Mmm......tricky one this, as a framebuilder since 71 you might think I'd be totally faithfull to steel, but.....I also like to compare the different forms of bikes, however I have a kind of disrespect towards alluminum frames, as far as I'm concerned they brought around the demise of steel frames and caused the downfall of many fine framebulding business's.
I have built a number of frames with carbon, either just the back ends, or a full carbon frame such as my own Columbus Mecano frame which rides very well, but to get back to the question of are you a real CR rider........my answer to that would be 'I'm encouraged by the respect and strong following that traditional steel frames have, specially over in the US [it's a shame here in the UK the enthusiasm is not as strong] and for me personally I will always have a deep emotional 'bond' with steel frames, its been my life since I was 16, so if I could only have just the one bike YES IT WOULD BE A STEEL LUGGED ONE
I guess I just love bikes!
Cheers Kevin Sayles
Bridgwater Somerset UK
> All the talk about CF, Alum, and TI bikes, being as good, better, or old
> fashioned or who ever else, got me thinking( look-out).
> I'm 62 yrs and still ride, always do every bit of my own work on bikes.
> I love to get my hands greasy as much or more then riding.
> So here's the catch! I have never swung a leg over anything but standard
> size real steel. When I see a CF bike it's like I glanced at a 1997
> Nissian! No reaction what so ever. When I see lugs it's like seeing a 32
> Ford coupe with a chromed out 350.
> Is there anyone else who has been totally faithful to steel?
>
> Dickey Greer
> West Monroe,La USA