinelli sent 3 people with a van loaded with bikes over the Alps and our local bike shop/café had organised several slots of both road and gravel guided tours. Fantastic event! Cinelli staff was really nice, down to earth and helpful. Oh, and I'm definitely sold on the Nemo. It's way stiffer than my vintage Sancineto in the bottom bracket, yet still not uncomfortable, and it still has that "zing" that we love about steel. Definitely got a soul... it's always teasing you to push a little harder. Just like an old three series or an Alfa. When (not if - when!) I can afford/justify it, I'll buy one.

Steel is real! Thanks for including plenty of “non-carbon” content on your channel. Another brand offering great steel bikes in the U.S. is Ritte. I have their steel road bike, the Phantom, and it’s my favorite road bike I’ve owned in 40 years of serious road cycling. Reynolds steel, Shimano Ultegra w/ hydro discs, Hunt wheels , clearance for 32mm tires. Perfect road bike for Vermont’s crappy pavement and milder gravel roads.

That Darkstar is a pretty bike - I keep thinking that I wouldn't necessarily go with a white frame myself because it will get dirty more obviously but motorists probably can see you better. It will be interesting to see how it fares over time.

Luis great vid as always, have very much been looking forward to this. Very fair and balanced summary of what’s out there. Agree you’ve got to ride it to know it, that’s the real take home point. As like carbon, not all steels are the same and most important is how they’re nuanced and used eg : tube shaping, thicknesses, where and how butting is placed, the overall geometry of the fabricated bike, ST and HT angles (0.5 of a degree can alter the ride feel). Your sizing numbers very close to mine, from previous vids and my personal experience is the slightly shorter wheelbase will keep the potential ride responsive and highly manoeuvreable without compromising your usual riding position / contact points. Good job and waiting for more 👏👍

Just found your channel today and you have some awesome content! Thanks for your thoughtful insight; I'm definitely hitting the subscribe button.

In my forty years of riding all kinds of bikes my most comfortable was a custom steel J.P. Weigle frameset.

I’m surprised that steel frames like this aren’t more common. I ride old steel frames that are restomodded with modern componentry and wheel sets. Yes, there’s the weight issue but from a fit/cost/comfort perspective, steel is truly viable. No problem keeping up on competitive group rides with this setup.

I'm glad I found this channel. I'm not a steel purist but I like to keep my options open and have frames in carbon, aluminum and steel.

An excellent review! Steel has much to offer. A good steel frame is an instrument, not a tool! I've ridden/raced all frame materials (well, not magnesium...) over 35 years and have a variety of steel, aluminium and carbon bikes in the stable (just evidence I'm being objective!). Steel rides beautifully and its lateral flex makes it corner exceptionally well. It is slightly heavier, but there are such advantages in feel, dependability, workshop simplicity and environmental performance that make a few grams (er, ounces?!) an easy trade. I can attest to Ritchey's quality and value and the Logic Road is definitely a 'sport' bike (rim or disc). In fact, I think Ritchey deserves more love - innovative and original. Another stable from you guys in the US is Gunnar and Waterford, another brand (rather than custom house) from us Brits is Enigma (mostly Ti, but high end steel too).

There are issues with purchasing a modern steel frame: most are super expensive and while they offer custom builts etc, most are simply too elaborate / boutique for what I am after. That's why I resorted to a classic steel frame with modern components. I have a classic Colnago (with precisa steel fork) with modern Dura Ace (9100 mechanical) and carbon wheels. I use this bike for fast group rides and am thinking of even doing some races on it. It weighs 8.5 kgs. I have a Pinarello with shimano 600 (downtube shifters) and 32-spoke box rim wheels for retro rides, and last, I have an old steel frame with carbon fork (1 inch - hard to find these days) that I use as a winter bike. All work very well and the Colnago feels, performance-wise, not much different to my carbon racebikes, but it is much smoother and doesn't make any noise whatsoever. It feels much softer on the road but not too flexy / noodly / ... so ideal for showing that you don't need a carbon frame to drop riders with a 2023 Trek Madone / Specialized Tarmac. Some (small) additions: Another frame builder: Jaegher Wilier had Alessandro Ballan on a Wilier steel in 2006 for Roubaix (probably the last time a steel frame was used in a big race?). That was a one-off as well, so not commercially available. Search for Steel is real: Alessandro Ballan's Lampre-Fondital custom Wilier. He got 3rd on that steel frame. Pretty sure this was the last big race / classic / monument with a steel frame making the podium.

i'd love to see you go through the physical process of your builds, or how you manage to finance a new build. i love your channel and content and it is inspiring me to do my own build w steel, but on a true true tight budget

I have a Trek 760 Steel racing bike that i have equipped with Shimano 105 and aero Wheels. Great bike and ride.

Condor Cycles in London make fantastic steel bikes. Actually they are hand made on Italy and designed in London. They ride like an absolute dream

I have recently been given an 1983 Raleigh Quasar steel frame bike. After some recommissioning, I have been amazed at how comfortable it is to ride, even on 23mm tyres at 90psi. I have only ever owned aluminium and carbon bikes to date. Maybe steel really is real.........Down tube shifters and only 12 speeds is taking some getting used to but not too bad to use after STi. Period brakes are not so good so I'm having to think and look further ahead. Enjoy your videos by the way.

Love your channel! I've been looking into steel frames but never got one because of the trend of alloy and carbon frames. Now the prices of steel frames have jumped a few hundred bucks. Your videos are really helping me out on my next build. Thank you!

I’d like to add Chumba to that steel bike list, the Terlingua. It sells as a gravel bike but also does road duty very well. They offer some stock sizes and also allow a treat or two to the geo. ❤thanks, as always a great video.

Cool to hear your thoughts on how the geometry and tubing affects the riding. And good to hear your in-depth riding impressions. I Would have been interesting to hear your opinion on the Cinelli Nemo Tig. A shame they didn't get back to you. Some additional frame manufacturers worth a look, Curve makes some interesting steel frames(as well as Titanum) for Adventure and road riding. Rizzo cycles(steel and Ti) and Scarab cycles makes some really good looking custom frames as well.

What I've found with quality steel frames is the feeling of stored energy as the frame flexes under load.

I have a 1917 Iver Johnson Truss Frame Special Racer - all steel. It’s been in my family since about 1948. I still ride it regularly and it couldn’t be more fun. Single speed, skip-tooth chain and sprockets, steel wheels, coaster break, Schwalbe tires. She’s a good old girl!!! Original list price in the catalog was $55.00. At 106 years old, that’s a great value 😂

I have a number of Ritchey bikes, the oldest being a 1987 Super Comp mtn bike. This year I bought two new Ritchey frames, an Outback gravel bike and a Swiss Cross cross bike. They are really special and I'm very pleased with them. Thanks for the great video.

Im surprised you didn't mention Pegoretti, and btw, that Standert bike you showed, the frame is aluminum. You mention problems with Cinelli but the Darkstar by Luxe wheelworks doesn't even have a website

Gorgeous bike. It would be great to hear your opinions on how the bike does uphill, especially in sprint mode when you really need put a lot of force through the BB area. Additionally, how does this build price compare with equivalent carbon models?

I own a Marinoni steel touring bike. Best bike I ever bought. These guys still sell a performance oriented steel frame bike. They are based on the suburbs of Montreal and they have have been building steel bikes including custom sizes for decades now (since the 70's i think). You can add them to your list although I'm unsure if they sell in the US.

Wow, the DarkStar build looks awesome! As I mentioned before, in my humble opinion and I own two, when talking about steel, Dario Pegoretti should always be mentioned. Even though Dario is no longer with us, the Bottega is still making some awesome frames. But it is pricey! I also have two Legends By Bertoletti custom. Marco Bertoletti is a master frame builder and a really cool guy. I have the Sella Ronda(Classic) and Fedaia, both steel. If I were to do a Crit, I would take the Fedaia any day. I have been collecting steel bikes for many years and still think steel is awesome for long rides, bike sportives, and some racing. Steel bikes are flat out cool and awesome rides. There are so many great Frame Builders making some really amazing custom frames. I believe the more seasoned rider will always have a steel bike, even if it is just for special rides. I love my steel bikes! Keep up the steel movement! Great video!

That's a gorgeous new build. Man, I've never been a trend chaser or a latest tech junkie. I've ridden significant miles on most frame materials, and I'm fully aware what the science says. I'm also fully aware what my pocketbook, durability history, carbon footprint statistics and my spondylosis & spondylolisthesis riddled back says. Steel is better for all those concerns.

It’d be interesting to see your take on state bikes. They have a steel all road and I believe steel or aluminum AXS builds for under 2k

As a fellow bike nerd... I appreciate you sharing this absolute thoroughbred of a bike.

Incremental advantages! I know the video was about modern steel frames but I ride two steel bikes: My Ishiwata "Glories Victory 019 tubeset frame may not be the lightest, but having purchased in new in 1983 and ride it every week, and used to race 'road' on it. I doubt I could ever part with it. Built originally with first series Suntour Superbe Pro (SSP) ( friction), I upgraded it to Superbe Pro Indexed when I restored it about 12 years ago. I needed something to ride whilst I restored it, so I purchase a frame on Ebay made from Columbus SLX tubing and another SSP group set from the same seller and I restored this bike too. On this one, I have been racing Masters criteriums since 2011 with periodic success (yes, with down-tube shifters), all the while competing against some younger riders with modern carbon bikes. I know I will die with both of these bikes forming part of my estate! Curiosity has got the better of me though. I recently purchased a second hand 2018 BMC SLR01, as I wanted to know first hand the difference between bike tech some 40 years apart. I must say, the BMC is definitely more responsive, lighter, handles about the same, is smoother and the Sram Red etap shifters are very, very convenient, and the wheel set (spokes and rims) is more efficient. I will say however, the quality of the old SSP group set is first class, without question. The hubs are still better than any other hubs I have come across , (Chris King, DTSwiss) but it is unfortunate that the rear hubs cannot be set up for 11speed. Yes, steel may be a little heavier but it will far out live carbon frames and the built in obsolescence of modern bikes. Another advantage of older steel bikes is the availability of parts at a fraction of the cost of modern components. Good quality should last a lifetime and by all indicators my steel bikes will comfortably outlive me.

At this point it’s up to steel manufacturers and possibly the automotive industry suppliers if steel bicycle frames make a comeback. It would be interesting to see what can be done with the latest high strength steels. I believe the issue becomes ease of manufacturing. Before steel makes a comeback, full 3D printed frames will have taken the high end market.

Nice review. I am curious why not a Colnago Master? A completely traditional frame that should be easy to equip with a modern group set (sans disc brakes). Yes, if you go with the Precisa fork, you would have more weight but even for its time, the steel is as light as it's going to get. Not sure why a press fit BB is important.

Great video! I have been riding nothing but steel for the past 10 years. Add Pegoretti to your list. I owned one for about 5 years. My current steel bike is a custom built by Dave Kirk. Best bike I have every thrown my leg over!

Great video as always kind sir! As a Belizean myself, I wanna hear more about this Team Belize haha

Metal + rim brakes. Best choice. 👍🏻

I am a steel frame fan. I went through several carbon frames because they just don't feel right to me. I learned to race on steel frames. Steel frames give me information about what is happening as I ride that aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber don't give me. Steel frames can out live all of us, the other materials have an expected, usually over estimated, life expectancy. Carbon fiber might be great for professional racers but do us mortals really need a high cost disposable bikes?

My favourite and most ridden bike is my 1994 steel colnago road bike - Columbus Thron. I also own a 2022 carbon specialized and an alloy Bianchi with carbon fork 👍

I'm in the same place,I want a HIGH quality steel frame for a custom build and the market doesn't advertise steel frames anymore 😕😮 Just subscribed 🎉

I just built up a Fairlight Strael with Ultegra Di2. Just finished a double century last Saturday. That bike rides and feels so much better than my previous, aluminum Cinelli Semper. My next steel frame I'm looking into is the Affinity Anthem stainless road frameset.

Thank you for posting this! I feel like a Luddite riding a steel frame but when I see people nervously asking about a scratch or ding in their carbon frame to be told that it’s shot from what would be nothing to a steel frame, I know I made the right choice.

Hi, greetings from Germany. Last year I build an old steel frame bike with some vintage components . It is a columbus cinelli frame. It looks very good. Steel is best material for bikes. Thanks for this video!!

Luis, I love the Salsa skewers, and your riding campy! awesome. Thanks for your channel, looking at doing a steel build and love your aesthetics. I had a Colnago Master X-Light, epic riding machine, and even raced it, super bike.

Steel is a magical material. Most folks don't know what they are missing. I ride a Speedvagen from 2016 with SR12 mech....does everything extremely well. Great video.

The real problem is carbon bikes are cheaper to manufacture. The second problem is it is easier to add gimmicks so companies can say this bike is faster. My next bike is going to be custom made steel. (Maybe I will get lucky and I will be able to buy a printed titanium bike. That would be nice.) I used to have a 531 lugged steel bike. I am sorry I got rid of it. Can you believe i had to take that bike twice to get the rear triangle realigned after a crash. Today the bike companies would be dancing if I crashed.

Gunnar (off the peg sizing) and Waterford (custom sizing) were missing from your list. Waterford manufactured the Schwinn Paramount frames - really high quality frame building. Deda, Columbus and Reynolds all still manufacture tubes for top quality race bikes - unfortunately not enough people buy them…

Breadwinner from Portland OR. Gorgeous steel frames using Columbus tubing. Vanilla & Speedwagen are the same company in Portland

Lovely bike, Luis! My only gripe with modern steel bikes is that they come with carbon fiber fork, which makes whole enterprise a little bit moot. Gimme steel fork any day of the week! Fork plays a crucial role in quality of the ride and the way carbon fork soaks up the chatter without transferring grip feedback makes for rather dead feeling in the front. Also, in wet full steel frame + fork combo grips better. Everyone talks about ride quality, stiffness, weight, etc, but no one mentions the grip. "Laterally stiff yet vertically compliant" carbon frames are too rigid to grip on slippery surfaces, so these lose traction earlier. No such problem with steel. The steel frame/fork bike with grippy tires will grip better than carbon frame/fork on the same wheels with the same tire set.

Some classic steel Japanese manufacturers still make performance bikes made of steel and some are still big like Panasonic but they are limited to the Japanese market. You have Yasujiro Tange, one of the pillar of steel frame making having some high performance models albeit quite pricey. Panasonic (which is probably the biggest bicycle manufacturer in Japan due to all the city mamacharis and ebikes) has a unique custom order system with a lot of frames in the catalog that are either steel or titanium and you can choose among several class of components and I have seen stuff like Ultegra. Then you can choose your custom paint job too! Example: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/jZ-HrNB4rrCvf6c.html (sorry the narration is in Japanese but you can still get the vibes) I think it helps that they have a strong keirin culture that persists and is still on Cro-moly frames. I would still consider it a niche though, you have a lot of steel die-hard fans here but most of the performance road cyclists still choose carbon.

Love steel! I have a Stinner Gibraltar. Great Bike. Full Campy electronic Super Record. Aaron Stinner is a builder out of Santa Barbara, CA. Excellent quality. I've owned it for about 5 years. It offers an outstanding ride. The quality is superb. I would recommend anyone searching for a custom steel bike to take consider Stinner.

Most interesting segment of the hobby,thanks for the excellent overview!

One more personal opinion, when pair steel frames with carbon wheels the ride characteristics change dramatically, all that steel feeling is gone , high quality alloy wheels with 28mm tires is the way to go for me. Thoughts?

Can I highlight Cicli Barco?

Breadwinner Cycles in Portland OR makes custom cycles special order. My son purchased a Lolo model last year and loves it. They built it based on his Retul measurements, paint scheme, wheel/hub/spoke, gear set etc. Arrived in perfect condition. I need one for myself now!! ;)

Great content. Ive got my Battaglin Portofino being delivered in the next few week. Beautiful bike. Can't wait to ride it. Looking for a more comfortable ride now im in my mid 50s

Mosaic builds Ti and St frames

They will pry my Ritchey Road Logic out of my cold dead cleats .. lol. Its all in the legs and heart, not so much the $10k plastic bike.

At the beginning the Covid epidemic Greg Lemond dug out an old inventory unused Washoe frame and built it for me with a Campag groupset The bike is pure magic. It is so magic that it is the only one of my bikes that make me want another 5k at the end of my daily ride. As an unfit 76 year old with “health problems” that magic bike is a life saver. Greg and his son Scott behaved like old friends to an old fan who reached out to them. I told him that after the Armstrong-Trek treatment of Greg I never wanted to ride my Trek bikes again. He immediately told me that riding the bike was more important than fussing about the past. What a gentleman!!!!

I’ve been riding my Eddy Merckx steel frame for 30 years now. Love it still.

7k miles into my Mason Resolution, and I love it. As long as you have a good groupset and wheelset/tires, the rest is negligible. The biggest factor in speed and performance really comes from how often you ride and training.

Great videos! I'm a fan of steel bikes in general and have a couple Serottas currently.. a couple makers you left off your list is Sycip in Santa Rosa, CA and Mike DeSalvo in Ashland, OR.. both have been building for a while and make some beautiful bikes! Thanks!

Awesome. I wish there were more steel frames out there. I love my Lemond And KHS Reynolds 853 steel road bike frames.

I recently bought a steel Bombtrack Hook gravel bike. I’m loving it.

I had a similar experience with Cinelli reached out about buying a Superstar frameset been waiting a few years for a reply Edit- on a side note just found your channel, really like the no nonsense content I’ve consumed so far!!

I have ridden Mercian (Derby UK) since 1971. My oldest bike, still riding is a 1973 (this November 50 years ) Vigorelli track bike (61Cm) Reynolds 531 track bike. 74 x 74. Very stiff and easy to propel to 40 k . Even had the opportunity to ride on the Atlanta Speedway (28 degree banks). Had it resprayed and ride it with more modern Record Pista than the 1973 Record Pista. I built up with Record low flange 32 x 3 tubular rims. My Mercian (2009 and 85 K miles) Velocitia 853 pro and Dedacci carbon rear end ride as smooth as my Bianchi Specalissmo (2019 and 22 k miles). Both are Campagnolo record with either Eurus or Shamal, Thompson seat post, stems and carbon bars. So using similar groups and wheels you can see and feel the differences (in my case) are moot. No tracking, wiggling, slop or shimmying down hills (50 k or more).

There's a brand out of Indiana, east of Indianapolis, called STS Bicycles that has started making frames that straddle the endurance/gravel and performance fence. They market it as gravel, but some of the locals who have one don't see any reason it couldn't be raced in a crit.

Recently sold my carbon race bike and built up a Ritchey Logic. By far the nicest bike I’ve riden, I’m in love with it.

You're doing some worthwhile videos! And lucky to have that Bianchi. I have a 1994 TIG-welded Bianchi made of Columbus tubing that they offered for only one year. Still a great bike. I also have a 1991 Alfana with a lugged-steel Tange frame, the last one built in Japan. I suspect the bike industry forcing people to buy carbon fiber frames with disc brakes and tubeless tires will ultimately turn many potential cyclists away from the sport. With Waterford closing, another domestic steel frame builder isIndependent Fabrication in Lynn, MA. Keep up the good work.