Steel road bike

Any thoughts on steel road bikes? Looking for a frame for around 1k.

Want a 44inch headtube but no other requirements as yet?

Enigma Elite, Genesis Volare – what else is there?

Ideas most welcome.

I think you’re looking for a clown bike if you need a 44inch head tube?

Steel is real though, I’d be tempted to get something vintage and lush and build it up with modern components. I have a couple of old peugeot frames that i planned to do this with but never got round to

that sort of budget id consider a custom built frame.

http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/PiumaSupremeFr.html

Condor Super Acciaio Frameset | Race ready, performance steel

sixth one down on the page:

http://www.chickencycles.co.uk/index.php?cat=54&sub=129&ord=2

Oldgit’s search for steel

Oldgit’s bike

that sort of budget id consider a custom built frame

For a grand?
Unlikely.
Sadly..

Not a 44mm headtube*, but a Ritchey logic (and a respray because I hate grey).

As for custom, Mercian defiantly do lugged 631 frame and forks <£1k. Although the extras list rapidly adds up (lug lining, painted panels etc)

*I’ve still got 1″ headtubes on some bikes, yes 1.1/8 isn’t as stiff as 1.5 or 1.25, but it’s not the be all and end all, Cervelo still don’t use oversized tubes for example. And Sam (singular) makes good case for them on the Swift, because you can’t get 44mm downtubes there’s little point, as a stiff headtube in isolation doesn’t add anything. And 44mm headtubes on road bikes look naff.

And 44mm headtubes on road bikes look naff.

i think they look great. 🙂

the WC stripes are naff though but a bit of black electrical tape sorted that.

i think you need to decide on what kind of steel bike you want?
a trad noodly stovepipe lugged frame or a modern oversize steel frame? they ride quite differently.

My Enigma (steerer now cut down)

It’s a tapered Columbus HT rather than a 44mm one, but same end result.

you can’t get 44mm downtubes there’s little point, as a stiff headtube in isolation doesn’t add anything. And 44mm headtubes on road bikes look naff.

The DT on^^ is ~45mm (looking at the Columbus website it’s a 44mm HSS tube plus paint). For me the advantage of a tapered fork is not just about the frame stiffness, it’s about stability under braking. All the 1 1/8″ full carbon forks I’ve tried visibly bend under load with my 145lb bulk on board. In comparison the Enigma feels utterly planted, and I feel more confident braking later and deeper into corners.

i think they look great.

That’s tapered, not 44mm. The Volare is 44mm. The tapered ones look fine as long as the forks blend into them. Although I still prefer the look of external headsets.

it’s a 44mm HSS tube

What’s that weigh?

That Enigma looks lovely, how’s it ride? The tube diameters look pretty much the same as aluminium tubes though, does that not make it a bit harsh, and possibly a bit susceptible to knocks?

You’d never catch Dario building a frame with an OS head tube….

What’s that weigh?

A gnat’s pube over 4lbs for the frame. Whole bike is just over 16.5lb

That Enigma looks lovely, how’s it ride?

Thank you. For me it works – I tried variety of carbon and Ti bikes and just clicked with this as soon as I got on Enigma’s demo bike. I could get all flowery/**** about it, but won’t, as I’ll just leave myself open for abuse. 😉

does that not make it a bit harsh

Doesn’t seem to, although I did specifically go for a very compact frame with a long skinny post to make it more comfortable. It’s certainly not as brutal as the majority of the carbon race frames I tried.

a bit susceptible to knocks

I’m not planning to find out! I’s a roadbike. If I’m clouting it/crashing it I’m doing it wrong!

I have one of these

except it is the team bike with Columbus EL custom tubing8 speed shifters on the levers and Paris Roubaix rims.

It is my favourite bike to ride by far and it feels great that it is still ridden and not in a museum somewhere.

For a grand?
Unlikely.
Sadly..

£1k buys a Rourke with carbon fork.

http://www.rourke.biz/custom_framesets.php

Thanks all. That enigma looks very nice to be fair. Some others to think about. I have a OS fork (ENVE) hence why I laid that out as a requirement but perhaps need to think about going down the 1.1/8 route. Logic looks nice (but agree on the paint job)

Mr Smith – what bike is that in the pic above. i cannot find it on google.

Chesini

You’d never catch Dario building a frame with an OS head tube….

maybe you should check what Dario is building now. his pfalz fork has an 1-1/8 steerer and custom king headset to match

bike is a custom chesini prima. weighs a smidge over 8k built up with sram force, zip service corse finishing kit and decent wheels. very similar tube set to my pegoretti (older 1/1/8 HT but still 44mm DT) but totally different ride characteristics

what bike is that

They also do gold leaf pannels………………..

I’ve got a Ritchey Road Logic, and you’re wrong; the paintjob is awesome.

As is the bike.

[edit] I mean look at it, it oozes class

THe problem with the Ritchey frames is they never look like they fit anyone properly.

THe problem with the Ritchey frames is they never look like they fit anyone properly.

Eh? Although if you’re basing that on Hora’s photo of his… 😉

😀

Another vote for the ritchey road logic here. I bought one from someone on here (not Hora) at the end of last year and I love it The colour is great and you can pick up a new frame and forks for about 650 leaving you 350 to spend on wheels or shiney bits.

That’s tapered, not 44mm. The Volare is 44mm.

No it isn’t. It’s 34mm top, 44mm bottom.

Isn’t Hora still selling his Ritchey?

Have a word with him.

They also do gold leaf pannels.

which are a bit marmite. they will do whatever you want as the paint and geometry is custom. mine is a winter bike so i went with a grey/blue and black colour scheme.

if i was budget limited then Enigma or Rourke would be getting my £1k for something in columbus spirit.

All the 1 1/8″ full carbon forks I’ve tried visibly bend under load with my 145lb bulk on board.

lightweight.

don’t look at the forks while braking…

If you want something racey the Genesis is hard to beat for something off the shelf.

If you want discs and room for big tyres then could be worth considering a new Singular Kite disc? Available Feb 1st.

that Chesini is lovely but a little out of price range. Alarmingly, those gold panels are growing on me.

Sam, please tell me that will have an ebb.

Kite looks nice but not exactly what I’m after.

Does anyone know if Hora is still selling his Ritchey?

I’m fairly sure he sold it as he was giving up on road bikes.

Then he bought a Defy….

Then he bought a Defy….

really ?

And now he wants a cat 🙁 Good job you can’t sell pets on the STW classifieds, or can you if marked off-topic ?

Heres my steel crosser with a 44mm HT. I think the King i7 works nicely with the ENVE fork.

No it isn’t. It’s 34mm top, 44mm bottom.

Think the volare ’16 are taper

My steel bike knowledge is 18 days out of date.I shall go flog myself with a piece of 631 now as penance.

Best make it plain gage!

Evening. The Ritchey is a beautiful beautiful thing. But is subtle. The issue is if its your only (or main) roadbike you can’t really ride it lots as it rains lots. I wanted/need something I could ride, dump in the hallway and maybe forget to wash. Also as a heavier rider (97kg) disc brakes are awesome for steep/sharp descents.

It rains too much in the UK for a year round steel bike. A fair comment?