Lightest Steel Frame?

[Rapparee87]

Yada Yada all the above, but ordinary folk couldn't care less about all the tech stuff, but the simple truth is that when people can't afford the nonsense prices for carbon then steel will be back again...

 

[ChromeChainstay]

Sean Kelly's vitus's were super stiff

 

[Coalfield]

But knowing what I know about chainstay loads, no way I'd ever make a frame with the stays oval up-and-down at the BB shell, that would be admitting defeat, for me.

Oh NOOOOO !!!!!

Look at those oval chainstays at the bottom bracket ! On a custom lugged steel ! from 2003/04. The builder never mentioned Defeat. Wish I could find the buildsheet with tube selection, but it is packed away - somewhere. My mind thinks these are EL stays. The main tubes were Nemo & EL with an OS down tube. (at the time, my weight was almost 15 stone). Spirit seemed extravagant as it was just coming out as a new tubeset, and weight was not really a primary objective.


By golly, I loved talking tubes and geometries with a couple of custom builders. Always trusting their judgement - based in the subjective ride qualities preferred - rather than trusting my knowledge (mostly personal opinion) of specific tubes.


edit: BTW - I told the builder, I wanted this to be a "Forever Bike" ... for when I shrink a little bit (not much) and am less flexible. But still a 'fast bike'. I think he built me what came to be known as an "Endurance" bike. He gave me a top tube a tad short for future shrinkage (tho still sporting a 125mm stem), a slight head tube extention (reduce the # of wonky spacers), 8cm BB drop for stability, short front center to maintain a quick feel, 100.5cm wheelbase to prevent the handling of a touring rig. I've been happy.

 

[bulgie]

Oh NOOOOO !!!!!

Look at those oval chainstays at the bottom bracket ! On a custom lugged steel ! from 2003/04. The builder never mentioned Defeat.

Practically all the best builders are using chainstays that are oval at the BB shell nowadays (major axis oriented up-and-down of course). Any slight disadvantage of that is very theoretical and mos def nothng to lose sleep over. I'm just a crotchety geezer trying to sweep back the tide — it's safe to ignore me.

 

[Coalfield]

Ignore you. No. Rather sell you some bikes at Bob Freeman's Summer party - soon. 62cm right?

 

[bulgie]

Ignore you. No. Rather sell you some bikes at Bob Freeman's Summer party - soon. 62cm right?

Hah, no I'm in reduction mode, not buying anything. I'll be out of the state when Bob's having his thing, can't be there. Take pictures!