I reviewed the logos today with a friend to get some objective feedback. Here are the current standings. THe contest is still open through the weekend, so like Matty said, use this feedback to your advantage...if your name is not listed, mabye try to incorporate some of the things I like in the logos below. Of the ones below, they may not be "perfect", but I understand that little things like color/placement/font can be adjusted. Soo....
I'm not sure how to include inline pictures so I'll list them in order with attachments.
#1 Nothing Man with the Iconic "S" inside the faded sprocket. Things I like about it...I've realized that I really want a bicycle sprocket in my logo somewhere. it's my favorite of all 3 sports. The iconic S in the middle can be used alone on a t-shirt, mug, hat, or as bullet points on a flyer or webpage. I initially didn't care for the shape of the S, but after viewing it as an icon, rather than a letter, it really draws me. Modications? I might like to see what it looks like with out the other shadowed S's, different screens for the sprocket ?more prominent?, movement of the rest of the text, "teel city endurance" upwards to created a "drop" S?
#2 MattyK with his awesome city skyline graphic. THings I like. Well... it's just an awesome logo, it's got everything I (thought) I wanted in it. Drawbacks...there's a bit too much going on for the type of simple impact I want. It's a great looking logo for an event, for example, or a t-shirt, but not as teh primary identifier of my budding young business.
#3 NothingMan with the initials inside the sprocket. What I like THe sprocket itself is very handsome. As sprockets go, man, that's really nice with the highlights and shading. Drawbacks. Unless you know you are looking for the letters, it's hard to know what's going on inside.
#4 BlackHawk with the three little icons. I didn't think I'd like something like this, but the specific style of your icons...small, simple...was nice. Instead of a runner, a cool shoe. a wave instead of a swimmer, a cog instead of a bicycle. But again, this would be great for a race t-shirt logo, but not for my primary "brand identity".
#5 Myoto with all variations of the "Steel City Endurance" text and the chevrons. Your first one is really the nicest, I think, but the chevron design doesn't help me out much with the idea of triathlons or cycling (even though you explained the symbolism of the three stripes).
So again, not final standings, but current thoughts. If you want to take the above advice/comments and submit another, all are welcome. I am really impressed with the amount of thought and work that everyone is putting into this, including those whose names are not specifically mentioned.
I will make final decisions early next week. The contest will close Monday mornign at 7AM Pittsburgh time. ?-5hrs GMT?