MTB: steel mountain bikes

happy hotspur

Hey folks, do any of you guys use a steel mountain bike. I have heard they are much better for trails than the usual types. Any ideas one would cost or where they can be bought in Ireland?

gman2k

happy hotspur wrote: »

Hey folks, do any of you guys use a steel mountain bike. I have heard they are much better for trails than the usual types. Any ideas one would cost or where they can be bought in Ireland?

I started out on a steel Diamond Back, never had a problem with it, except it is heavy.
I have a full carbon MTB, and a bonded aluminium Trek, and the carbon bike is the one I'll take out anytime.
Frame material has only one impact on how you enjoy your trail riding, and to me it comes down to weight.
A steel frame will be no more comfortable than an aluminium or a carbon.
Wheels, tyres, saddle and forks and even grips will impact on comfort much more than frame material.
The only reason I would get a steel bike, is if I was to get a custom made to measure frame - and at that, I would only do it for a road bike.
On a MTB, you are constantly moving around, standing up on the pedals and off the saddle, shifting weight etc, so the precise need for a custom is wasted IMHO.

Biopace

I ride a steel MTB now, following a decade of aluminum bikes, no doubt about it the steel rides better than the alu bikes, there is a weight penalty, but for the type of riding I do (long 4-6hrs days in the saddle, no racing) its perfect.

langdang

"much better" is an exaggeration IMO, more about personal preference really.

There are dirt jump bikes and overgrown BMX's that are steel, as steel is better able for that sort of abuse alright. I'd say there are practically no low or mid range steel frames for cross country use. Especially in Ireland.
Most steel frames would be high end bikes these days, and many are in some niche or other (29" wheels, no suspension, single speed or a combination of these).
I've never heard of an Aluminium frame failing on anyone in normal cross country use*. Technically a steel frame for cross country use could be made slightly flexy - but I don't know how much difference you'd notice between the steel frame and an Alu frame with slightly bigger/slightly softer tyres.

*I had a second hand extremely lightweight aluminium frame about ten years ago that I eventually stopped using as it was beginning to worry me. Newer frames are made differently (different tube profiles) so they should give you years of service without issue.

Biopace

There are many UK bike makers selling UK specific geometry steel mountain bikes now, have a look at Cotic, Whyte, Ragley, Charge, On-One and my own current steed, Sanderson. Plenty to choose from, the setup of these bikes is very suited to Irish trails. Probably not the best race machines but for general trail riding they are the business.

Morgan

happy hotspur wrote: »

Hey folks, do any of you guys use a steel mountain bike. I have heard they are much better for trails than the usual types. Any ideas one would cost or where they can be bought in Ireland?

OC Tuning in Kimmage are a Cotic dealer if you'd like to check one out. They sell them frame-only or as a custom build.

kona

Steel Does give a better ride and a longer guarantee than aluminium, alot of Dirt Jump bikes are coming with chromo frames now.
It does however weigh a ton depending on what parts you put on, my steel one got too much of a pain in climbs for me and I sold it.

studiorat

DMR Trailstar is CroMo Steel. About €350 and twice as heavy and half the price as CF. Which in reality is about a bidon of water in the difference.

Biopace

studiorat wrote: »

Which in reality is about a bidon of water in the difference.

That's really the difference, the DMR is quite overbuilt too for hard trailriding, some of the lighter 853 tubed bikes would only be about a pound heavier than a similarly specced allu bike.

studiorat

I'm looking at two bikes at the moment (will post later!) one is Reynolds 520 the other is 6061 Alu. The steel one is 23.1 lbs the Alu is 22.1 same components.

I think half these MTB weight weenies are more worried about breaking their bike-racks, than how heavy it is on a climb. :pac:

Mind you it's easier carry a lighter bike!

happy hotspur

happy hotspur wrote: »

Hey folks, do any of you guys use a steel mountain bike. I have heard they are much better for trails than the usual types. Any ideas one would cost or where they can be bought in Ireland?

Irish Trails are going to involve a lot of uphill cycling - you don't really want the big weight penalty of a steel frame - would be a killer. unless you are doing huge jumps on trick courses I would stick to aluminium or if you have the cash carbon.

Morgan

glasso wrote: »

Irish Trails are going to involve a lot of uphill cycling - you don't really want the big weight penalty of a steel frame - would be a killer.

You're talking somewhere between 300 and 500 grams at very most. I can manage it OK - but then again I am pretty awesome.

Bluefoam

www.chargebikes.com - available from Cycleways, special order
http://www.on-one.co.uk - available direct from website

studiorat

I went touring in Wales years ago. For a laugh when we stopped for lunch I bought 2 kilos of sugar and stuffed them in my buddy's panniers. He never noticed anything till I told him at the top of Lamberis pass!

gman2k

kona wrote: »

Steel Does give a better ride and a longer guarantee than aluminium

My Trek with a bonded aluminium frame (circa 1995) has a lifetime guarantee.

thehangtenguy

Steel is real!:)

GTDolanator

thehangtenguy wrote: »

Steel is real!:)

yes it is
been riding a cromo steel gt up the hills for years and its bombproof!
you dont notice the weight wth a granny ring on the front either

i also have a alu klein it is much stiffer and lighter but the gt takes more abuse

Ricky91t

My cheap bike was steel, weighs about 17-18KG ( A halfords apollo phaze!) my knew bike a KTM Ultra Flite is about 12.9KG which is a huge difference. Especially up hill off-roading, Hills I couldn't climb before I know found I could cycle up them, and fast too!

BostonB

Whats the price difference?