This weekend I am building the first full road bike I’ve ever owned. After weighing the cost/benefit options of steel verses carbon, I elected to go with a steel frame on purpose:
- I am not going to race it.
- I’m not being a “weight weenie” about this bike.
- Steel does provide a more comfortable ride.
- I can’t break it easily if at all.
- It’s cheaper (but not much).
- The component geometry already matches several components I already own.
- I got hooked on the classic style of steel and the nostalgia factor kicked in after riding a friends All City Mr. Pink.
- Damn near everything else on the bike will be carbon.
Although I have 53/39 rings I will be setting this up compact 50/34 and breaking into experiences with huge gear ratios compared to my life on mountain bikes. I’ve made it into the top 10 on several road segments riding my 1×10 cross bike with 38 and 40×11-38 gearing. This Soma will be 50/34-11/25 and slightly heavier because of the frame weight and being a 2×10. I can’t wait to get this thing built and on the road so I also went ahead and ordered a new Pearl Izumi fleece bib and gloves because it’s getting cold out there now.