I’ve been riding for 30 years. My main bike has always been a steel frame.
I saw the era when aluminum bikes took over from steel.
I saw the trend of aluminum with carbon stays.
And now, even entry-level models are made of carbon.
Through it all, I’ve stayed loyal to steel. The parts I use? Totally low-tech.
Disc brakes? Electronic shifting? I have zero interest in them.
Shimano is great, but I prefer SRAM. I don’t care about trends.
Building a bike that stands out from the crowd
That’s where the fun is.
Why I don’t choose carbon or discs
Because everyone else has them
Carbon is probably superior to steel.
But I don’t want what everyone else has.
I refuse to be swallowed by the “herd mentality.”
Carbon bikes are always just… black.
It’s boring.
Even if I bought a new carbon bike, it would probably be black.
If I go for a ride with friends, I can’t even tell which bike is mine.
They lack personality.
For manufacturers, making colors that appeal to everyone is a safe bet.
More colors mean more inventory.
Mass-produced items don’t need individuality.
That’s why every bike ends up looking the same.
No soul in the machine
You need massive machinery to build a carbon bike.
Small brands don’t exist because you need huge capital.
It’s all about how many frames you can pump out of one mold to stay profitable.
The production line is just an assembly process.
It’s a world apart from a steel frame built by a craftsman who truly loves bikes.
They might look like the same “bicycle,” but the process is completely different.
Since this is a hobby, I want to distance myself from “efficiency-first” products.
I hate following the crowd
Simply put, I’m not interested in what everyone else likes.
- Electronic shifting gets popular? Everyone goes electronic.
- Disc brakes get some hype? Everyone switches to discs.
I’m not rejecting every single trend.
But being “just like everyone else” isn’t fun.
This is a hobby.
No matter how high-spec it is, it’s pointless if it isn’t fun.
I want to base my purchases on whether something is exciting or makes my heart race.
Related Article >>> [Road Bike] Rethinking the necessity of disc brakes（Japanese）
Specific details of the frame
Rear Stays
Carbon can be molded into any shape.
Steel is different. I find beauty in the way steel pipes are bent.
Honestly, I don’t know the technical reason for the bends, but they look cool.
The “shaping” or flattening of the round pipes is beautiful.
You can feel the time and effort put into processing each tube.
Cable Stops
Since my bike is a dedicated 1x (single) setup, there’s only one.
Usually, you’d need two to accommodate the front derailleur.
With electronic shifting, these details disappear.
That’s one less thing to enjoy.
On my other bike, I had the FD cable stop removed during a repaint.
Since it’s welded, you can do custom work like this later.
It’s fascinating.
Head Tube Length
“I want the handlebars lower.” I didn’t know how to do it, so I just gave my request to the builder.
The answer?
Shorten the head tube to the absolute limit.
Nowadays, “steel frame” usually means “full custom.” Ready-made steel frames exist, but they are very limited.
The best part of steel is being able to specify the size down to the millimeter.
To truly enjoy a steel frame, you have to challenge yourself with a custom build.
But to enjoy that, you need to educate yourself as a rider.
Related Article >>> [Chromoly Frames] A stronger presence than carbon（Japanese）
Straight Front Fork
Technically, this is a regression.
There are huge benefits to using a carbon fork.
It saves a lot of weight.
But I chose to build mine in steel.
Thick carbon forks look weird on thin steel frames.
So, I decided on steel.
Related Article >>> [Chromoly Fork] Why I chose steel in this day and age（Japanese）
Paint
If it’s a custom frame, the paint should be custom too.
It’s surprisingly expensive, but the satisfaction is even higher.
The visual change has the biggest impact on my motivation.
People talk about “ride quality,” but your physical condition on the day matters more.
Instead of focusing on how it rides, I focus on what bike gets me excited to ride.
Paint is expensive, but it’s still cheaper than a new bike.
If you change your perspective, repainting becomes a great option.
Related Article >>> [Custom Bike Paint] 100x more love after a repaint（English）
Parts I’m obsessed with
Rare Find: TRP Carbon Canti Brakes
These are, of course, discontinued.
And they’re made of carbon.
They made an aluminum version of the same shape.
The carbon ones aren’t even that much lighter. They just look cooler.
At the time, they were $400.
$800 for two bikes…
SRAM, not Shimano
SRAM is interesting.
They were the latecomers, yet they have such unique ideas.
I use mechanical, not electronic.
The internal cams are so exposed you can see them moving.
It’s so easy to grease, but sand gets in constantly.
I’m sure the engineers had a reason for that.
The “DoubleTap” idea
shifting up and down with one lever is brilliant.
It makes every shift fun.
Related Article >>> [Mechanical Groupset] My unstoppable love for SRAM DoubleTap
The Simplicity of 1x (Single Chainring)
The charm is in reducing the number of parts.
No front derailleur means no extra mechanics inside the lever.
The look is so clean.
Shifting becomes simpler, and the ride feels more comfortable.
Related Article >>> [1x Drivetrain] Freedom from the fear of downshifting（Japanese）
Stability with Flare Handlebars
I can never go back to normal bars.
The natural angle for the wrists is incredibly comfortable.
Especially on off-road descents, it provides amazing stability.
Related Article >>> [The Most Comfortable Drop Bars] Explaining the Bundy 2（Japanese）
Scandium Seatpost：Strength meets Lightness
In Cyclocross, you jump onto the bike. So, strength is more important than in other disciplines.
Some say carbon posts in steel frames aren’t a great match for the materials.
So, I chose a lightweight metal: Scandium.
It’s light.
Light, but expensive.
Cheap but Cool: Chinese Carbon Wheels
I can’t justify spending thousands on wheels.
I just don’t value them that much. Chinese wheels are plenty good enough.
Cheaper wheels usually have J-bend spokes.
But these use straight-pull spokes, matching high-end specs.
The rim profile is smooth and looks premium.
Plus,they’re under $320 for the set.
I have no desire to buy “brand name” wheels.
Related Article >>> [Chinese Carbon Wheels] Rim brake models are maturing（Japanese）
Summary
Why I don’t choose carbon or discs
If you only choose based on “efficiency” or “speed,” the hobby stops being fun.
Frame Details
You need some knowledge, but working with a builder to create a “one-of-a-kind” bike is a blast.
Parts Obsession
If you look beyond Shimano, your build naturally gains its own personality.
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