WHAT'S NEW
Comments - The Ultimate State Of Bike Illumination
April 17, 2012
Are you guys really giving away a bag of peanuts signed by Paco Mancebo?
- Elephant , zoo
April 17, 2012
A night at the Crow Bar Hotel may be in your future
- Paul Taylor, Most Awesome Steel Fork Builder
April 17, 2012
What's happened to both cyclingnews and velonews websites? The billboard and relentless video ads make it impossible to "read" an article! Anyone else feel the same?
- Mitt, Beaverton
April 17, 2012
I love steel. It's HARD at first glance but SOFT when touched.
- Mr. Pretentious, SPACE
April 16, 2012
Steve Rex makes beautiful steel frames with Steel Forks right here in Sacramento.
- Howard, Rocklin, CA
April 16, 2012
For your steel frame and fork, try Paul Sadoff at Rock Lobster Cycles, in Santa Cruz CA. Awesome, small, one-man shop, and a fascinating and funny guy to boot.
And I 've used The Recovered Saddle, Jason is quick, communicates well, and does nice work. Do it.
Please keep writing this column, literally dozens of groupies depend on it.
bikenerd
- bikenerd, Folsom, CA
April 16, 2012
@Jeff, California, This makes no sense to me.
- Rick , memphis
April 15, 2012
I've used Recovered Saddle for an Avocet O2 Saddle. Excellent work and very prompt. I doubt you would be dissapointed..
- Stuart , Dallas, TX
April 15, 2012
I'm number 1. No pants for a week. WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!
- Francisco Mancebo, Domestic PRO
April 13, 2012
Hincapie was in fact using an aluminum steerer tube. The failure resulted from assembly. When the mechanic tightened the top cap to cinch the stem down the star nut in the fork spun (a lot?) creating a stress riser, also known as a "please fail on the dotted line" mark.
- Jeff, California
April 13, 2012
Torelli and Mondonico for your steel urges. Really decent post this week.
- Longdaddy, Fayetteville, NC
April 13, 2012
Pegoretti, White, Wages, Kirk, Kellogg et. al over at Smoked Out on Velocipede, plus others. If not much is " tempting," you've got eyes wide shut
- Bud, Philadelphia
April 12, 2012
Brendan-You're a funny guy. You're whining about a steel frame/fork manufacturer days after you started carrying a frame/fork manufacture (CIVILIAN). Why not offer them a little publicity? Does the connoisseur of 'pro' not approve? "Dea-luck."
- Hippo, Crete
April 12, 2012
Just to make clear, I am not calling Kirk a hermit. His bikes are truly gorgeous and I hear he is a gracious gent. But there are hermits who will remain unnamed.
- Brett, Palisade
April 12, 2012
I'm pretty sure that most of those old Italian guys were just "New Jack Italian" 35 years ago and a few made it/stuck it out. If we want to discount the hard work of the majority of modern builders because they use a carbon fork and fancy paint, then Dario goes into the pile too. Or, of course we could admire the youngsters and the oldsters that have learned, are enthusiastic, and aren't repeating the same old designs. Quality and technique can exist regardless of material or age. Support an up and comer that still likes building, beware of the hermits.
- Brett, Palisade
April 12, 2012
Tony Pereira outta Portland (via SLC,UT) is doin' some fine work...check him out.
pereira cycles dot com
- Newberry
- Mike, FLA
April 12, 2012
Vegetables
- Steve Sevener, Duck Head PRO
April 12, 2012
Waterford makes a phenomenal steel frame and fork. I own a fixed gear RF-22, easily the best bike that I have. It rides better than any carbon frame that I have ever been on.
- Steve, NJ
April 12, 2012
I want to buy a steel frame. But I want Patek Phillipe, not Timex. Expensive, not cheap. Elite, not common.
- Quinn, L.A.
April 12, 2012
Kudos to Dave Kirk. I am the lucky and proud owner of a JK Special w/ steel fork. Couldn't be happier with Dave's work and the experience that went along with it. And yes: the bold red color makes the bike faster.
- Marco, Twin Cities
April 11, 2012
Steel is real..... heavy.
- Jason B., Jonesboro, AR
April 11, 2012
Waterford Precision makes steel frames and forks in the US. with Reynolds 853 or True Temper OX Plat. Their Gunnar frame and fork is stock geometry. I know because my Gunnar Sport is on order and I can't wait.
- mark speas, n Andover
April 11, 2012
I just bought a steel Dean with a steel fork on ebay (early 2000's)...the fork weighs more than the frame, but damn it's nice!
- WJL, N. Jersey
April 11, 2012
This was the best What's New column in months. It seems you have your groove back, Brendan. Bravo.
- Jay, Mansfield
April 11, 2012
Museeuw rode a Regal and I doubt it was the same one for his whole career. He had spare bikes, etc so surely he had multiple Regals. He probably did hand pick them out of a larger group.
I think for a bicycle business owner/manager you should just bite the bullet and get a new Aliante.
- EKH, YVR
April 11, 2012
@Steve Sevener
Don't you sell grow materials in Athens now? How pro is it to facilitate an illegal industry?
- TTT, Boulder, CO
April 11, 2012
See you at NAHBS 2013. Bring a "Merlin"
- Don Walker, Frame King
April 11, 2012
I'd like to plug Ahearne into the list of top quality steel frame builders in the US - "handbuilt with love & fury". From Japan, I like Cherubim's pedigree.
- Matthew Ryan, SLC
April 11, 2012
Cool to see my work mentioned here - now my Mom will be very proud of me.
I think there are a good number of builders that offer steel forks to go with their steel frames and the few mentioned above are certainly not the only ones..........but I like that my work was singled out.
I see the link that I assume was intended to go to my site in the article is dead. If folks want to get there you can google 'Kirk bike' or go to Kirkframeworks dot com.
Thanks for looking.
Dave Kirk
- Dave, Bozeman
April 11, 2012
If you want a steel frame, call Ira Ryan. Check out the orange "MoltenIRA". It's mine!!! Eddie is "Timeless" and Ira has the "vocation"
- Tom, Randolph
April 11, 2012
Loads of steel forked steel frames in the UK - Mercian, Bob Jackson ...
- Mike, London
April 11, 2012
I have been watching bike racing on the tely since ESPN put the Tour on for a half hour pre-Lance days and have never seen a rider make it look as easy as Mr. Boonen did at Paris-Roubaix. And without gloves. Shame Chavenel flatted, could very well have been two Pharma riders on the podium. Thanks Competitive Cyclist for sponoring it!
- John, Madison,Wi
April 11, 2012
Innerlight, Davis CA. Been racing on mine 5 seasons and it gets better every year-- aging like wine.
- Benjamin, San Diego
April 11, 2012
SLC to Bozeman is a very worthwhile trip. I think Dave could have something ready for you by Roubaix time 2013.
- Greg, Seattle
April 11, 2012
Rich Adams does steel forks upon request...
- Don, West Pittston, PA
April 11, 2012
He wants a simple steel fork and frame. Several of the bikes at NAHBS are flashy, speckled paint show bikes that are not that. Is the craftmanship amazing? yes, Is the paint amazing? yes. But thats not what he wants. Chill out Don Walker, you have to admit NAHBS is an art show and one that I live to see every year.
- Steel, Thunder OK
April 11, 2012
These 'What's New' posts are declining recently in quality and substance. Are you in a rush? Stop with the 'PROness' comments, they're annoying and trite.
- Daniel, Atlanta
April 11, 2012
Aren't Flecha's brake levers just "double hooded"? Lot's of reports and photos of that practice at this year's P-R.
- Mitch, Cleveland
April 11, 2012
The best part of Hincapie's -aluminum steerer- breaking in the '06 'Roubaix was just a week or two before he had publicly stated he wouldn't ride a carbon steerer because he didn't trust them... (it made our job slinging high end bikes with carbon steerers, and even to some extent carbon bikes much more difficult for a bit as every Tom off the street doubted carbon was strong enough).
- scotty, Utah
April 11, 2012
I thought Waterford still offered their own in-house built steel forks? If not, that's a shame.
- Grouch, NY
April 11, 2012
You lost me on this one - as indicated by the comments above, there are MANY great and experienced framebuilders out there, not all with a 5-year wait list and not all just cranking out pretty wallhangers for NAHBS. Just here in Eastern PA we have several great guys (Bilenky, Spectrum, Havnoonian, etc.). If you add in online options, including used frames on EBay et al, I think the ability to source a great steel fram (and fork) is better than it's ever been.
- Jon, Philadelphia, PA
April 11, 2012
Building a steel fork is easy, like a few hours of work max. Most probably spec frames w/ carbon on a customer's request. Carbon will corner and brake better, but steel has the upper hand on headset security and road feel.
- Tom, SD
April 11, 2012
Han s Schneider @ Schneider Cycles: Pure racing steel in compact or old style design. Amazing real race knowledge and 30 years of racing and building bikes. You pick the color but the focus is the frame; not the artsy stuff. I ride 12K per year split between a Cervelo R3 (for shit days, winter, and races if I break it) and my steel bike which beats the Cervelo hands down for ride quality and BUILD quality (huge difference on this one). 936-291-1764 is the number: PS: In Chicago my Schneider is a standout amongst a sea of Carbon and I'm no slower for it!
- Philip, Chicago
April 11, 2012
Don Walker, you just sit around on the internet and wait to make defensive comments about "handmade steel frame builders?" I didn't take anything in this article to be overly neg on that genre.
- Bicycle Steve, Madison, WI
April 11, 2012
Boonen was absolutely amazing in the Robaix. Watching the chase frantically trying to run him down for the last 40km, only to continue to slide back.. was one of the most dominant performances I've seen in cycling. Big thanks to Competitive Cyclist for sponsoring the Robaix and Flanders, I'm so happy I get to watch them on TV.
- Henry, Whitefish, MT
April 11, 2012
PRO used in a lazy manner- check.
Bagging on stuff you don't sell- check.
Bad advice (steel forks are gone for a reason, they were insanely heavy and no better than even an entry level carbon fork today). They only reason to ride or spec one is simple hipster vanity.
- What Happened?, No PRO please
April 11, 2012
I've had him recover two of my worn Aliantes in black leather. He did a great job, and returned them relatively promptly. I'm happy to recommend him.
- Kevin, New York
April 11, 2012
I think you're forgetting a few of the other builders that also fabricate steel forks -- IF, Seven, Vanilla, Igleheart, Zanconato, Hampsten, Ira Ryan, Geekhouse, Spectrum, Curtlo, DeSalvo, Llewellyn, Circle A, Hot Tubes...the list goes on. I'd argue that all these dudes 'pass the test'.
- Nathaniel, Cambridge
April 11, 2012
After lusting after an unobtainable Sachs, I found Chris Kvale in Minneapolis. I asked Richard Sachs about Mr. Kvale via e-mail and got a sound endorsement. Nuff said.
Chris Kvale measure you, goes for a ride with you on your current bike to see you in action, cuts your tubes, brazes the frame and fork and paints... a true one-man operation. Check him out.
- Wisco, Madison, WI
April 11, 2012
Roland Della Santa. Experienced, gracious, and his product is both a tool and art. He's outside of Reno - not too far away from SLC. No fancy website, you'll actually have to call him...
- Jeff, Santa Clara
April 11, 2012
Tom Kellogg and Jeff Duser @ Spectrum
- wade, pennsylvania
April 11, 2012
My name is Jason Moore. RecoveredSaddle dot com is my company. I've got plenty of satisfied customers. If you would like a reference or ten, then I'd be happy to put you in touch with any number of them. I'm also happy to answer any questions you have about your Aliante or anything else for that matter. My contact info is on the site. Look forward to talking to you.
- Jason, Dallas, TX
April 11, 2012
Peter Mooney in Boston will make a nice frame and (steel) fork, and deliver in timely fashion. Likewise as mentioned earlier, Della Santa has leadtimes measured in weeks, not years.
- brian, dallas
April 11, 2012
wow. lots of negative energy focused on builders of steel. focus that energy on Merlin and you would learn a thing or 2. See you at NAHBS 2013?
- Don Walker, Builder
April 11, 2012
PRO? I am in the picture in the Dictionary
- Steve Sevener, Old and Crusty PRO
April 11, 2012
Oh jeez it looks like "PRO" is back. Barf.
Hincapie was indeed on an aluminum steerer tube. I got hit by a car this summer on my merckx team SC - the frame broke right in half about half an inch from the headtube at both the top and down tubes - looks like they were cut. Guess it's true - any metal is weakest right at the point of the weld. The carbon steerer - which at that point was ten years old - not so much as a crack.
I gotta admit I was impressed.
- Tom, DC
April 11, 2012
Hincapie was using an aluminium steerer tube when he crashed out of Paris-Roubaix. I remember reading that the mechanics pulled a fork from one of Trek's lower spec frames because it would be more comfortable than the stock fork (with carbon steerer!). Apparently he crashed earlier in the race as well which may have lead to damage to the steerer.
- Paul, Cape Town
April 11, 2012
I have nerves of STEEL and sometimes acted like a PRO(fessional). Sometimes.
- Bobby Petrino, Hell
April 10, 2012
Another all steel option is De Rosa Neo Primato
- Sergio, Manitowoc
April 10, 2012
Brendan: What you seek is a Della Santa, a racer's steel frame and fork. Roland is a master with experience, style, timelessness and vocation. He doesn't pretend to be anything but.
- Gary B., Mountain View, CA
April 10, 2012
I have a defect. That DA sneak peek has me loving 7800 even more than ever.
- Matthew, PRoB
April 10, 2012
JA Flecha was rolling on Di2 with two sets of hoods (can't recall ever seeing that before). The brakes are interesting though.
- Jeff, Boston
April 10, 2012
Pegoretti? Still doing steel forks on lugged and Tigged steel.
- Zombie Cucumber, JHole, Wyo.
April 10, 2012
Cielo.
- Brendan, New Prague
April 10, 2012
Gunnar / Waterford is still a pretty nice steel bike with a real history behind it.
- Mark, Iowa City
April 10, 2012
Have you considered selling MERLIN and buying a steel bike/fork manufacturer?
- George, Austin
April 10, 2012
You might want to check out Marinoni cycles in the Montreal area. An authentic Italian framebuilder with decades of experience.
- Marc, Montreal
April 10, 2012
Looks like Tony had current generation Dura Ace Di2 to me. With extra padding ...
bikeradar dot com/road/gallery/article/start-line-tech-gallery-from-paris-roubaix-33657/42
- paul, boulder
April 10, 2012
If you are looking for a steel road frame I recommend checking out Rodriguez Bicycles in Seattle. Available with steel or carbon forks, some of their steel framed road bikes are sub 15 pounds complete. A great shop with a lot of history.
- Kimball, Seattle
April 10, 2012
Wasn't Hincapie using an aluminium steerer tube when he crashed out of Paris-Roubaix? How about the one of Cav's crabon wheel buckling in a crash with Haussler at the 2010 Tour de Suiss?
- Scott, Coeur d'Alene
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