Hammer…
Lusted after one at Bike’s Plus a few years back that took forever to sell. Full Race Face kit, LX, I think, and decent wheels. Wanted it soooooo baaaaaad.
Now you can see just how awesome, or not, your old Tange framed bike is. Or, use it to see what you are getting into when you buy one.
For example, my old bike is plain gauge, seamed, non-butted tubing. Oh well.
http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/tange/tangecat97/pdf/06tangecat1997.pdf
I had a frame made with Ulatmate Ultralight years ago, it was beautiful! 23lbs built up and it cornered like a dream, almost felt like it curved with the turn and then whipped out.
I can’t imagine not riding a steel framed bike.
I have a Breezer with Ritchey super ultra lite tubing. Very sweet, light ride.
Also have a Kona Lava Dome that is made with some sort of double butted chromoly tubing. It’s orange!
bent6543, what are you riding now?
I also don’t want to go away from the feel of steel, not because I’m a bin-diving hipster, but because I notice and enjoy the ride quality, which isn’t always better for everything, but I like it. It also looks better to me. Nice and clean, straight tubes. Small stays. Makes me think of riding back in the day.
Methinks we need to get a little vintage ride on the go here at some point. Maybe a show and ride? Even just to show off some old parts that need dusting off before they go back in the bin/time capsule.
Oh, and after speaking with the head of a rather “large” bicycle company, it was revealed to me that they were just about ready to build a steel MTB after a rather long hiatus, other than entry-level crap. They guy who headed it up left, so it never went into full-swing production.
Fingers crossed…
If finances allowed: http://www.ingliscycles.com/retrotec.php Classic look, steel, with all the modern nuances including disk brakes and front fork compatible if desired! Love 'em!
If finances allowed: http://www.ingliscycles.com/retrotec.php Classic look, steel, with all the modern nuances including disk brakes and front fork compatible if desired! Love 'em!
I would have to put my thumb shifters on it of course!
Better to just keep the Kona. And the Breezer. The Kona ir a rider, which is awesome. However, I also love the Breezer.
Rally, I’m mostly riding a 2002 KHS Rigid One with fairly modern parts, just put the rigid fork on it this afternoon! Also a couple of Rocky Mountain bikes built up too, a 1997 Hammer Race all original parts, and a 1990? Hammer with a dog’s breakfast for parts. My road bike is steel too.
i’ve never owned an aluminium frame, but did have a brief period with a carbon frame. I too just love the steel frames, ride quality, looks… plus steel bends before it fails and a dent or two isn’t really going to ruin the structural integrity of the frame.