Is this steel real?

[Dromen]

https://www.ahssinsights.org/news/inventing-the-first-ahss-road-bike/

https://steelworks.bike/

Sorry if this has already been brought up on the Forum.

[oldpotatoe]

https://www.ahssinsights.org/news/inventing-the-first-ahss-road-bike/

https://steelworks.bike/

Sorry if this has already been brought up on the Forum.

$7000 or so with mid level group...yowser....:eek:

[stephenmarklay]

They better win the tour with it at that price. It is pretty cool forming however.

[sw3759]

interesting concept.i love steel bikes but that thing is just ugly

[sg8357]

Thyssen-Krupp, famous for artillery, U-boats and elevators*.

Now make bicycles ?

I guess the market for equipping Bond villains has slowed down.

*Elevators are needed for the secret villain lairs.

[XXtwindad]

Literally had to shield my eyes when I clicked on the link.

[bicycletricycle]

I think that is a very interesting bicycle. I don't see how it is any uglier than all the other modern ugly bicycles :) I think a different paint job would do a lot for this bicycle.

[David Tollefson]

.7mm isn't all that thin for steel frame tubes... I'd be curious on the finished frame weight. Hydroforming shapes like this isn't a new idea.

[BobbyJones]

Not sure why, but the stamped metal somehow reminds me of the Kirk Precisions of the 1980's.

I guess it's because its not "tubes".

Dunno why molded CF doesn't do the same. Weird.

[Mark McM]

Not sure why, but the stamped metal somehow reminds me of the Kirk Precisions of the 1980's.

I guess it's because its not "tubes".

Dunno why molded CF doesn't do the same. Weird.

Well it may not be "tubes", but it is hollow like a tube. Which is very unlike the Kirk Precision was solid cast metal.

[DeBike]

IMO, not that my opinion matters much, that is one of the ugliest bikes on a long list of ugly bikes being produced these days.

[Mark McM]

Conventional wisdom is that the most important thing about a frame is that it fits the rider - if it doesn't fit the rider, it doesn't matter how wonderfully it is made.

So how come every time some miraculous new frame construction technology comes along, it is always first made in an odd geometry? This one is no exception. Firstly, it comes only in 2 sizes, both of which are large (even the "Medium" is a little on the large size). Secondly, the frames appear to have very tall stack for a performance road bike: The "Medium" has a stack of 575mm, and the "Large" has a stack of 593mm. The oddest thing though is that the front end has lower trails than most riders prefer - the "Large" has a trail of only 50mm.

[Hellgate]

Looks like a Cervelo P5, or something.

I kinda like it. It would be fun to try out a recycle cannon.

[Spaghetti Legs]

Interesting concept. Not any uglier than all the other ugly bikes these days.

PF30 bottom bracket - really?

[makoti]

How is this any uglier than the mass produced carbon sameness that millions ride now? Do I like the look? No. Is it uglier than your basic Trek/Cervelo/Specialized? Hardly.

[AJosiahK]

hardpass

agree with bicycletricycle that its pretty interesting stuff but hard to see it performing as nicely as other steel bikes, and matching the weight of said rigs too. I can appreciate innovation for sure though. Yeah its ugly (which is relative, and related to the beholder) but there are so many other ugly bikes out there that might just ride better than this one. who knows

The sizing is a big issue as well, related probably to little demand and new on the market.

still, no thanks

[charliedid]

Interesting bike.

[William]

Thyssenkrupp?

Did a double take when I followed the link. We used to sometimes get steel from them for architectural installations & metal art/graphics. Doing bikes now...interesting and interesting?






W.

[Ozz]

Looks like a good way to make a mass produced bike by robots....sizes in S, M, L, and XL. Stamp left side, stamp right side, robot welds....done!

It appears to be just one seamed tube in the shape of a bike....didn't see how hey handled the rear stays though.

At that price though...pass.

[Mark McM]

Thyssenkrupp?

Did a double take when I followed the link. We used to sometimes get steel from them for architectural installations & metal art/graphics. Doing bikes now...interesting and interesting?

That's not really a first. Sandvik (maker of metal plate, bar and tube products for many industries including military and nuclear power plants) used to make titanum bicycle frames. It's probably not a stretch to say that while they knew a lot about making titanium tubing, they didn't know much about bikes.

[jamesdak]

These are Real Steal!

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/169860199.jpg

That bike is an overpriced abomination! :no:

[bigbill]

I had a job offer from Thyssen-Krupp when I was retiring from the military in 2012. They have a facility in the Seattle area that makes the metal parts for Boeing for just-in-time delivery. YUGE milling machines and acres of materials.

They still build submarines in Germany. The type 209 is very popular and well made.

[charliedid]

These are Real Steal!


That bike is an overpriced abomination! :no:

Get over it

[jamesdak]

Get over it

:confused: :banana: :banana:

[tuscanyswe]

How is this any uglier than the mass produced carbon sameness that millions ride now? Do I like the look? No. Is it uglier than your basic Trek/Cervelo/Specialized? Hardly.

Agreed

[Spaghetti Legs]

That's not really a first. Sandvik (maker of metal plate, bar and tube products for many industries including military and nuclear power plants) used to make titanum bicycle frames. It's probably not a stretch to say that while they knew a lot about making titanium tubing, they didn't know much about bikes.

Funny you brought that up. There was a bike on eBay recently listed as aluminum no name but in the pics, showed a Sandvik badge and a 3.2/2.5 Ti sticker. I put a couple hundred bucks bid in but it was taken down next day. Guess someone clued the seller in.

[bfd]

.7mm isn't all that thin for steel frame tubes... I'd be curious on the finished frame weight. Hydroforming shapes like this isn't a new idea.

Agree. My DS has Dedacciai Zero tubing with a top tube of like .07x.04x.07, there’s other tubing that is even thinner. So what is the weight of this frame? Today’s carbon frames can weigh as little as 650g or even less! Not sure a .7mm steel frame can come close.

Of course, YMMV!

Good Luck!

[PTinz]

Interesting concept, the two halves and all. Have to wonder about the potential for failure in the welding......there is a ton of welding here. Even with the dimpling effect of joining the two halves, I guess it is welded completely around?

Separately, think it is pretty neat to see a wonder material like Carbon Fiber used in traditional lug to lug construction, like a (level top tube of course, but I digress....) C-50, Parlee Z series, Calfee or others, and now a traditional material like steel being used in a very CF like manor-would this be considered bicoque construction vs moncoque?

[rustychisel]

Indeed, interesting.

I'd have thought the welding added considerably to the weight, as opposed to drawn tubing.

As to thickness: 0.7mm isn't particularly thin (depending on where on the frame - in terms of stress - we're talking about).

[unterhausen]

Did they list a frame weight? This probably isn't a great technology for high-end bicycles, but people seem to like to use bicycles as an accessible example of new tech.

[pbarry]

I'd like to ride one. :)

[jamesdak]

$7000 or so with mid level group...yowser....:eek:


Right! And just under 20 lbs supposedly.

Let's compare this to what I have into my under 20 lb bikes. And my weight is in as ready to ride condition with saddle, bottle cages, and pedals.

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/171047279.jpg

XL Super (2) - $1700 - went crazy on this build. ;)
Lemond Versailles - $900 - Wickwerks owner hooked me up with the chainrings cheap
Lemond Custom - $900
De Rosa - $1300 - New Chorus from UK on sale
XL Super - $1500, all new parts from UK and NOS frameset from Gita
Ribble - $ 580, Complete bike was $180 local, Swapped in $400 used wheelset for now.

So I can basically have all these wonderful performing and beautiful bikes for the cost of that ummmm.... thing.....

And reality is I could include the Evans in the too. $450 for it as a built bike and I know once I swapped tires it was under 20 lbs too. As a complete bike with a cheap "parts bin" type build. It's tore down now and awaiting a real build.

I mean you can have "art and craftsmanship" like this for a fraction of the cost of that stamped, welded, mess of a bike. Just my retro grouch opinion. :)

https://pbase.com/jhuddle/image/169109338.jpg

[Billybob62]

A new Schwinn Varsity:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/varsity.html

[charliedid]

A new Schwinn Varsity:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/varsity.html

That's a good point.

I had forgotten about that process.

[vespasianus]

Agreed


Double agreed. And just because it is steel does not make it special or even good in my mind.

[Velocipede]

That's not really a first. Sandvik (maker of metal plate, bar and tube products for many industries including military and nuclear power plants) used to make titanum bicycle frames. It's probably not a stretch to say that while they knew a lot about making titanium tubing, they didn't know much about bikes.

Not so sure about this part of the comment. Sandvik, well their bike division they started when ti started getting hot, TST/Titanium Sports Technologies, they made excellent frames. Made them for Bontrager, Kona, Marin, TST, Mongoose, Raleigh and numerous others.

[reuben]

The steel is real. Not so sure about the bike.

[Velocipede]

There was an article about this on some metal sites last year. It looked pretty a great use of current technology. I think it's a bit wasted as they've could easily make it lighter.

[colker]

Even without looking at the link i will say that big euro steel investing in bicycles is significantly good. A while ago True Temper left the scene and the idea of steel tubing became questionable from an economic perspective.
In the last days i hear Pro closet secures a big deal and now this.
We are living hard times right now but when it comes to cycling we are watching a huge turning point.

[Mark McM]

Not so sure about this part of the comment. Sandvik, well their bike division they started when ti started getting hot, TST/Titanium Sports Technologies, they made excellent frames. Made them for Bontrager, Kona, Marin, TST, Mongoose, Raleigh and numerous others.

Right. When designed by others, Sandvik were good fabricators. But their own proprietary models were no great shakes.

[Velocipede]

Right. When designed by others, Sandvik were good fabricators. But their own proprietary models were no great shakes.

Their road and mountain frames were pretty much the same as the ones they made for others. Not sure why they weren't good. I had a TST mountain frame and loved it. Only reason I got rid of it was someone wanted it and I didn't need a 4th mountain bike.

[Dromen]

Since the steel industry has funded all my bike purchase and everything else for that matter, i find the manufacturing process to weld 2 large, close tolerance, thin, formed pieces of steel with many "twists & turns" quite fascinating.

Typical of MY industry though, it usually fails on the artistic end. Hire someone, anyone to at least make it look good cosmetically.

When an industry friend/non-cyclist sent me this my first thought was, someone is an idiot that's not steel, its carbon fiber as a smart guy like me can easily tell.

I am curious to see/feel how all of this manufacturing weirdness translates to the road.

[Web1111a]

Not being an expert but the mpa numbers don’t look as high as Reynolds 753 for example I may not be understanding them correctly

[Waldo62]

interesting concept.i love steel bikes but that thing is just ugly

No uglier than 99% of carbon frames out there.