Are the big name companys, trying to jump on the percieved steel road bike revival, failing badly?
Steel road frames have always been around OTP or custom, and at least some 'ready to ride' bikes have been available.
But recently (OK a year or so ago) people like Evans and Wiggle started stocking OTP steel road bikes, and I for one was disapointed in the builds. No-one expects NOS campy on an OTP production bike, but at least components which are in keeping retro style of the frame.
e.g. Bianchi dolomiti (Evans)
Kona Kapu (Wiggle)
(the Bianchi is quite nice, but the black parts just look out of place to me)
Good point--I haven't been paying that much attention to what chains stock, but I like it that they're at least going in that growing niche direction of classic-looking bikes. I hope it remains the case that such bikes sell better again and that the range and quality improve. (The reason why I bought my fixed/ss bike wasn't because it was fixed/ss (I had to have that pointed out to me ... oh) but because I liked the way it looked, it was so cheap (OTP), and I had some money. Now of course I'm very glad I 'discovered' fixed that way, but yes, it was via the classic connection in my case.)
Good point--I haven't been paying that much attention to what chains stock, but I like it that they're at least going in that growing niche direction of classic-looking bikes. I hope it remains the case that such bikes sell better again and that the range and quality improve. (The reason why I bought my fixed/ss bike wasn't because it was fixed/ss (I had to have that pointed out to me ... oh) but because I liked the way it looked, it was so cheap (OTP), and I had some money. Now of course I'm very glad I 'discovered' fixed that way, but yes, it was via the classic connection in my case.)