Why do people say Steel Is Real?

The phrase “steel is real” started as a grassroots retort to the carbon and aluminum craze of the late ’80s and ’90s, when lightweight materials promised faster, sleeker bikes.

Steel loyalists weren’t buying it, literally or figuratively. They argued that steel’s ride quality, repairability, and longevity made it the soul of cycling. The phrase caught on among framebuilders, touring cyclists, and dirtbag bikepackers who valued feel over flash.

Today, it’s more than just retro pride. It’s a badge of authenticity for riders who appreciate craftsmanship and want a bike that can take a beating, be welded back to life, and keep rolling.

If you've ridden a steel bike you already knew the answer to this. It just contains that certain ride quality that you can't capture with other materials. Sure, you feel a bit more road chatter, it's not as responsive as carbon, but there is something to be said for this utilitarian frame choice.

I can remember my very first bike, a 1979 Fuji Single Speed. That beautiful red steel bike was far older than me but introduced me to the world of cycling. I moved on to a Bianchi Campione with downtube shifters a couple of years later and put thousands of miles on that bike. It sparked a lifelong passion for cycling.

Want to see more Tidbits? You can sign up and get weekly updates! Sometimes it's gold, sometimes trash, but it's always about bikes.