O.K., this has got to stop. I get enough of this stuff from the kids at the LBS who try to tell me that my steel bike will wear out after a couple of seasons, especially as relates to their own carbon fiber / aluminum rigs. The folks on this list must love their steel bikes for a lot more than their good looks over time, but also their riding characteristics - over time. Maybe, just maybe, in an all out racing situation a steel frame could lose some of its best qualities? I don't pretend to know, but I would sure love to here from our resident framebuilders on this issue. Is it art or is it just a tool? A recurring issue. It's not art if it does not last. I have my doubts - I think my steel bikes get better with age. So, ante up framebuilders!! Hey, why spend $2,500 bucks for something that is only good for a couple of years? If I want to do that I can buy a car. Richard Rose (Toledo, Ohio)
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-admin@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Wornoutguy@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 9:27 AM To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Eisentraut frames that may fail at any time.
Well, in one case I can tell you this is the truth. A friend of mind has a 1970s model that one day when we were riding decided to break. It failed between the bottom of the down tube and the BB shell. I am not trying to make the statement that all old bikes fail but this one certainly did. I VOW NOW NEVER BUY ANOTHER OLD BIKE only aluminum titanium and carbon fiber for me. I should go with the carbon fiber by doctor recommended fiber years ago and I did not listen. Sam DiBartolomeo in Southern CA