Production Trend -Steel Bikes and Wide Tires - Your Thoughts

[RFC]

I admit, I've been bitten.

In the last four months, I picked up a Surly Cross Check as my allarounder SS bomber, followed by the more roadish, but still wide tire, BMC Road. And, despite the fact that I have a number of very nice skinny tired road machines, I have been almost exclusively riding the CC and BMC.

The market has also reacted to this trend, with both big and small manufacturers offering wide tire steel.

I have my own thoughts about what may be driving the trend, but am interested in yours.

Is this the revenge of Grant Petersen and the Elves?

Oh, and as always, your photos are encouraged: Here are mine, which you've seen before.

[MattTuck]

Well, people are either being very independent minded and demanding the kind of products they want to use; or they are being led like sheep to a new product category that is different enough from what they have that they can be convinced to shell out cash for a new bike.

I am not really sure which it is that is driving the trend, perhaps some of both. What I am sure about is that it is a healthy rebuke of the gram obsessed racer types in favor of bikes that can handle more than smooth tarmac.

[charliedid]

Not just steel.

I have sold a few BMC Granfondo's (Carbon and Alum) and a number of Trek Domane (Carbon and Alum) bikes this season.

"Endurance Road" is a thing now.

[scho74]

what size tires are on those bikes?

i'm switching out my road to 25mm pro4s on 23mm rims, which will probably balloon to about 28mm.


my crosshairs has 35mm schwalbe duremes also on 23mm rims, which are very comfortable.

[RFC]

BMC -- 32 Gators

CC -- 28 Gators

[GRAVELBIKE]

No good will come of this.

Next thing you know, people will be venturing off the paved roads and onto *GASP* dirt or gravel...

[mktng]

damn posted wrong pic

[Ken Robb]

I have been a fan of these kinds of bikes for years. There are 3 Rivendells plus a Strada Bianca in our garage. Just because they allow fat tires doesn't mean I couldn't run 700x20 tires if I wanted to so there is no down side for me.

The condition of our roads has gotten a lot worse over the last 10 years as well so this reinforces the appeal of fatter tires.

[Peter B]

Can't speak to 'trends' but I'm having fun on this one of late.

[reggiebaseball]

as car usage diminishes in the current generation
more and more people are cycling to commute

It makes sense to have steel frames for durability and comfort (and price), and larger tires (for durability and comfort), and fender clearance --

so it does not surprise me at all that bike companies would be trending that way.

I can say that as I age I am "trending" this way in my tastes.

[bicimechanic]

I've been riding around on this lately. 1994ish SLX and plenty of room for Challenge 30mm tires. I like it. And yes, I do ride it with pedals. I do see a lot more folks asking for more tire/fender clearance. I've always preferred it.

[lhuerta]

I have never in my nearly 35 years or road riding (from racing to all around riding) purchased a tire narrower then 25c (actual width). So as I see it, this is not a trend.
Lou

[Kirk007]

Well, I went real wide - 29er 2.1" wide - love my Singular "humvee" for just getting around our crappy roads, turning onto gravel and dirt paths, not to techy single track etc.

I run 28-32s on my one Kirk, love that as well. Really comfortable ride and with fenders is a great year around go about anywhere a road bike can take you.

But jumping on the Peg Marcelo with 25s, that is a whole different ride entirely.
This one makes me want to ride faster, harder, to get lean and tan and sit at an outdoor cafe with an espresso doing an impression of Mario (which of course would be impossible in any event, but particularly so for someone with very little hair on their head).

They're all good. Different horses for different courses.

[retrogrouchy]

Originally Posted by RFC

I admit, I've been bitten.

In the last four months, I picked up a Surly Cross Check as my allarounder SS bomber, followed by the more roadish, but still wide tire, BMC Road. And, despite the fact that I have a number of very nice skinny tired road machines, I have been almost exclusively riding the CC and BMC.

The market has also reacted to this trend, with both big and small manufacturers offering wide tire steel.

I have my own thoughts about what may be driving the trend, but am interested in yours.

Is this the revenge of Grant Petersen and the Elves?

Oh, and as always, your photos are encouraged: Here are mine, which you've seen before.

IMO it's Jan Heine way more than it is Grant. Rivendell moved to the "regular-reach brakes and wider-tire capability" camp early in the 2000s, iirc, but Jan's work in tire testing and his involvement in the development of wider high-performance tires (as well as in promoting 650b, I suppose) have really gotten the snowball effect to speed up. Conditions were 'right' as well, too, I suspect, due to the aging of the core demographic that spends too much money on bike stuff - people like us!

[fourflys]

I have vowed to never ride anything smaller than 25mm and probably not smaller than 28's to be honest...

My Salsa currently with 28mm Clements


BMC MonsterCross with 43mm Rock and Roads


and the ultimate fat! (ok this one doesn't get ridden on the road much )