This bike may seem to some like an anachronism, or like two time machines traveling in opposite directions had a collision and somebody made a bike out of what was left over. There's a lot of fancy stuff on a steel frame, and that may not immediately make sense to everyone. That's okay. This bike may not be right for everyone (though it may be right for more people than one might expect).

Why steel?

The funny thing about cycling is that a lot of people want to ride what the pros ride. This is totally understandable. Unfortunately, the fastest bikes may not be the bikes that are best for the rest of us. We can all agree that the world would be a terrifying (not to mention expensive) place if we all drove Formula 1 cars to work. It's best to start by thinking about the kind of riding you want to do and about your budget and then decide on a frame material. In short, steel is durable, less expensive, and doesn't fail catastrophically. Carbon makes sense if you have a sponsorship, can afford to buy crash replacements, or plan to sell your bike at the end of each season. If you care deeply about your race results, or really like the way carbon feels, carbon may be for you. By no means are we against carbon. Carbon construction is constantly improving, and we may carry carbon bikes in the future. However, it's important to know what you're getting into when you buy carbon. (Environmentalist's note: carbon is not recyclable and often not worth repairing). 

If you're looking for a bike that will last ten to twenty years, take abuse, and still go incredibly fast, perhaps it's time to consider steel. This bike is tough. It is not sluggish--how fast it goes is completely up to you. Steel sounds heavy, but really we're talking about a difference of a pound or two. It has a SRAM Force drivetrain, brakes, and shifters, a carbon fork to liven up the steering and absorb vibration, and hand built wheels (DT Swiss 350's laced to HED Belgium rims, which are a few millimeters wider than most rims, giving you better traction and a smoother ride). This bike is everything you need, unless you are looking to turn pro.