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#16
08-01-2020, 07:53 AM
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#17
08-01-2020, 08:14 AM
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Somebody must be riding the high end aluminum frames-about the time we moved out of Brooklyn (10 or so years ago) I was seeing incredible deals on NOS alu racing frames--I kept being tempted and then talking myself out of them.
I haven't seen deals like that since--I suspect it was probably about the time that the suppliers were going all in on plastic, and thought they might as well ditch the old stuff... I'd still like to have a go on a first class alu frame--Colnago Dream, Merckx SC or ????. But it would have to be a deal...
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#19
08-01-2020, 06:07 PM
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Recently returned from riding my Basso Reef. I bought this frame new in 2004 and have been happily riding it since - must have well over 10k miles. Made from Easton 'Ultralight Race' aluminum (with an interesting tear-drop shaped top tube), from the era of the Merckx Team SC. I continue to be impressed with the functioning of the Campagnolo 10 speed components (as long as the g-springs are replaced every so often). This is a great riding bike, not harsh at all.
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#21
08-01-2020, 06:34 PM
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Quote:
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#22
08-01-2020, 07:05 PM
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Quote:
Greg
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#24
08-01-2020, 08:08 PM
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Quote:
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#25
08-01-2020, 08:22 PM
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Quote:
That being said Alu gets a bad rap, even though for affordable performance they’re hard to beat with the advances in hydroforming and the associated improvements of other items to help with smoothing out the ride. Dampening bars, stems, seatposts, tape and other touch points make a huge difference while keeping the responsiveness of the frame.
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#27
08-02-2020, 01:39 PM
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Perfectly happy with the ride of my 88 Cannondale ST. This one is from the Tange steel fork era. Now wears 28mm GP SII’s at 80 psi but have owned it long enough that it’s also been shod with 23’s and 25’s. Gets more miles than any other bike in the collection and traveled around the country more often as well (at least when travel was a thing)- Southern California, Eastern Washington state, Drifteless area of Wisconsin, plus the killer hills of Virginia.
Never understood the boneshaker reputation, but like any frameset of that era it benefits from updated wheels and components- mine is set up with high end Shimano 10 speed.
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#28
08-02-2020, 01:42 PM
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I will add that my old Cannondale ST 600 with a steel fork was more compliant than my all aluminum 3.0 or SM700. It was a smooth ride which I attribute to the fork and ability to run wider tires.
The SM700 was a straight up bone rattler and I don’t think it had anything to do with any magazine or bike literature. It would cause my hands and other bits to go numb every ride. The 3.0 was also as stiff feeling as any bike I have ever ridden and would cause numbness. It felt fast and I loved the look of those fat tubes, but not very comfortable. The newer aluminum bikes I have owned from a Trek Stache to the Zanconatos were far better riding bikes, but also had carbon forks. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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#29
08-02-2020, 04:39 PM
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I've heard and read many accounts of riders who say that they easily detect the differences in feel and performance of different frame materials. I've also read and heard accounts of people who have done blind testing of different types of frames. Those who have done blind testing seem to be much less certain that they can discern any differences.
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#30
08-02-2020, 05:01 PM
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Quote:
But compare an older frameset to modern steel, there is a big difference in ride quality. Both are equally 'fast'.
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