You're Good
RDV4ROUBAIX said:
Steel is still very much real. If the bike is still in great shape you're good to go. Ride a lot, and you'll have the plastic cycling chic scratching their heads why an old guy on an old steel rig is smoking us. It's the best feeling.
This is great advice, and I totally agree.
I just recently switched to a carbon frame
because I had a ruptured disc in my back, recently repaired by clinical trials surgery. The carbon frame has allowed me to ride again, due to the marked increase in comfort over my prior aluminum frame. But that is not necessarily true for steel. If your bike feels good, fits you well, and is comfortable, stay with it and save yourself a lot of money.
Another thing I would say, and I didn't read all the posts in this thread so I apologize if it has already been mentioned, but if you are going to do club rides/races, etc., then remember that $4K - $8K bike is darn expensive to replace after a crash. When I rode Cat III and then II, I kept the good bike at home, and had a decent, but pretty thrashed bike for the races. If I crashed it, it wasn't the end of my financial world. I don't know if that makes any sense. But I would ride that pretty steel frame as long as you can. No need to go to carbon unless you have to. Cheers.