Steel road bikes back then typically had the geometry, tire clearance and often ride quality that will make you think they were designed with this gravel trend in mind, decades ahead of their time. Even though the term “gravel” wasn’t trendy back then, geometry wasn’t all that different from the latest crop of gravel and adventure bikes.

A vintage road bike from any of these brands can provide an excellent entry-level first road bike for someone just getting into the sport. Peugeot bikes are a highly sought-after vintage road bike brand with huge popularity, so much so that they are now ubiquitous in the vintage road bike market.

The models ridden by the infamous Lance Armstrong are some of the best vintage Treks, but they also come with a hefty price tag. Most vintage Treks are pretty affordable and offer high levels of reliability and durability, making them some of the most popular on the vintage road bike market. Want to know more about the best vintage Trek road bikes?

Bikes have been made from steel for over 100 years. For some, it's the only frame material worth riding. If you want to feel for yourself why "steel is real," then these are the best steal road, gravel, and mountain bikes you need to ride.