Steel or Auminium/alloy.

[1954ianj]

Hi, I've got to sell one of my two bikes but just can't decide which. I have a Specialized Allez Sport, 27 speed, carbon fork and seat post which is 3 years old and is very comfortable and mint condition.
My other bike is a Ribble(Reynolds 853 steel),Sintema chrome straight fork, 16 speed which I bought second hand last year. It is in good condition and fairly comfortable but there is very little clearance between the wheel and the top of the forks(about 3mm). I'm just a bit confused after reading threads where most riders tend to prefer steel.
Your advice and suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Ian.
p.s. I ride for fitness only 40 miles twice a week.

 

[bonj2]

post photos of both.

 

[Dave5N]

Ride both and decide which you would miss most. Then sell the other one.

 

[Tharg2007]

keep the alloy one and sell me the ribble!!!!

 

[02GF74]

I'm just a bit confused after reading threads where most riders tend to prefer steel.

So? But which do you prefer?

If neither, then work out which one makes more sense financially. The more expensive bike will lose more money as most things depreciate percentage wise. but then again maybe not.

Also beas in mind you can move the gear (brakes, seats, wheels, bars etc from the one to the other so get the best from both bikes onto the one.

 

[andy_wrx]

Why did you buy the Ribble ?
You already had the Allez, so what was it that made you decide you needed another bike ?
And why have you now decided you want to get rid of one of them ?

Specialized Allez Sport...very comfortable and mint condition.

Ribble(Reynolds 853 steel)... in good condition and fairly comfortable but there is very little clearance between the wheel and the top of the forks(about 3mm).

So the Allez is in better condition, and is 'very comfortable' rather than just 'fairly comfortable' ?
Doesn't the way you phrase this answer the question ?

I'm just a bit confused after reading threads where most riders tend to prefer steel.

Ah, is this it ! As 02GF74 says, what does it matter what 'most riders tend to do' ?

Which bike do you prefer riding ? Sounds like the one you describe as 'mint' and 'very comfortable' to me...


If it's bike materials snobbery, I think 'most riders who prefer steel' will be talking about a custom-built Roberts or a high-end Colnago or classic Hetchins or something, there just isn't be the same cachet for a mass-produced frame with a Preston bike shop's logo on it !

 

[Landslide]

Flog the Ribble on ebay. Extra hipster £££s can be obtained if it has horizontal dropouts and you put "fixie/fixed/track/pista" in the subject line.

 

[Tharg2007]

Flog the Ribble on ebay. Extra hipster £££s can be obtained if it has horizontal dropouts and you put "fixie/fixed/track/pista" in the subject line.

Nooooo, its an 853, why butcher it? it would be best suited to remain a nice geared bike.
I would buy it

 

[Landslide]

Nooooo, its an 853, why butcher it? it would be best suited to remain a nice geared bike.
I would buy it

Sorry, meant to add:

 

[1954ianj]

Thanks for your reply, I bought the Ribble as I thought 853 steel was the best frame material (couldn't afford carbon or titanium) and it is a less harsh ride. When I say the Specialized is very comfortable I mean the actual fit but it is a more bumpier ride. Thats the reason why I am finding it a difficult decision. I didn't realise that 853 frames were mass produced by Ribble.
Is it alright to have such a small clearance(approx.2-3mm)between the tyreand the top of the forks?
Thanks for taking the time to answering my question. Regards Ian.

 

[Landslide]

Small clearance is fine so long as you don't want to fit mudguards and/or larger tyres.

 

[Over The Hill]

I had to file a bit of the forks away when I fitted 28c tyres to my Felt.

Also a bit of a cheat you can do is to pack something in the end of the little slot where the front wheel goes. I glued in a little bit of Aluminium (about 1.5 mm thick) with araldite, but make sure the wheel fits safely still. Try it unglued first.

 

[swee'pea99]

Have to say I'm with others - if the only thing giving you pause is 'what other riders think/have said' then forget it. Doesn't matter what they think. All that matters is what feels right to you.

Ride both, decide which you prefer, sell the other one. End of.

 

[andy_wrx]

I didn't realise that 853 frames were mass produced by Ribble.

Not exactly.

Ribble are a bike shop in Preston, they don't 'make' cycles themselves i.e. have framebuilder on their own premises.
They buy-in frames and assemble the bits onto them (does this count as 'making' bikes ?)
But the frames are bought-in from a framebuilder overseas.

Their Dedacciai Nero Corsa carbon frame for instance, if I remember rightly these are made in Taiwan from carbon tubing made by Dedacciai in Italy - the only 'Ribble' thing on them is the badge.
But on the other hand, this same Nero Corsa frame also being sold by Condor in London as the Baracchi for rather more than a Ribble : but Condor is a trendy bikeshop in London, not Preston !
It's also sold by Dolan as a Mythos I think, and a a quick Google around shows it being sold also by Merlin Cycles, Chain Reaction, Wiggle (as Kiron, their 'own brand'), ProBikeKit, etc and that's just in this country.

Their aluminium frame that they sell as their 'winter bike' is also made in Taiwan and is/has been sold by other bike shops, like Surosa and Graham Weigh
- on Ribble's website they describe it as 'designed by Terry Dolan'...

Who makes their 853 frame I've no idea, but I'll bet it's out East.

But if it's made in a factory in Taiwan, that doesn't mean it's a bad bike - there's a huge amount of experience and expertise out there in building very good frames.
Ignoring Giant who are a Taiwanese brand, most Specialized frames are made by Merida in Taiwan, some Colnago and Pinarello frames are made in Taiwan, all the very good and expensive Isaac frames (and Stork too ?) are made in Taiwan, etc, etc
Van Nicholas & Sunday/Sabbath frames are made in China, Enigma & Burls in Russia...

Cannondales are genuinely made in the USA, but most 'US', 'Italian', etc bikes...some of these are fully manufactured in Far Eastern, some are built-up from a foreign-made frame in USA or Italy - just like Ribble...