Mood:  chillin'

More evidence that steel is still real at European Handmade Bicycle Expo:

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=7384&status=True

Gorgeous bikes made out of durable, lightweight steel.  Makes me wonder how long the carbon fiber (or is it carpet fiber?) hype will really last.

More evidence that lightweight steel is still the best frame material for MOST riders at this link:

http://www.torelli.com/tech/material.shtml

"A steel frame can be made that weighs in the mid to low 3-pound range. Over a non-compact aluminum frame, this is a penalty of about one pound. This is just too heavy to chase Tyler Hamilton up a category-one climb. That is why the professional peloton uses aluminum or carbon. But for the rider who does not compete at the elite level, that one-pound penalty as part of a whole rider/bike package that approaches 200 pounds (or may generously exceed it) is insignificant. And for that pound, the rider gets a bike that can take advantage of the high-tensile strength and springy elasticity of modern steel and ride a bike that is an absolute dream. No bike rides as well as a steel bike built by a skilled builder. People who disagree with this conclusion usually have either a commercial interest in other materials, or have not ridden modern steel bikes."