Is Steel Real for Triathlon?

[TC Johnson]

Greetings!

I have been visiting this forum for a while now since my employer has filtered all my other haunts (Roadbikereview, Slowtwitch), but this is my first post. Please be gentle.

Since returning to serious cycling and triathlon last year after a ten-year break, I used my Merckx Majestic ti bike with clip on bars for the two tris I raced in '08. It worked fine, I suppose, but it is time for a dedicated Tri bike. I would like something a bit different than the Alu and Carbon bikes that populate the racks, and steel has always appealed to me. My first quality road bike and my current MTB are magnetic.

Other than the tasty offering from Serotta, are there any other relatively light steel tri-geometry bikes out there? No amount of drooling over the CXII from Ben is going to make it cheap enough for my current budget limitations.

Also, for you CXII riders, how different is the ride from CF or Ti?

Thanks in advance for the replies.

TC

[Blue Jays]

WELCOME! :beer:

Steel is always real.
It's fine like wine.
Regardless of riding application.

[Fixed]

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=609278&postcount=1
buy used cats get in over their head in tri stuff sometimes imho
cheers

[deechee]

Why not get a custom CDA, all steel with tri geometry? Its not as sexy but that CXII tubing never looked all that aero to me. (Then again I've never been a fan of fat tubes.) Friend of mine has a very old custom Serotta Colorado built for tris and he's wicked fast.

I have a CIII road bike but race a cheap Cervelo One for Tris. Yeah, I think it would be nice to have steel on those long rides; but I've done a 1/2IM on the Cervelo and I don't think I would've really felt a difference. That said, there's something magical about the CIII ride compared to the Cervelo.

I never noticed this before, but Ves Mandaric also does steel frames. Since you're from slowtwitch, I figure you know his history and connection to Dan... I know that if I were to get a custom tri bike, I would seriously consider Ves.
http://www.mandaric.com/
http://www.yaquiusa.com/

[android]

In my opinion no. I love steel bikes and have a custom Spectrum and Waterford, but my TT bike is a Cervelo P2C. It's the right tool for the job with the right geometry and aerodynamic frame, fork and seatpost. Also, it's pretty hard to do the faired rear wheel with a round steel tube.

[gregclimbs]

Also, it's pretty hard to do the faired rear wheel with a round steel tube.

although it CAN be done:

http://wattagetraining.com/yamaguchi.jpg

<edit> oh, and how about this for a good deal?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/bik/915433855.html

</edit>

[Brian Smith]

although it CAN be done:



Where are the round tubes there?
That was a tubeset sold to the builder pre-bent by its manufacturer, and very easy to snake around a rear wheel.

Ingliss might do it with roundish tubes and enough filler.
What you lose in "bent" however, is not made up for in "round," so there's not much point...

[Elefantino]

buy used cats get in over their head in tri stuff sometimes imho
cheers
Listen to the oracle.

[TC Johnson]

Thanks for all the replies.

I can appreciate the potential advantage of an extreme aero bike for someone who is really competitive in their age group or overall, but these 57 year old legs are not likely to put the pain to Macca, or his dad for that matter. My interest in steel is as much about the feel on the wheels as whether I'm first to T2.

Titanium is also an option, and I was very comfortable on my Merckx from a road buzz standpoint. The issue was geometry. With the classic laid back geometry on the Merckx, I felt like I was hitting the run a bit more depleted than I should have been since I was folded over pretty well on the aero bars.
(see picture attached) 32065-012-022f.jpg

Though not ready for an 80 degree seatpost, a used CXII seems to be a nice compromise as most have been about 76 degrees. New custom gets anything I desire for geometry, I know, but the $$ is the challenge.

Who is riding a CXII right now and what are your "angles"?

TC

[John M]

As all of the STers have had to upgrade to the newest and hottest Cervelo's, Felts, Specialized, etc.... There are lots of great deals to be had on used Ti. I got a 2005 QR Santo frame/fork/HS for $500 last year. Great ride, great deal, and a great fit. Round tubes are fast enough for me, and the frame weighs only 2.9 lbs.

Good quality aluminum is still an excellent frame material and also a bargain these days for TT/Tri.

[Lance Armstrong]

Carbon for me.....

[deechee]

78degree ST on my Cervelo, saddle tip right over the BB, super comfy and set-up by Paul Levine. I missed out on a great deal on a Quintana Roo TiPhoon the other day on eBay... but I'm still racing so I'd rather a cheap frame than anything else..

[TC Johnson]

It is refreshing to see "Seven Times to the Dance" Lance has taken time off from his intense training for '09 to weigh in on this question! :)

Regarding the Santo, I saw another one come through on eBay recently, but it was a bit too large for me. Since I ride a 55/56 road frame, much bigger than that would get a bit too stretched out for me. It would be easier to have a slightly smaller frame and longer stem to make the position right on the aerobars.

Still hoping for some input from someone riding a steel tri frame.

TC

[Acotts]

Make sure you test some bikes. My Tri bike is much smaller and more compact than my roadbikes. I normally do a 58 squared, and my tri bike is 56x58.

[Fixed]

I felt like I was hitting the run a bit more depleted than I should have been since I was folded over pretty well on the aero bars.
brick work will help imho work your core it will help your swim too
cheers

[mrbarrows]

I'm on a CXII Steel for triathlons. Mainly 1/2 iron and Iron distance. Sure you can get aero tubes and fast looking bikes. I wanted a custom frame and fit to ensure comfort (as much as possible) in the aero position for 5 hours.

[TRI PT]

I purchased a custom CXII (not the ti version) last fall and I love it. The ride is best I've ever had and I defected from the carbon groupies. I now understand why people love steel. IMO, forget the extreme aero stuff, spend your $ on getting a custom fit. You won't regret it.

[caleb]

A steel tri bike would be great. If you dig around some wind tunnel tests you'll discover that round steel tubes cut the wind better than many "aero" bikes currently being marketed as such.

Doug Curtis of Curtlo (http://www.curtlo.com/) would build you a sweet one on a budget (three figures).

That said, Ves Manderic of Yaqui (http://www.yaquiusa.com/home_da10.html) is one of the triathlon bike godfathers. I bet he'd make you something out of steel. He has definate views about how tri bikes ought to be ridden, and he won't build whatever you want. If you want to ride a steep STA with a low front end, he's your man. If that's not your style, your existing road bike is probably just fine.

[RFC]

As all of the STers have had to upgrade to the newest and hottest Cervelo's, Felts, Specialized, etc.... There are lots of great deals to be had on used Ti. I got a 2005 QR Santo frame/fork/HS for $500 last year. Great ride, great deal, and a great fit. Round tubes are fast enough for me, and the frame weighs only 2.9 lbs.

Good quality aluminum is still an excellent frame material and also a bargain these days for TT/Tri.


You can actually do a lot with a traditional steel frame, Profile Fast Forward seatpost and clipons with a reorganization of the control center -- either bar ends or brifters. I had this type of a setup on my Litespeed Ultimate and it worked fine.

I agree regarding Ti and the used Ti market. I also picked up one of the NOS Santos and here is the result. It is a very fast, stable ride with a 76.5 degree seatpost.

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/IMG_0020r.jpg

And just to build on the older TT bike above:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/RCopple/IMG_0023.jpg

[TriJim]

Not what you're asking, but thought you might like a Serotta on the Queen K. :beer:

http://www.feviper.com/images/Hawaii2.jpg

[TC Johnson]

The responses to my original posting have been great. I had my sights set on a CXII that was on eBay from the Sierra race team, and it was eligible for MSFT cashback. I lost it literally just minutes before I was going to hit the Buy It Now button. That will teach me to wait until I have my money ready!

There is a happy ending. Just a couple of days later, a 2004 Litespeed Blade came up for auction that was nearly the same price. This time I was ready, and pulled the trigger, winning the bike and getting $200 back from MSFT. It is now in my hands, and I am collecting the parts for the build.

It was cool to see this thread come back to life after a month of dormancy to continue bringing out the great information that this forum can provide.

Thanks!

TC

[gregclimbs]

IMO, forget the extreme aero stuff, spend your $ on getting a custom fit. You won't regret it.

but you will go slower.

:D

g