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Ultralights Steel Frames from Rodriguez Bicycles! "Are Steel frames heavier than carbon or aluminum?" No. We have built bicycles out of aluminum, titanium, steel and carbon fiber. We've been building since 1973. If you want a bicycle made from something other than steel, we're happy to build it for you. But, if you want us the build the lightest frame, then in most cases we will be using steel. Here's an article that I wrote in 2005, shortly after we started building with S3 Steel tubing Stacia, a very serious triathlete and professional Tri coach, came to us and wanted us to build 2 Rodriguez frames for her. She wanted one for road riding, and one for race day. She wanted them both to be made from the lightest weight frame materials available (that are still sturdy enough to ride). We came up with a design for the first bike made from Easton Scandium aluminum with a carbon fiber rear triangle, and the frame came in at 2.2 lbs (that translates to really @#$%^ light!). Since we were going to build 2 bikes for her, Scott suggested that we build the second bike with the new S3 Steel from True Temper. He said that it would be as light as the first bike. I love steel bikes myself, and there are many advantages to steel over aluminum and carbon fiber, but I didn't see how we could possibly build a steel frame at 2.2 lbs. The challenge was out, and Stacia said that it would be all right for us to try. Well, yesterday the frame was finished, and it weighed in at a stunning 2.2 lbs! Here are the pictures of the 2 frames side by side. Now you can have the ride quality and durability of steel, and still have the lightest frame on the market! In the summer of 2009, I was asked by 'The Bicycle Paper' to write a series of articles comparing the different bicycle frame materials. If you'd like to download and read it, click here.
Read Stacia's review  |
