Steel vs Titanium Gravel bike

Trials in Titanium

If I’m being honest, I have been feeling a little bit unsure about my own relationship with the Titanium SuperSomething. This bike is nice. Like, really nice. And I know I am incredibly lucky to get to ride bikes that are this fancy. But when I peeled the parts off my last Ti frame to build up a factory sample of the new steel SuperSomething, I found myself really resonating with the switch back to steel.

A lot of effort went into refining the ride quality on the new steel frameset; small details in tube shaping, butting, and geometry that really added up and when I hopped on that bike, it was immediately obvious. It felt like I had unlocked all the best traits of a steel frame. Springy, planted, alive, responsive. My bike had a lot of fancy parts but weighed in around 23lbs and I caught myself thinking, “Why even bother with titanium?” when this production steel frame gives you 90% of the magic at a much more approachable price.

But fast forward a few months to when I built up a fresh Titanium SuperSomething again. I took those first few pedals around the block and, well… this bike is kind of insane.

It’s Not About Weight

When I started building custom frames out of titanium in 2016, they felt so special and rare, while today it feels like there are endless options for a Ti frame out there, and along with it a lot of different explanations of the benefits. People often assume the big difference with titanium is that it’s lighter, and sure, it’s a little lighter (maybe a pound or two for a frame – a little less than one full water bottle), but that’s really not the story. The magic of titanium is in how it rides.

Titanium has this uncanny ability to feel supple and smooth while still being stiff and efficient under power. It takes the liveliness of a great steel frame and turns the volume up. You can definitely notice this bike being quieter over chattery rough terrain and it is so responsive when you push, not stiffer but it gives back in a way that can feel like it is propelling you forward. Those two things are what define the ride quality of Titanium for me and you really can’t get it anywhere else.

Of course, titanium also doesn’t rust. ED coated steel also doesn’t really rust (like all of our steel frames). But there is some comfort knowing that scratches can just be buffed out and your frame could last forever, even in harsh conditions.

So Which One Is Better?

The short answer: you can’t go wrong.

It really comes down to what speaks to you: the timeless feel of steel, or the elevated ride of titanium. Either way, you’re getting something special. Let me know in the comments – I am curious what draws you to either material.

This Build

This build is pretty much the same as our high-end Red build kit that we are offering with SuperSomething frames. I think a testament to this build kit is the fact that it has now been on four different bikes for me. The wheels, which are 7 years old, have been with me on so many adventures. Of course it is a huge initial investment but I love having parts that can last you a really long time and also perform at the top of their class.

The build uses SRAM Red shifting and braking. These brakes are amazing and the new hoods feel so good. 12 speeds is more than enough for me with a MTB cassette in the rear. I have been liking these Ritchey VentureMax bars for their shallow drop and short reach. We aren’t really looking for an aero position on a gravel bike as much as an alternative hand position and better braking position. Riding on rougher terrain means that we do not want to drastically change our riding position, so a bar like this allows all those things to happen together nicely. We’ll be talking more about shallow reach short drop bars soon.

We have a few spots left in our SuperSomething Titanium pre-order you can reserve one for yourself now.

Steel SuperSomethings are also arriving in a few weeks and you can learn more about those here.

Cheers,
Adam