What is your favorite material to work with as a frame builder (steel, scandium, aluminum, titanium, carbon fiber) and why is that material your favorite?
My favorite material, in the end, it’s always steel. First of all I just like steel, that is the most simple way to answer the question. But let me explain why- steel’s characteristics make it durable—it lasts over time. Steel maintains very high performance qualities, and even as the years pass, it doesn’t lose much of its performance.
Right after steel comes carbon, because carbon is an incredible material. It has qualities that allow me to build any kind of frame. With carbon I can create any design; with steel I’m much more limited. For example, I can’t really build a time-trial frame in steel.
But if I have to give a personal preference—considering that I’ve been working with frames for a very long time, its been almost 40 years, and I belong to an older generation—I prefer steel. Maybe also because it reminds me of my beginnings, when I started working in the 1990s.
If we’re talking about the characteristics of steel, the first important thing is this: steel allows me to make any size. With carbon it’s more limited. When I make a carbon frame like the FGR, with round-section tubes, then yes, I can do fully custom sizing. But when I make an aerodynamic carbon frame—like the Zero, for example—I can make it about 90% custom, but there are points where I simply can’t go beyond certain limits.
With steel, I can build a very large frame, even with angles that are completely outside the norm. I can make tubes at virtually any angle. With carbon, especially using the construction process we use for models like the Zero, there are limits I can’t exceed. That’s why steel allows me to do much more—it’s far more versatile.
So when I just talked about the characteristics of steel, I’m speaking more as a builder than as a cyclist. I was talking about construction characteristics.
Then there’s another advantage: steel lasts much longer over time than carbon. We’re fortunate because we have always used very high-level carbon, therefore there are Formigli carbon frames out there being ridden that are twenty years old. Generally, however, typical commercial standard carbon already starts to lose its characteristics after ten years; it doesn’t fully maintain all its original characteristics. Steel, on the other hand, maintains its qualities almost indefinitely, or at least for a very long time.
Another characteristic of steel, in my opinion, is it's comfort. It’s a much more comfortable frame. For someone with back problems or comfort issues, steel is always the better material. Carbon can be better in terms of pure performance—it’s very technical and very efficient—carbon is more suited to racing and high performance.
Many people ride without focusing purely on performance. They ride long distances, they ride for pleasure—and steel allows them to ride many kilometers without discomfort. But many riders follow advertising, follow racing champions, follow testimonials. If a top racing champion rides carbon, everyone wants carbon—even if it hurts their back. For them, the important thing is that the mind feels good.
From a commercial point of view, carbon is seen as the superior material. But if I’m honest, I can say that steel would suit about 80% of people.
Some people ask me if riding a steel Formigli makes them slower than riding a carbon Formigli.
I’ll explain. Design plays a role. A bike like the carbon ZERO isn’t just aesthetic—it’s performance-driven. Carbon frames are stiffer and flex less, which makes it easier to achieve high performance and speed. That’s a real advantage of carbon.
But if I have to judge comfort—overall ride quality—steel is more comfortable. It really depends on the philosophy of how someone wants to ride. If someone wants performance, carbon is the right choice. If someone rides for pleasure or long distances, steel is an excellent product.
Thank you Jeff for writing in to have an espresso with me here virtually. If you are ever wanting to come to Florence, it would be my pleasure to invite you to my shop."
Saluti,
Renzo Formigli