Tom,
I'll answer this broad statement I made about "racing" and "racing bikes" here, but it could have been addressed to any number of responces. First, there are always exceptions to the rule. Two were cited already. But in the HUGE majority of cases serious racers are riding alternative materials. Also, there are lots of different types of races on the road and track. What size frame one rides should effect frame choice as well. A person like me who is not specifically a "sprinter", rides smooth and steady most of the time, and rides a frame of 49cm c-t on 650c wheels could ride a frame made of bamboo with no problem. Larger and heavier riders must be more selective. For long races (how many races are over 60 miles on open roads around here?) where the special feel and comfort of steel might be appreciated, one can get that cheap and easy in a tig welded steel frame. Made to order and everything. I believe %75 of the weight of the bicycle is in the components. Assuming equal components, the difference between a light steel frame and something else is probably at most a pound. Not really a big disaster if the whole bike ends up around 17 or 18 pounds. My green "Hetchins-like" bike probably weights about 22 pounds plus. I don't feel that it is a disadvantage beyond my lack of fitness for the riding I do. I would feel quite differently if I were racing. Even though I know it's all in my legs, even a mental edge is important in racing.
We must also define "racing". When I say racing I only relate to the type of racing I know here in CA. Track racing pretty much stays the same forever (thank God), but around here racing and training for racing is generally done in mass groups. Races are mass groups. Therefore, what you ride is subject to the effects of mass races which means crashing and sometimes being unable to see or avoid road hazards or imperfections. The effects of these things should be delivered to frames that were not too personally crafted or contain "work of art" quality paint or decoration. If you are racing and not poseing, then you don't ride your prized horse in the race. Take the one that will take any and all punishment for racing and be no compromise in performance. Logical to me. Racing ain't no fun if your super nice extra custom Picasso of a bike frame comes home in a body bag. The nice custom lugged beauty can come out ANY other time you ride for the pleasure of riding, and do it in comfort and style.
If I were to build a steel frame for myself to race on and outfit with trick light parts, I would go with absolute minimum lugs filed pretty thin, micro-dropouts, and carbon fork. But why spend the money when the same tubes tig welded by someone who knows what they are doing, like Rock Lobster, would produce a bike of equal performance ( or so nearly so, technically) that the extra money could buy LOTS of really neat Hi-Tech bike goodies.
Racing mentality is the same regardless of the sport. Motor racing, dog sleds, ski jumping. It's a lot about spending money, having the latest stuff, employing the latest technology. By deffinition it has to be. No one ever made progress by looking for ways to go slower in the race. Racing is about winning and good sportsmanship. If it isn't about those two things then it isn't racing. There will be no turning back the hands of time in bike racing. Standard tubes and pressed lugs are gone from racing (most types) forever; lugged OS steel probably isn't far behind. Luckily for us, I'll bet over %90 of our cycling worldwide isn't racing. Some of us act like it even when there is not a race. It's a guy thing. In the situations that are not racing, I'm all for whatever type of bike and components give you the pleasure you seek. Ironically, many still seek to procure the current modern offerings.
Steel frames still have their place. Exotic lugged frames that cost $4000 are going to have a limited market no matter what the trends are. Clearly, such frames add one more layer (that being MOJO) on top of the attributes of handmade steel frames. Personally I feel that they should represent the highest form of the craft of framebuilding and exhibit some character that can only come from a good eye and an experienced steady hand. They should be beautiful in the traditional way even if outfitted with modern components. They should have timeless qualities that can be appreciated even by those who know nothing of bicycles; in the same way that a painting is perfect to your eye even though you are not an art critic. The original owner should feel that they will never part with this object because it so perfectly reflects their vision of the perfect bicycle. That is what I strive to accomplish when building a frame. It is an object that begs to be used, but you could never bear to abuse.
It's never safe to make blanket statememts, but I hope I cleared my position regarding what is the best racing bike. The bike matters less than your fitness and ability to race. Always has. Mentally it's hard to ignore marketing and imagined advantages of weigh savings, etc. as a racer. I say get the foo foo trick stuff for racing, it's part of the "racing experience" to be a weight or gadget dork. The winner of the race is always the strongest and fastest weight weenie.
Brian Baylis
La Mesa, CA
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> I have to agree with pretty much everything Brian says. I would like to make the point ,though, that a steel lugged bike need not be too heavy. After considerable expense with light weight (and off topic) components I have got the weight on my Columbine down to 19lbs. I am not a racer, and it is mostly play for me...I am almost phobic about being non-competitive about things. When I go to my local Litespeed dealer, the bikes on his floor are tagged as weighing 18.5 lbs. Folks this is only 8
> Snowed in in Lansing, Mi
> Tom Sanders