[Closed] Is steel real or is it hype?

djaustin - Member

...Steel needs thicker tubes...

thicker walls?

My Niner SIR9 feels nice. Inbred with exactly the same build was harsher. Its quite flexy though.

Maybe it's just me, but I couldn't really tell the difference between riding alu and steel

I feel happier and more comfortable on a steel bike. I'm not sure why that is. When it comes to buying a new one it'll be steel. I don't care that much about weight as I am not a serious cyclist. I like the simple clean aesthetics of a steel bike. and I know if I crash it it can be bent back!

Try riding a proper steel frame and not a luddite scaffolding pole frame OP. Youll be in heaven

Those that cannot tell the difference after say three hours are the ones flaunting words like 'perceived' differences.

I can assure you that if you do any serious biking you'll know. I'll give you an over simplistic physics activity you could try.

Whack a metal bar on a rock and then try the same thing with aluminium. Let me know how your hand fairs after repeated blows. Assuming you can still type.

I've had an Inbred. It was alright. I'd probably describe it as distinctly average in its 'magic'. My current Evil Sov. is the same material but an absolute brick by comparison. My mid-90s Kona, also the same material, is a bit of a (very tasty) noodle in comparison with either. So... if you can compare different frames made of the same material, then you probably can't make sweeping statements about the awesomeness of one material over another, right?

b r - Member

I can, for both disciplines they engineer in 'compliance'. For example when a m/c is leaned over the forks aren't really able to work fully therefore the frame is made 'flexible' to reduce chatter.

Totally different levels of force at play though.

colande - Member

To compare you'd have to have both frames built up exactly the same, and do a blind test. hehe I doubt most of us would be able to tell.

A blind test would be interesting... But other'n that, what you describe is exactly what happens when you replace a frame. Old kit goes on new frame.

thicker walls?

I found my Inbred to possess none of the ride qualities of steel: to me it was basically dead, flat and although a good fit (nice long ETT) it was pretty dull.
Same kit on a Scandal seems to possess none of the qualities of aluminium: to me it feels compliant and forgiving without any sacrifice on power transfer and handling... If someone told me it was a very expensive Ti frame I'd believe them.

Not a dissimilar experience to Northwind I guess.

Still reckon geometry and frame design are way more 'noticeable' than material.

The placebo effect is great, it's shown in drug trials that placebos can have a greater affect than the drug being trialled.

I think the danger is that old kit on new frame, you can quickly forget how the old bike rode.
I definitely call on stw to do blind bike test of same frame built in ally and steel.
Come on stw i think that's a feature we'd all like to see.
Every one starts shouting
“blind bike test"
"Blind bike test"
Hehe 🙂

colande - Member

I think the danger is that old kit on new frame, you can quickly forget how the old bike rode

Sure... But with big black and white differences that's not really a problem. I went Soul- Mmmbop- C456. Sold the Mmmbop specifically because it was as stiff as a stiff thing. Went to the C456 which has other vices but the difference in the rear end couldn't have been much more obvious. And one of the reasons I couldn't abide the Bop was that I'd had the Soul and knew hardtails don't have to feel like that.

Went from a Cove Handjob to Ragley Blue Pig and fell back in love riding a hardtail.both steel but feel totally different.

Good steel frames are not only thinner diameter but thinner walled than aluminium ones.

I always find it interesting how people translate lateral flex (which is something you can quite easily feel the difference in between different frames) as vertical compliance (which is so small in even a "flexible" hardtail that you can't).

Went from a Cove Handjob to Ragley Blue Pig and fell back in love riding a hardtail.both steel but feel totally different.

They are both HT’s? WHY did they feel different (both being steel)?

Radial stiffness, lateral rigidity / less resistance to flexure ... and all that journo balls. Look, steel reacts better to trail nastiness - and that’s that.

frame material generalisations are stupid.

This.