awristawful

which do you prefer? please elaborate.

Bacciagalupe

Meh.

Maybe it's silly of me, but I do think there's a bit of a difference between the materials. It could well be though that most bikes made with aluminum are either cheaper hybrids or stiff racing bikes, i.e. less the material properties and more how they get used. The biggest exception I know of is the Cannondale Touring bikes, which are both aluminum and (reportedly) comfortable.

awristawful

bacci, what do you ride?

Captain Slow

Alloy:
+ Stiff, sturdy, lightweight, good handling, low maintenance. Can be exotic shapes, w/ or w/o exposed fillets.
- Some frames feel harsh, or "dead" (like they're made of concrete) Prone to stress cracks when they age (kinda like me.)

Steel:

+ Springy feel, some call it "lively." Good ones are comfy in the vertical plane, very stiff in the horizontal. A lugged steel frame is a thing of beauty. Can be quite lightweight. Can outlive generations of riders.
- It dents. It rusts. (Especially at the tube-lug joints) Crash, and it can bend up like so many beer cans.

Et moi?

I rely on alloy frame bikes, since I bolt rear racks to 'em, and I can't do that with carbon. Rode steel for thirty something years... inexplicably, I don't have one right now. I daydream about titanium...

Hmmmm... a Lightspeed as an all-round commuter & recreation ride?

CliftonGK1

I like my steel frames. Sure there's the rust issue to concern myself with (even though I've Frame-Saver'd them both) and there's the weight to contend with, but I'm pretty heavy to begin with and I've ridden steel frames most of my life. I'm comfortable with the familiarity of them. I rode a steel frame for 17 years and never damaged it, and recently picked up an 18 year old steel frame to use for my track bike.

jpmartineau

I prefer steel. I have a 2008 Surly LHT and a 1988-ish Specialized Rockhopper. I used to have a 2006 Specialized Sirrus Sport.

I like the ride quality of steel - seems to me that steel is more comfortable. I find that for the same $ amount, you get a better ride if you go with steel.

That's my subjective opinion.

The only thing I prefer with Alu bikes is that they are more dent/ding resistant because of the thicker sidewalls.

bicyclridr4life

STEEL Frame Bikes I have:
1988 Fuji Mt. Fuji Mountain Bike (lugged frame)
1990's Nishiki "Colorado" Mountain Bike
16 Inch Wheel Folding Bike
Sears Tote Cycle
Huffy "Beach Cruiser" (have two)
Ross "Professional" Road Bike (lugged, and 27 inch wheels)
Haro (?) Mountain Bike (It has been in storage in Nevada for years, I have not seen it in probably 8 years, not sure of the brand any more.)

ALUMINUM Frame Bikes I have:
Giant Cyprus DX "Comfort" / "Cross" bike.
Vertical PK7 Full suspension Mtn. Bike (rear triangel is steel)

I prefer the ride of the steel bikes. No matter which one I am using, the bumps do not feel as harsh, and they seem to transmit less road vibrations than the aluminum framed Giant. Since it is full suspension, the PK7 cannot be compared to either.

I've ridden steel bikes most of my life, so maybe that has something to do with it, but I know that a 80 mile ride on the Giant feels a lot longer and is more tiring than the same route and distance on one of the steel frame bikes I have.

jmaurice

Ti!

zed4130

i like both, i have a tange prestige 95 kilauea ,kona, its a lovely frame and feels great rigid off road, ive also got a m800 cannondale mtb, this is great on climbs and isnt too bad going down, although i still use the old shocktechs, my light tourer is 7005,T6 ali, its stiff but rides great and isnt too heavy aswell, and dont rust, all in all both materials are great, if i was going on a long haul though, i would go steel as easyer to weld if breaks,

paul

DanitoLaboy

I like the feel of the steel frame. Im using a Surly Pacer now and I'm very happy with it.