44mm head tube versus 1 1/8.
 

I realize there might have been a thread on this before, so apologies for any redundancies. Contemplating the build for the last bike I'll every buy (for myself) It will most likely be a very light steel bike. Columbus Spirit, probably.

Does a bigger (44mm) head tube negate the weight savings of a lighter steel bike? I've heard that several times. I'm also aware that the conventional thinking is that is makes the bike much stiffer on the front end.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

If you're doing really oversized steel tubing (downtube) and a carbon fork, and looking for maximum stiffness, then sure, go with the 44HT.

But if you're going for a dreamy steel ride, get a sweet steel fork on there and keep the smaller headtube diameter and the other tubes more reasonably sized.

Check out AndySTI's Alliance for an example of a Spirit bike that splits the difference and looks the business.

Haha. I know. Thanks. That was the inspiration for the steel bike. Also, his bike was the inspiration for my Ti All-Road bike. Np plans for a tandem bike, Andy? Good :)

steel fork or carbon? I wouldn't put a 44 ht on a frame built for a steel fork unless weight is no problem. I know people have done it, just my preference.

I used to really hate the look of 44mm ht, but now there are numerous tapered ht available that don't look bad

It looks better with chubby carbon forks.

Stiffer schmiffer.

What looks better with chubby carbon forks?

Sorry 44

No need for a 44mm headtube with Spirit. Plenty stiff as is.

I'm going to assume that you're going with rim brakes.
If so, 1.125" is great.
If not, there is an ever decreasing amount of forks that are 1.125 disc.

Same with through-axle.

I doubt that a 44mm head tube adds much stiffness to the frame over a 1 1/8" head tube*. The reason is because the load paths between the headset bearings and the top tube and downtube are very short, with little of the loading passing along the length of the headtube. The added stiffness comes from the tapered fork that fits into the 44mm head tube.

*Unless the head tube is exceptionally long

Steel bike I'd go 1 1/8 particularly rim brake. I will say that I think my 333FAB ALS, which uses a tapered headtube, looks ok with the steel pipes but its also built to be a burly quasi dropbar mountain/bike packing 650b/47mm tire bike. I also think the endless quest for front end stiffness is over the top for most applications, starting with overbuilt carbon forks.

The stiffness doesn't come from the head tube itself, the stiffness comes from being able to use a tapered fork, and a larger diameter downtube.

I would copy Flash’s choices. He got the steel bike thing dialed.

If not disc then 11/8 imo.

As previously noted Spirit is a stiff steel, If you're going disc brakes then sure 44 is probably better. If you're going traditional you probably don't need the 44 diameter head tube.