The Case for Steel Bikes

For lightweight, top-tier steel bikes, check out Wabi Cycles:


"Steel is heavy, steel isn't stiff enough, steel is slow." These and other misconceptions plague the world of steel bikes. Although steel is the first material bikes were made out of, bike designers and builders continue to push the boundaries of steel, making them lighter, more durable, and most importantly, more fun to ride. Steel is real and has a dedicated following in a world of bikes made of increasingly exotic materials for good reason. This is the case for steel bikes.

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[sepandphan]

1 - Ride what you can afford.
2 - Ride a bike your size that doesn't hurt your body.
3 - Slowly upgrade it yourself learning about mechanic and how your vehicle work.
4 - Go outside and feel free

[GraceofGosh]

i like how steel bikes have generally skinnier tubing than alluminum. makes them easier to pick up and carry when needed

[VAMIRACING]

happy to see young folks keeping up the flag for vintage steel bikes. aluminium and carbon just added an oversize look to something that was yet perfect and functional.

[RFK]

I’m old, I’ve been riding a fixed gear Waterford exclusively since 98 . To me nothing beats the feel, looks and ride quality of a steel framed bike . Especially a steel framed fixed gear bike . Love your video’s BTW .

[scottbalsai]

Cool. Yes, all I have are old or "vintage" steel bikes. We have two 1987 bright yellow Schwinn touring Paramounts (another for my wife) from the Waterford, Wisconsin factory that are both three by 7's (one is converted from a 3x6). Both are made from Columbus tubing. We think those were the last of the Paramount touring frames ever made before the Paramount factory started focusing on racing frames only.
I have a 1983 Mondia 2x6 with Reynolds 531 tubing. By far my prettiest frame.
I have a Bianchi Osprey 3x7 steel bike for fishing and gravel.
I have a Schwinn Paramount Series 50 Mt Bike from 1994 with Prestige tubing.
And lastly, I have a Team Marin from 2000 made of Columbus Zona tubing.
(My wife also has a 1970's-'80's red Celo Europa 2x6 of Columbus tubing.)
The bikes I ride regularly all have fork tube extensions (or Zoom stems on the older bikes with quill type headsets) with 4 inch riser bars to raise up the handle bars for my arthritic neck. All of these bikes are mounted with Mt. bike break levers and shifters as well because being up so high puts my hand farther away from the old down tube shifters. So having them on the handle bars is safer and more efficient. Go vintage steel.---!

[ravelbragadasilvaprata]

Zach: Can I mention other steel bikes?
Wabi: Only if the brands are dead.
Zach: Yes Master.

[bikeman]

I love steel frame bicycles. The ride is like no other. I currently ride a Cinelli Vigorelli. What a dream to ride. It does have a carbon fork which I expect to swap out someday. I did fall into to the trap years ago and bought a high end aluminium frame racer that weighed in at 17 lbs. I rode it 400 miles and hated it. When you are not on the race circuit riding a bike that is a couple of pound heavier is ok. A smooth ride is much better when putting on miles. I’m 64 years old and just finished my calendar year yesterday. I rode 7300 miles this past year on only steel bikes. I can’t count the number of younger guys I smoked on their carbon frame cookies cutter bicycles. I love your video, more younger rider should take your advice. I have watched your video many times just to see those beautiful steel frame bicycles. I will never purchase an aluminium or carbon frame road bicycle ever. Steel for the rest of my life.

[paulmcknight]

Right on. You're the first pundit I've seen, mention the uncanny spring -back quality of steel frames, as they work with the rider in a feedback loop. They actually flex and then return the energy, and it all adds up to performance and thrills. The body is completely engaged, and that's what bicycling is all about.

The skinny tubing adds to the resilience. Shock waves dissipate along the narrow tubes quite effectively. Not so the fat, rigid aluminum and carbon that followed. Notice how thin seat stays are now? Top tubes going the same way, to absorb shocks before they get to the saddle. Parameters haven't changed since the '60s, except ever more wonderful high tech candy to keep us in love!  

And don't let's get started on those old, reliable, cup and cone threaded bottom brackets! Threads are making a comeback!

[theandonly]

Thank you for making this video. It reflects my experience bang on. I ride vintage steel bikes from the 70's and 80's and it is an incredibly cost effective way to have major fun. My touring bike is over 35 yers old and I'm not afraid to carry 50 lbs or more on rough roads and trails. The ride is just perfect. No need to go to a more "modern" frame, as the lugged steel frames tend to fit me well. More steel bikes should be on the market today, but there is still a huge supply of serviceable old frames. Let's keep them out of the landfills!

[Daniel-yfiy]

My first bike was a Nashiki Olympic 12 I bout when I was 15 in 1987 and I rode that thing all the time and everywhere. A few years after that I “upgraded” to a Canondale that just didn’t feel as nice, ended up selling it and didn’t ride for years. I just recently bought a Kona Rove DL in butted chromoly steel and love it. I’m looking forward to hopefully as many adventures with that bike as I did my old Olympic 12.

[wordsmithgmxch]

Thanks, Zaxh. THAT cleared the air a bit! And, gotta say, the Reynolds Bob Jackson in my cellar is looking better all the time! Only, here in Switzerland, things can get -- news flash!! -- kiinda HILLY, and the Jackson is a 2x5, end of story. I could hack that 40 years ago, but today, I ride a much less attractive, still-ancient, Al 3x8. But when I was in (flat, flat, flat) Hamburg a couple of months ago, I couldn't stop drooling at all the real deal, ancient steel on the street. Oh, the thinness! Oh, the lightness (though maybe only perceived)! And those thin, elegantly curved fork blades! In the aircraft industry, there's this term: ramp speed. That's when a plane looks like it's doing 350 knots just sitting out on the tarmac. Old bikes had it: RAMP SPEED!!!

[timdodd]

Yes, nothing like a classic lugged frame.

[daniel]

I remember when I was living in SF I had this sexy full carbon pinarello road bike and my buddy pulled up on his new steel road bike that was sized waay larger than mine. I lifted his bike to my dismay it was severely lighter than my bike. I learned a real lesson that day.

[alfonsoalmendariz]

Great video. My son rides a 1985 Murray that I upcycled years ago. It's a department store bike and hi tensile steel, but it still rides great 36 years later. The only work that I've done to it is swapped out the steel rims for aluminum rims. When the rear derailleur failed, I had Ray's Cycle in Vacaville install a new one for $45 parts and labor.

[thomaswalz]

I concur.

I'm a former staff member of Bicycling Magazine, and Bicycle Guide Magazine, 1982/86.

I rode the best of the best from that era, from Japan, Italy, France, England, and quite a few handmade in. USA. Each country has its strength and weaknesses.

The most amazing bike of all was a Pinarello, the same model that Alexi Grewall used to win the '84 Olympic road race... it had that perfect springiness... you could never ride that bike fast enough... it pushed you to ride faster... I wanted one, but could never afford it.

I saw your 3Rensho... Yoshi Kono is a great builder. I have a bike made by him that was a prototype for Specialized, when they were thinking of adding bicycles to their accessories product line. Of all my bikes, I've the most miles on this one.

Specialized had the magazine road test it, I rode it, was smitten, and also surprised that they would sell it to me, with front and rear racks and panniers... I still ride it, a lot.... no index shifters either.... like playing a fretless sting instrument.

My other favorite bike is a Bruce Gordon... like the Pinarello, it just jumps...

I've a custom Fat Chance from '85, one of the few that were made back then. It is a very light bike, made with a Tange tube set...

Thanks for this video...

[eliotwolfert]

i bestow upon you the most prestigious award, the fixed gear hipster king

[jthepickle]

"Frame weights, in a vacuum, is insignificant." Agreed. My 1983 Serotta is beautiful, stiff, dependable and, again, beautiful. Does it compare with 'modern' bikes? - Hell YES!

[jpl-ylfi]

About 6 years ago, I had a Pinarello Amatore pista in blue and it was one of the best steel frames I've ridden since!

[ladamyre]

I agree 100%. Of course it was an easy sell, my pride and joy is a 1979 Schwinn Le Tour. I'm 6' 5" tall so it's about as small as I can get away with: 27" wheels. But I get it about "Blue" wanting, needing, begging me to ride her; and she always pleases. She weighs in at 34 lbs, but I lost that extra 14 lbs off my waist riding her so...
BTW I'm 62 years old and feel as strong as I did when I was 40. Bicyclers live to be 100. Keep going Zach: "Never give up! Never surrender!"

[littlebittathisnthatfirear]

Brother.... Im not subbed to a single cycling related channel at all.... But you won my soul over when you told the world not to be fat while stressing the weight of their bikes.... A true hero.