I think it would be okay if you are a) pretty good b)just doing shorter races and c)not 100% concerned about winning.
I thought about it, but it was the weight that was the biggest issue. When you're trying to eek out everything you can from a frame why go for heavier.
Stiffness? big deal, alloys stiff. People are clueless, carbon is engineered to perform in a certain way, look how carbon frames are often different on each side, they almost react to rider input. Just because it's stiff and carbon doesn't mean to say it's a good frame. And narrow steel tubes are not as aero as large aero carbon tubes.
Right now if someone said that a steel frame is far greater technically than carbon and that I'd do better on one then maybe I'd be tempted.
I fancied steel as I wasn't sure how much longer I'd be racing.
Good build BTW for a 3.2lb frame only steel bike.
Not all steel frames are the same, there's a massive difference in modern oversize Columbus spirit (butted .5 - .38 - .5) in 40mm 0/d and a frame made in stovepipe 531.
Just ordered one of these (without the gold bits) to stop trashing the pegoretti over winter same tube set but half the price 😀 it's not exactly going to be a heavy bike.
[img] 
[/img]
Where did you order that from MrSmith? Is it coming all the over from Italy?!
thisisnotaspoon - MemberNope, round tubes aren't very aero at all, you can make considerably bigger, but more aerodynamic shapes quite easily.
thing is, even on a simple frame, with round tubes, there aren't many that are presented to the air-flow perfectly transverse.
think of the downtube, it's at around 45 degrees, which has the effect of elongating the section in the horizontal distance. it's still 32mm wide (or whatever) but the cross section is much longer - in essence, it's become an oval - not a bad shape at all.
what's wrong with Alloy for short races (crits) where comfort is of no use?
isn't alloy stiff,stiff,stiff?
apart from apparent harshness....does alloy have any other disadvantages?
it's not exactly going to be a heavy bike.
Yeah, but at €1500 for a frame and fork it will be significantly heavier than an equivalent price carbon bike, which is the point.
Droooooooolllllllll.... 😆
[img] 
[/img]
Where did you order that from MrSmith? Is it coming all the over from Italy?!
Comtat bikes in London will be importing them
Yeah, but at €1500 for a frame and fork it will be significantly heavier than an equivalent price carbon bike, which is the point.
not for me it isn't. 🙄
as long as the bike is under 18lb with decent wheels it doesn't ride heavy (IME, having ridden a fair few road bikes)
