Head says steel, heart says titanium

For discussions about bikes and equipment.

Which is more real?

Steel
29
63%
Titanium
17
37%
 
Total votes: 46

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sussex cyclist
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Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by sussex cyclist »

Time for a new bike. I'm trying to decide.

I ride on average 100 miles a week. Single speed exclusively. There's a lot of grinding up hills, which for inexplicable reasons I love.

The last steel bike I had did decent miles, including an end-to-end. Then it was stolen. For the last two decades I've been riding titanium and aluminium. Then both ti bikes died: first the Enigma (still languishing on eBay), then the Litespeed, twice its age and tough as nails unless you do something silly like have holes drilled for downtube shifters; it took a dozen years to crack, but crack it did. Welded then cracked on the weld, so that's that. Anyway I'm down to my Langster, a very good bike indeed, but I need another in case misfortune should strike again.

Steel or titanium.

Steel makes more sense. But I'd have to have the damn thing painted. What a headache. My favourite colour is titanium.

I'm also a little nervous if I'd like the way steel rides. I have no memory of the last one. I assume it rode just fine, but that was then. Probably worried over nothing. That doesn't stop me from worrying.

Titanium or steel. The poll won't decide me, it's just to pass the time while I flip a coin over and over again.
Jamesh
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by Jamesh »

Why would you want titanium when you had two crack....?

Steel is a far more forgiving.

Heavier yes but if you want lightweight then I'd go carbon..

A good steel bike like 531 has a feel as good as any carbon alu or titanium bike.

Ok it might not be the best climber but how often do you climb kardnott pass?!!!
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sussex cyclist
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by sussex cyclist »

Jamesh wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 10:34pm Why would you want titanium when you had two crack....?
I don't count the Litespeed's crack against it because it likely wouldn't have happened if I hadn't had surgery performed on it.
PT1029
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by PT1029 »

Don't forget to note the steering geometyr of your old bike(s), to ensure you got the same again (assuming you like the handling of your old bikes of course!).
Isn't gun metal grey paint not far off titanium?
Bmblbzzz
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by Bmblbzzz »

There's far more to a bike than the material of its frame.
Jupestar
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by Jupestar »

If you buy a decent Steel SS frame on ebay, to test it out, you’ll probably get out of it without much financial loss when you decide what is right for you.

Out of interest chat Ti SS are you considering?
jb
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by jb »

I'm heading in the Titanium direction because my steel frames seem to always rust badly under the top tube due to sweat. Some people are less corrosive so its horses for courses.
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J Bro
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sussex cyclist
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by sussex cyclist »

PT1029 wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 10:48pm Don't forget to note the steering geometyr of your old bike(s), to ensure you got the same again (assuming you like the handling of your old bikes of course!).
Isn't gun metal grey paint not far off titanium?
I might be able to approximate the colour, but it's still paint and bound to get scratched. Granted the first scratch is the most painful, then comes acceptance. Still, I like not thinking about paint. Not even having it enter my head. It's a little like not having to think about gears.

I liked the handling of the Enigma, which was custom built. At least I have a good template for measurements. I never actually considered steering geometry specifically, so thanks for bringing it up. I do a fair amount of no-handed riding, so it is indeed important.
Bmblbzzz wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 10:50pm There's far more to a bike than the material of its frame.
I know, but I can't get much further until that's decided.
Jupestar wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 10:57pm If you buy a decent Steel SS frame on ebay, to test it out, you’ll probably get out of it without much financial loss when you decide what is right for you.
That's not a bad idea, but I don't know if I'm likely to go as far as buying something as a test ride.
Out of interest chat Ti SS are you considering?
It would probably have to be another custom build. Nobody seems to make them - certainly not to the spec I want.
jb wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 11:09pm my steel frames seem to always rust badly under the top tube due to sweat. Some people are less corrosive so its horses for courses.
What's your blood like?
PH
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by PH »

The heart's going to win, even if you buy a steel bike you'll never ride it without hearing the voice that tells you ti would have been better, then you'll give in. The head is far more pragmatic, it's not such a bad loser, if you defy it's wisdom it'll sulk a bit then forget it. You could thwart them both and get an unpainted stainless steel bike, or really confound them and get bamboo.
I replaced a steel bike I didn't really like that much with a ti one that I did, when it cracked I went back to another steel bike, which is better than the ti, they're different bikes, the material hasn't been the defining factor.
rareposter
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by rareposter »

Jamesh wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 10:34pm Why would you want titanium when you had two crack....?

Steel is a far more forgiving.

A good steel bike like 531 has a feel as good as any carbon alu or titanium bike.
All of this "steel is forgiving, alu is harsh, carbon cracks" stuff is total rubbish now. You can build a bike from steel, titanium, aluminium, carbon or even bamboo and engineer in / out the qualities that you do / don't want.

It'll depend on the grade of material used, the lay-up, the geometry, the combination of materials (eg alu frame, carbon forks), the components on it (especially tyres)...

I do wish people would stop with the 70's & 80's mythology of framebuilding 101...
And 531 tubing is long since obsolete (it's available by special order only from Reynolds mostly for repairing current 531 frames), there are far more advanced heat treated steel alloys now.
tatanab
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by tatanab »

If you like the bare metal finish, could be polished or brushed, how about stainless steel?
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geomannie
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by geomannie »

My tuppence worth.

I bought a very nice titanium Van Nicolas Yukon. I rode it as my good bike for several years. It was a very great bike to ride but I could never quite love it. I have now replaced it with a steel (custom frame build) & I love it in a way that I could never love the titanium.

PS: anent titanium frame cracking, a friend cracked 2 Van Nic frames. Just as well they come with lifetime guarantees. Hopefully the QC has now improved.
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by sussex cyclist »

PH wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 11:51pm The heart's going to win, even if you buy a steel bike you'll never ride it without hearing the voice that tells you ti would have been better, then you'll give in.
You've been talking to my wife.
The head is far more pragmatic, it's not such a bad loser, if you defy it's wisdom it'll sulk a bit then forget it.
This strikes me as being very astute.
You could thwart them both and get an unpainted stainless steel bike, or really confound them and get bamboo.
Stainless steel with bamboo fork.
rareposter wrote: 29 Jun 2022, 6:26am It'll depend on the grade of material used, the lay-up, the geometry, the combination of materials (eg alu frame, carbon forks), the components on it (especially tyres)...
Yes, all this. A bit of the wow factor (awful but useful phrase) would also not go amiss. Ti does that for me. Steel, sadly, not so much. Perhaps I need re-education.
tatanab wrote: 29 Jun 2022, 7:27am If you like the bare metal finish, could be polished or brushed, how about stainless steel?
I've considered it, but do wonder if it's worth it seeing as it's close to ti in that it's expensive and still requires some specialist welding skills (is my understanding) in the event of a crack.
geomannie wrote: 29 Jun 2022, 8:01am My tuppence worth.
All pence welcome, thanks.

Interesting that the poll is running neck and neck. I didn't expect that.
Bmblbzzz
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by Bmblbzzz »

sussex cyclist wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 11:22pm
Bmblbzzz wrote: 28 Jun 2022, 10:50pm There's far more to a bike than the material of its frame.
I know, but I can't get much further until that's decided.
You've already got further! You know you want a single speed. You know what sort of feel and handling you prefer – fast and twitchy or laid back and stable, etc etc. You have aesthetic preferences. A budget. The frame material, as someone else already said, is only one of several factors (and probably not even the most important) contributing to those factors. So look for something that rides how you like, looks good to you, you can afford, etc.
Nearholmer
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Re: Head says steel, heart says titanium

Post by Nearholmer »

I don’t know where in Sussex you cycle, but I’m visiting the area where I grew up in The Weald at the moment, and given the nature of the hills, which have become much taller and steeper over past forty years, I’d recommend a bike made from feathers for lightness.

In truth, mine is a steel bike, and I wouldn’t change it, because while it is probably a couple of kg heavier than it’s All/C predecessor, it trundles along like Cadillac.
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