One reason that I bought the new gravel bike was to finally have some steel again. The last time I rode one was back before smart phones…or at least before I bought one.
I haven’t heard much noise from the steel-is-real crowd lately, but it pops up from time to time and seems to be a persistent idea.
I’m not sure how to explain the difference in riding quality, and I’m using much bigger tires than my road bikes, but I’ll throw caution to the wind and say that there IS a qualitative change in how I feel on the Nemo. It’s not cushier necessarily, but I get the feeling that I’m riding something a little more ‘solid’ maybe. The bike is a bear when it comes to weight, so perhaps that’s why? There’s also a muted feel-sound that seems to connect rider, bike and road more than carbon fiber does.
Or it’s all in my head. Any thoughts from you guys and girls?
The Vicious Cycle 
From my limited experience with road bikes, frames can flex, especially in the chain stay/seat stay area. this used to show up as a bit of a speed wobble when going flat out onto a bridge with road bumps at either end.
The only steel framed bike I remember having had a sturmney archer 3 spd hub… I remember it went like a train on tracks when going flat out down a local hill, and felt as solid as.
The wobble comment brings up a recent memory of a decent with the new bike. I definitely felt the bike going a little wonky at 55 kph. This could have nothing to do with it being steel, of course. I don’t think gravel bikes are designed for speed.
Going a little wonky at 55 is a thing.
You might know better than I would. I’m still a year away.
I had a Cramarotti way back. Think it had steel tubes and campy but can’t remember the ride quality. But I just took out my old Giant carbon framed MTB and thought to myself ‘what am I doing on this?’ Heavy, bouncy with the front shocks and it didn’t help that the back disc brakes bled out half way to the pool so I had no back brakes. Didn’t realise how spoiled I am with the 6.8kg Canyon.
That’s definitely one nice thing about riding a heavy bike. I feel like my Colnago weighs nothing at all.