Is steel still real?
Is steel still real?
Nothing much to talk about, it’s just a picture of my steel road bike. It’s not the fastest, nor the lightest, the most aerodynamic, but it sure does put a wide grin on my stupid-ass face.
My old Trek tells me yes. I'm a big fan of steel, though I do have to look after my frame if I'm using it in the wet a lot. I love how solid and straightforward steel bikes are.
Edit: Nice bike, by the way! That must be a really scenic place to ride.
My steely is all I ride anymore. It's not as fast as my carbon, but it doesn't beat the hell out of me and can take anything I throw at it. And hell yeah, I grin a lot when I ride too. Nice shot!
There are certainly still scenarios where steel is the best option, but it's fairly niche these days imo. A long distance touring rig, or some real backcountry stuff, for instance. For road, I'd only go back to metal due to price concerns. For city riding, I don't ride carbon due to theft concerns.
I think it's become a niche option because of the price. Higher end steel tubing is not cheap these days, and a good quality steel frame can cost about the same as a good carbon fibre frame. And don't get me started on Titanium...