The state of Steel road bikes
The cyclist site has a quick post about the state of steel bikes, including some popular models, and a discussion on the resurgence in steel frames. We’ve only reviewed one steel road bike on RoadCycler.com, the popular Bianchi Brava (a great bike!), but there are many more out there; many of them from artisan framebuilders.
I personally think a big reason steel is never going to go away is that it’s relatively cheap. It helps that it’s easy to weld, it is manageable by even the smallest companies, and it actually is a pleasant ride.
Of course, there is a limit to how much of a comeback steel will make. For serious racing it will never compete due to the weight (among other things). That said, I’m pretty sure the market for steel isn’t really interested in racing, it’s more likely the commuter, and hobbyist crowd looking into steel.
They also reference an interesting 2007 article from wired regarding the same topic.
I think for many many people out there, a steel frame is certainly a good option. One advantage of it is that with a proper bike fitting, a custom steel frame is actually affordable. I know that Rod Cycles (http://www.rodcycle.com/) has a great fitting system, and I just bought a steel frame custom fit for 2,000 USD Granted, carbon fiber is very light, and a steel frame will be a disadvantage for a top tour rider, but most of us are far form that. But hen again, Rod Cycles make a steel frame bike that is in the 7kg range (maybe less), and they have a 12.2 kg tandem. So… yes I ride steel, even if my studets think I am a dinosaur, I can still whip ‘em on the hills
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