Steel is real
You may have heard this phrase countless times and it has been known to emanate from my mouth too. I especially feel like saying it when a prospective customer of mine asks if I have carbon bikes, the implication being that a steel bike must be heavier than carbon - simply not true. Of course it all depends what level of the price spectrum you are talking about as to what weight your bike will be and there is a vast range, not only in price but material. Bikes are made from aluminium and titanium as well and there are even wooden bikes out there. There is also a vast difference in quality of said materials so it's not that simple. The point being that you can't just assume that a carbon bike will be the lightest choice because there are too many variables to consider.
My Italian Columbus XCR stainless steel road bikes are 7.7 kg for a 55 frame, ENVE carbon components, Campagnolo group set and wheels. The frame alone is 1.7 kg. So very competitive weight-wise when compared to any other bike frame out there made from whatever material. But the overall weight is only a small part of the equation when considering what bike you might like to buy or rent. The ride quality is of far more importance than the weight, as far as I'm concerned, and of course there is the looks - very important!!!
When Tom Boonen, who was one of the greatest one day specialists of his generation, retired from professional racing a few years back and no longer had to ride the bike his team sponsors provided, which material did he choose? - yes steel and more precisely Columbus XCR stainless steel and he knows a thing or two about riding a bike. With a palmares that includes winning: Paris Roubaix on four separate occasions; Tour of Flanders three times; World Champions rainbow Jersey on two occasions; Six stages of the Tour de France and 2007 points classification, he chose to have his bike made by Jaeghen, a Belgium custom frame builder - part of a resurgence in hand made bespoke frame builders, offering customers more choice, customisation and individuality when choosing a bike. Part of the appeal of a unique steel bike is that it doesn't look like anyone or anybody else has. You get something that is unmistakably yours and that's what we have at nplus1bicycles.com - albeit a small peloton of them.
Our bikes were hand made in the USA by a company called Independent Fabrication who have a great reputation for building top-end custom road and mountain bikes.
The ultra light Columbus XCR tubing is TIG welded for strength, to reduce weight and provide a clean look. The unique characteristic of this innovative high grade stainless steel is that the tubes are seamless, made from a solid billet and cold drawn to obtain the final very high tensile strength. The frame is triple butted for improved stiffness allowing for reduced tube thickness up to 0.4 mm and keeping the frame ultra light. With no need for painting, the quality of the welds and ultra smooth surface are on show. Coupled with top-end ENVE components and an aesthetically pleasing Campagnolo group set and wheels, the bikes offer our customers a unique experience on the bike rental market in Mallorca. One of the most important things to consider in bike design is compliance - the frames ability to absorb road vibrations. Our high performance traditionally styled road bikes have great compliance and therefore provide a smoother ride with superior handling characteristics. Yet the geometry is very sporty and gives the rider the confidence to enjoy the beautiful iconic descents of the Tramuntana. You'll be covering the kilometres with the minimum of fatigue, allowing for more enjoyable long days in the saddle. Come join us to experience why "steel is real" and understand why Mallorca has become such a popular cycling destination.
