Road Cycling - Is my aluminum frame disposable?

Hi. I just found out that my OCR frame is made from of all things: ALUMINUM! I recycle aluminum cans, and I know that they are weak and disposable. So THIS is why I get so tired cycling: my bike is as flexible as an aluminum can.

What are some other good metals besides cans that make good bikes?

Can I take my frame to the recycler instead of just throwing it away?

Bicycles are so confusing...

People are confusing, not bicycles.
Most alu bikes are heat treated, alu cans obviously are not. May be recyclable.
Other metals: scandium, titanium.
Non-metal: carbon fiber, bamboo (not kidding!).

uh, Trust me, your bike is NOT as flexible as an aluminum can. One of the "problems" of aluminum is that it's too stiff.

Btw, shouldn't you have known what material your frame was made out of before you purchased your bike?

Okay, bamboo sounds smart! Then the bike could grow and stuff. That would be neat. Could I plant my bike every night if it was bamboo? Please talk about this more.

Anyone know a good recycling center?

Also, I have some coal in the back and I was thinking I could squish it and make a carbon fork for my bamboo bike to soak up some vibrations?

They should make bikes out of sodium or potassium. It'd be a bit dicey in wet weather but you'd be guaranteed that noone else on the road would be riding a similar bike.

g'day,

as jlin correctly pointed out, one of the 'perceived' drawbacks of aluminium as aframe material is that it is to 'stiff'. So whatever difficulties you're having with tiredness from riding, won't be related to your frame being to 'flexible'. The OCR frames were a reasonable 'shot' at a compact frame, for their time, (depending on how old). Again, i can't believe you didn't know it was made of aluminium before you bought it.

hitchy

One time I lost a big sack of cans and they were worth $30. That much steel would have been heavy! I think heavier is better in bikes. Also in *****s. Anyway, I think my next frame is be bamboo.

I had a friend on a magnesium bike and the fork broke because his girlfriend sawed through most of it, and he fell ground his bike and it hot and lit on fire. He got burnt! Is aluminum also flammible?

One time I lost a big sack of cans and they were worth $30. That much steel would have been heavy! I think heavier is better in bikes. Also in *****s. Anyway, I think my next frame is be bamboo.

I had a friend on a magnesium bike and the fork broke because his girlfriend sawed through most of it, and he fell ground his bike and it hot and lit on fire. He got burnt! Is aluminum also flammible?

you're drunk, aren't you? take a shower and go to bed. sleep it off.

They should make bikes out of sodium or potassium. It'd be a bit dicey in wet weather but you'd be guaranteed that noone else on the road would be riding a similar bike.
It would be a bit dicey to touch or sweat on too.

I wish I were drunk. As it is I'm just mocking all the materials threads :(

...doncha hate it when you answer a thread with a serious reply only to find that you've missed the fact that the thread starter was either drunk, stoned or just plain crazy?....we should have a thread about this! :D

Hitchy

Aluminium does indeed burn under very high temperatures as the British navy found to their cost in the Falkland's War back in '81. That said, as long as you can dodge the odd exocet missile fired at you, you should be safe.

As many a drug user knows, if you hold the flame there too long on some aluminum foil... it will burn.

I'm interested in Buckmaster Fullers new form of carbon -Buckey Balls being impregnated into a CF frame. http://www.imbris.net/~jfromm/bucky/bucky.htm

Carbon nanotubes would indeed be stronger than normal carbon fibers... but since the carbon fibers aren't heavy, and are plenty strong enough... I don't see that this would matter much.

One time I got the most wicked skid mark on my old seat. It was a Salle Royal Viper that came on an OCR-3. It was a piece of ****. Anyway, it ripped old hemmoroids open I didn't even remember I had, and I had a bloody skid mark.

Now, would this have happened on a quality steel frame?

I was thinking of setting my Selle Italia with the magnesium rails aflame..

That thing tortured me long enough.

If you could make a geodesic tubing design out of Fuller carbons...the bike might float.

Just an idea.

Hi. I just found out that my OCR frame is made from of all things: ALUMINUM! I recycle aluminum cans, and I know that they are weak and disposable. So THIS is why I get so tired cycling: my bike is as flexible as an aluminum can.

What are some other good metals besides cans that make good bikes?

Can I take my frame to the recycler instead of just throwing it away?

Bicycles are so confusing...Beer cans use to be made out of steel. Someday they may be made out of Ti and CF..You are kidding right??...LOL

Beer cans will never be made of Ti or CF. That is insanity. I am serious too.

Thermoplasticresins are here to stay..forever.. in the landfill.

Betcha can't recycle a CF frame...take that you ecofreakbikefibre lovin' neophyles.

I think Alu frames are a good idea if your part of the country is prone to lightning.

Thermoplasticresins are here to stay..forever.. in the landfill.

Betcha can't recycle a CF frame...take that you ecofreakbikefibre lovin' neophyles.

I think Alu frames are a good idea if your part of the country is prone to lightning.

Your comments remind me of an article from an old mountain bike magazine. It was regarding the Trek Y-framed mountain bikes with the URT rear suspensions. The authors of the article were surprised by a tingly sensation on their groin areas when they came to rest underneath some high tension electrical wires. Apparently, the EMF radiation from the high tension wires generated a charge on the surface of the Carbon Fibre that they could feel in their legs and groin as they stood over their bikes. :eek:

This thread seems to support my suspicion that people place entirely too much emphasis on the material a frame is made of.

Aluminium does indeed burn under very high temperatures as the British navy found to their cost in the Falkland's War back in '81. That said, as long as you can dodge the odd exocet missile fired at you, you should be safe.

powdered aluminum is one of the two ingredents in flash powder. a very good expolosive.

Tell ya what Crunk, aluminum cans are going for .50 cents per pound at this link
http://www.rollockinc.com/currentprices/
let me know the weight of your bike and I will pay .05 cents per pound more for your bike since you are so disappointed and want a bit of cash for it instead of trashing it :D



Can I take my frame to the recycler instead of just throwing it away?

Bicycles are so confusing...

Beer cans will never be made of Ti or CF. That is insanity. I am serious too.

I wouldn't be so quick to make that assumption. It is a known fact that in international beer drinking competition, if you're going to reduce weight, you should reduce it on things that move in an arc, like the beer can. Gets from table to mouth faster, and is less strenuous on the drinker. For sure, they aren't reducing the weight of the competitors in that sport...

In fact, Campy plans to follow it's famous corkscrew with a carbon fiber wine glass, for the newly formed Pro Wine Tasting tour.

This is rediculous, recycling the bike frame? Okay maybe if it were split, but if it is intact why not sell it to another bicycle rider, someone would obviously pay more than the recycling center for a bike frame. Makes absolutely no sense.

insanecyclist

Don't forget soon we will have to have one molecule thick clothing for those pro beer drinkers, so they can have less weight on their arms while they heave their 12ozs of pure unadulterated manlines as they guzzle and belch their way to the top of the ABDA (american beer drinking association..).

Remeber, it's not just a sport....it's an adventure!

I took my frame to my dad's shop tonight, and I wanted to see how this huge black sand through a sandblaster would affect the finish. The paint came off easily enough that it didn't pit the aluminum much more than it did steel.

I have lost five minutes of my life that I will never get back from reading this thread. I demand compensation from all posters. I will private message each with an estimate for my losses. Those who refuse to pay will be turned over to collection agencies.

I have lost five minutes of my life that I will never get back from reading this thread. I demand compensation from all posters. I will private message each with an estimate for my losses. Those who refuse to pay will be turned over to collection agencies.


LMFAO.....i'd do the same...but it's my bosses time...so WGAF

hitchy