[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by madal

That is a really cool bike you have I too have a respiratory condition and after getting over that, there is no way I will ever risk a recurrence

Yeah, I have two new bikes, and I'm limited to how much I can ride. Grrr.

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by London

Hack: Nice machine. Must confess to not being familiar with the make. I like fixed-geared bikes above all others. If all the race world went back to single speed I would be very happy.

Earlier in the thread you described the ride as "plush". What exactly do you mean by this? I own bikes of CF, aluminum and steel. With my eyes closed I cannot tell you what bike I'm riding by its "feel". Aside from different bars and seat angles and heights, etc. I have never felt any difference in frame material. Perhaps I am not that tuned in for this talk of steel being a softer ride escapes me. Can you give me a better idea of what you (and many others) mean by plush or softer ride?

I've raced since I was 15. I'm 52 now and have always done a good bit of cycling. I must be dense.

You can read about Wabi here. The owner of the company really knows his stuff.

To make a stiff and strong aluminum frame, you need to use large diameter tubing. While this can make an efficient frame, (no wasted energy from flex) the ride is not exactly smooth. Carbon does a better job or absorbing road shock, from what I've read, but I've never ridden a carbon bike. Steel can be made very stiff where it needs to be, but the ride is not so jarring. It soaks up the little imperfections in the road, and makes for a very smooth ride.

Do you know someone with a steel bike you can compare to your current rides?

[Skidmark]

Very sleek looking ride!

[London]

Hack, I own bikes of all 3 materials. Most of my road bikes are steel. I have a Trek carbon fiber and several aluminum models as well. Have to confess, except for all-up bike weight, I can't tell one from the other in terms of road feel. Hit a hole with any frame type and it's jarring. On the flat it makes no difference either. (to me) I simply can't feel flex or any difference in ride. My wife says I'm insensitive about alot of things. This must be one more.

What matters to me is tire diameter and pressure. There I can feel a vast difference. That's about it. I only go to alloy or carbon fiber in an attempt to lose weight off the bike.

As to geometery. Again, one frame style is little different than another in road bikes to my senses. Relaxed, aggressive, all words that mean nothing to me. They all feel the same if they are of the same basic road class. (not MTB vs road or hybrid, etc)

[lotek]

Hack,

Nice bike. You riding better now (over the flu?)
London, nicely put and way to cut through the crap about material.
Tyre diameter and pressure make a much bigger difference in ride.

Marty

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by lotek

Hack,

Nice bike. You riding better now (over the flu?)
London, nicely put and way to cut through the crap about material.
Tyre diameter and pressure make a much bigger difference in ride.

Marty

I'm over the flu, but still have some lingering issue that they have not been able to diagnose.

In the past few years, I have had a Felt and Cannondale road bike, and a Motobecane Cross bike, none of which was comfortable to ride for any length of time. I didn't try reducing the tire pressure, as that shouldn't be a necessary workaround to make a bike ride smoothly.

I like steel. Smaller tubing, stiff, light. Works for me.

[Mootsguy]

Here is a nice read from Sheldon Brown on frame materials. Bicycle Frame Materials - Steel, Aluminum, Titanium and Carbon Fiber, by Sheldon Brown

[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by Mootsguy

Here is a nice read from Sheldon Brown on frame materials. Bicycle Frame Materials - Steel, Aluminum, Titanium and Carbon Fiber, by Sheldon Brown

I miss Sheldon "gone, but not forgotten" Brown.