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Steel or Aluminium bikes: recommendations

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  • December 3, 2018 at 10:16 pm #29180
    ilikebikes

    Hi,

    Thinking of buying a bike for commuting. I have heard a lot about steel bikes being quite comfortable. Rode a heavy dutch bike for a bit – was ok and I am not sure I remember it being especially comfortable.

    Are steel bikes worth the additional expense? I could definitely do with a carbon fork – few of roads I cycle on are quite literally a pain in the backside. Not keen on carbon frames and are perhaps expensive. Under £1000 to go with the cycle to work scheme would be brilliant. 🙂

    I am battling with the following choices but open to others:

    – Decathlon’s Triban RC 500/520

    – Boardman ASR 8.8

    I have been riding a second hand Giant hybrid with old chainrings and casette/free hub; anything moderately good might be a big upgrade. 🙂

    Does anyone have any good recommendations? Thanks

     

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  • December 21, 2018 at 5:33 pm #932419
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    Fish_n_Chips
    ilikebikes wrote:
    Fish_n_Chips wrote:
    Steel!

    I own carbon race bikes, Caad 10/12’s and one day Ti.

    For sheer fun and commuting/long distance: steel unless there are lots of climbs- although components could sort that.  I’m faster over 100 miles if not too hilly on my steel 9.2kg Charge Plug – buttery smooth.  Racing/hilly sportives I use my carbon TCR or CAAD with 25mm/compact gearing.

    Racing: carbon unless you can afford 953 frames.

    Ride quality vs. Ride speed. 

    Interesting, you seem strongly in favour of steel than others. My primary use case is commuting and that is unlikely to change.  It’s about an hour a day now – to and fro. Hmm …

     

    After riding different bikes and a sportives – a light frame that is buttery smooth and comfy rather a race bike – depending on your ride or training goals.

    My winter bike is a stiff aluminium CX with 35mm tyres. Tyres And width alone cushions the ride but found I was faster even uphill as I wasn’t being battered.

    December 20, 2018 at 10:56 am #932417
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    CXR94Di2

    Get a bike which can take 35

    Get a bike which can take 35-40mm tyres.  These sizes of tyres will allow you to use lower pressures and still have a fast, comfortable ride.  The Schwalbe G Ones either in 35mm or 40mm are fantastic tyres.  Boardman ASR 8.9 is a good bike.  I bought my daughter the HYB 8.6 which is very similar but with flat bars

    December 15, 2018 at 11:27 am #932415
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    ilikebikes
    Fish_n_Chips wrote:
    Steel!

    I own carbon race bikes, Caad 10/12’s and one day Ti.

    For sheer fun and commuting/long distance: steel unless there are lots of climbs- although components could sort that.  I’m faster over 100 miles if not too hilly on my steel 9.2kg Charge Plug – buttery smooth.  Racing/hilly sportives I use my carbon TCR or CAAD with 25mm/compact gearing.

    Racing: carbon unless you can afford 953 frames.

    Ride quality vs. Ride speed. 

    Interesting, you seem strongly in favour of steel than others. My primary use case is commuting and that is unlikely to change.  It’s about an hour a day now – to and fro. Hmm …

    December 15, 2018 at 8:10 am #932413
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    Fish_n_Chips

    Steel!

    Steel!

    I own carbon race bikes, Caad 10/12’s and one day Ti.

    For sheer fun and commuting/long distance: steel unless there are lots of climbs- although components could sort that.  I’m faster over 100 miles if not too hilly on my steel 9.2kg Charge Plug – buttery smooth.  Racing/hilly sportives I use my carbon TCR or CAAD with 25mm/compact gearing.

    Racing: carbon unless you can afford 953 frames.

    Ride quality vs. Ride speed. 

    December 14, 2018 at 9:53 pm #932411
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    ilikebikes
    Canyon48 wrote:
    Ignore the frame material, decide how much you want to spend and the usage, then go from there.

    Supple tyres and more volume make a huge difference to comfort (as do carbon bars and seatpost, in my experience).

    Frame material comes after all those factors, so far, carbon frames have been the most comfortable I’ve ridden (super smooth, barely any road buzz and compliant) – but then I’d expect that from my carbon bikes given how much they cost – so I can’t give a direct comparison between aluminium and carbon frames at the same price point.

    Thanks for the info. Not too keen on carbon; will have another look at the al bikes. 🙂

    December 13, 2018 at 9:13 pm #932409
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    Canyon48

    Ignore the frame material,

    Ignore the frame material, decide how much you want to spend and the usage, then go from there.

    Supple tyres and more volume make a huge difference to comfort (as do carbon bars and seatpost, in my experience).

    Frame material comes after all those factors, so far, carbon frames have been the most comfortable I’ve ridden (super smooth, barely any road buzz and compliant) – but then I’d expect that from my carbon bikes given how much they cost – so I can’t give a direct comparison between aluminium and carbon frames at the same price point.

    December 13, 2018 at 2:32 pm #932407
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    matthewn5

    There are some good steel

    There are some good steel bikes on Ebay. Go there and get a bargain, rather than something new and compromised.

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAMIS-QUEST-COMP-ROAD-RACER-BIKE-54-CM-REYNOLDS-STEEL-FRAME-ref-7724/113444208921?hash=item1a69cd4119:g:CrEAAOSwjTtcEKvs

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-Steel-Race-Bike-Columbus-Futura-Dura-Ace-Chris-King-Carbon-Cambium-C13/163408816432?hash=item260beca930:g:CToAAOSw~X1bkAQ-

    December 9, 2018 at 4:20 pm #932405
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    daveozzz

    I’ll +1 a Genesis Croix de

    I’ll +1 a Genesis Croix de Fer. That’s what I’ve been using for for commuting over the past year and it’s really comfortable and has been solid mechanically.
    It’s great for longer club rides too – I thought it would be really slow being a bit on the heavy side but it’s not been an issue at all.

    December 8, 2018 at 3:36 pm #932403
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    ianSWBB

    the Green Commute Initiative

    the Green Commute Initiative (GCI) cycle 2 work scheme has no limit to value, so you can go over the £1,000 standard amount

    you could then get a steel/titanium gravel style bike – they are great for commuting, as you can use the bigger tyres, making it easier to use on cycle paths etc

    December 6, 2018 at 8:33 am #932401
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    Chris Hayes

    I’m not sure that you’ll be

    I’m not sure that you’ll be able to tell the difference between a sub-GBP 1000 steel vs alloy frame.  The wheels and tyres (type and volume) will make more difference.  I have a Ti Litespeed and a steel Gios-both of which are very good frames, but even then the ride changes massively as I switch wheels around.  I fitted 28mm Conti 4 Seasons to the Gios (vs 25mm) and, again, the ride has changed becoming more comfortable. 

    December 5, 2018 at 9:10 pm #932399
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    ilikebikes
    Garhel wrote:
    How about the Ribble CGR’s?  They have Aluminium and Steel versions at about £1k, and the reviews are pretty good…

    https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-725/

    https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-al/

    Eyeing up a steel version myself…

    The last time checkes these guys out they had nothing less than £1000 and now they do. 🙂

    December 5, 2018 at 6:45 pm #932397
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    Dnnnnnn

    I’m not clear if it can be

    I’m not clear if it can be combined with the C2W scheme but another point in favour of the Boardman would be the 10% off you can get with CUK or British Cycling membership, e.g.

    http://www.cyclinguk.org/member-benefits/halfords

    And wait another 20 days before buying anything yes

    December 5, 2018 at 1:29 pm #932395
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    CygnusX1

    Genesis Croix de Fer has a

    Genesis Croix de Fer has a solid reputation. 

    https://road.cc/content/review/73063-genesis-croix-de-fer

    December 4, 2018 at 8:45 pm #932393
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    Garhel

    How about the Ribble CGR’s?

    How about the Ribble CGR’s?  They have Aluminium and Steel versions at about £1k, and the reviews are pretty good…

    https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-725/

    https://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/ribble-cgr-al/

    Eyeing up a steel version myself…

    December 4, 2018 at 8:24 pm #932391
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    ilikebikes
    schlepcycling wrote:
    Not sure how it would work with the cycle to work scheme but the Planet X London Road or London Road SL might be worth a look.  Several different version available with 1x and 2x and with hydraulic brakes all under £1k.

    https://www.planetx.co.uk/c/q/bikes/road-bikes/london-road

    This looks rather good. Thanks

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