bfloyd

Hello all. In the new world of the increase of carbon frames, are aluminum frames loosing their place? I come from a mountain biking background in the time when aluminum frames where the "thing". Are aluminum frames still used in some road racing? I am considering the Nashbar Frame

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

for a start into road competitions. Does anyone ride this frame that can comment on it. Do you's feel that it is up to par for light local racing? I currently have an '87 Raleigh Technium with the aluminum main frame and chromoly rear triangle and fork (with 126mm rear spacing, thus 27in. wheels). Would this Nashbar frame be an upgrade for me? Thanks for the help.

FormerBMX'er

Let the Bickering Begin:

It's all about personal preference! I find I get more road feedback from Alu over Carbon. There's nothing wrong with either so it really comes down to choice.

You might want to take a look at the Scattante Frame/Fork set over at Performance.

DocRay

Do a search, this horse has been beaten to death.

Kuma

I don't race, so can't speak to that specifically, but I can say that aluminum frames are still very popular. They're not getting the ink they used to, having been superseded as the "it" frame material by carbon, but they're still very popular and often relatively inexpensive. As FormerBMX'er said, which frame material you choose is largely a matter of personal preference. Though different specific frames will demonstrate different characteristics, aluminum is generally thought on the plus side to be very light and very stiff (read "good for accelerating/racing") and on the minus side to be very stiff (read "hard on your bum"). (I understand design technology has been able to dampen some of the ride harshness in newer frame models, however.) Bottom line, aluminum is fine for racing under most circumstances. If the races will be over long distances, however, or if your nether regions are particularly tender, you may want to consider a different material.

I don't know anything about the Nashbar frame you posted the link to, but a lot of manufacturers make fine frames out of aluminum. I'd recommend finding one that is built up that you can test ride to (1) see how well it fits; and (2) compare to frames made of other materials. That way you'll be able to make a more educated decision.

Finally, enjoy. Picking the frame/bike that calls out to you is one of the most fun parts! Good luck.

DocRay

....beaten past death, backed over repeatedly by a pickup truck, tortured in "Gitmo" after being wisked away in the night and beeoch-slapped in three Snoop-dog videos.

cyclintom

I have all sorts of bikes. Last December my brother ran across a Fuji Newest frame in my size and gave it to me for Christmas. I had it put together with barends, shimano derailleurs, a set of old Ultegra calipers that I'd had laying around, a set of Nasbar normal brake levers and a Look HSC-1 fork that I'd picked up from the racing team throw away box down at Sea Otter the previous year. I had been given some Mavic Helium wheels because the spokes were all loose and the wheels were way out of alignment but I had my local shop owner who is a really good wheelman, set them up with proper tension and they're perfectly straight and true.

Not only is this one of the best riding bikes I've ever owned, it's also one of the lightest.

There's nothing wrong with aluminum frames if the geometry is right for you.

fogrider

I don't think the nashbar frame is light.

oneradtec

I have owned some very light and comfortable aluminum frames along the way.
Carbon is sweeet no doubt.....but aluminum is a bigger bang for the buck. If you can afford an all carbon frame then that's great. If you only have 1k to 1.5k in your budget then you can get more bike if you choose aluminum. Many(perhaps all) of the pros in the peloton will be riding carbon. They don't have budgetary issues though. They are always going to ride the newest and best thing on the market. That's how the manufacturers get us to buy them. We don't necessarily have to try and keep up with what jan Ullrich is riding. Don't forget....the motor is the most important thing.

Cycling Giraffe

Many Bianchi pros ride the aluminum frames and several of the Lotto/Domo pros ride aluminum Ridleys. I personally like the ride of high-quality aluminum, but I believe that the quality of the frame (geometry, quality of the respective material used, assembly, QC, etc.) is probably more important than the simple base material it is made from.

DannoXYZ 

Like the others said, it's really a personal preference. In the 1st 6-7 years of racing, I doubt you'd be at a performance level where the type of frame you have would make much of a difference. I doubt you'd ever have situation where the frame made the difference between finishing 1st or 2nd, or 10th even. We've yet to see any studies that would indicate otherwise.

Check out: https://www.matweb.com for materials properties. And ... refer to these threads:

Steel vs. aluminum
looking for new bike advice
beryllium bikes?
Rivendell makes a good arguement for steel!
What material do you think is best?
So What is the state of carbon and where is it going?
WOW!! Reynolds 953 stainless steel
Can't stop carbon revolution.
Is carbon really stronger than steel?
Best frame material /configuration for climbing?
What's so real about steel?
Steel Bike Choices
materials
What happened to Titanium?
ti vs al
Cannondales too stiff?
If you ride a carbon bike.
Just a tally of frame failures...
steel is real, but...
Steel (ChroMo) vs. Aluminum
Custom ti bikes: round tubes or fancy-pants shaped tubes?
Steel frame weights
A story about carbon forks
When weight doesn't matter, is carbon still better than steel?
Half Carbon/Half Steel frame?
Titanium.......Bastard Step Child?
Anyone ride aluminum..and like it?
carbon vs aluminum
steel bike vs. aluminum ?
6061 aluminum vs. 7005 aluminum
Aluminum: wear out?
Steel vs everything else
Carbon Fiber fragility
How durable is carbon fiber?
Bike Materials of the Future
Pros riding Steel
Carbon v. Ti
steelframes-lugged vs. butted?
TI, Carbon or AL - which is STIFFER ?
Steel vs. Aluminum
Aluminum as frame material - Reached its peak?
carbon fiber bike?
Frame Material
Ti or Carbon for light rider?
Ever Broken Carbon Fiber?
Carbon Bikes
Why are forks often made of different materials from frames?
Ti vs. Carbon
Anyone ride aluminum..and like it?
Steel bikes - Light As You Wanna Be
Flexible Frame?
carbon vs aluminum
What's stronger, a 3lb steel frame, or a 3lb aluminum?
Steel Frame Life
aluminium frame failures-- myth or fact?
Aluminum or Carbon - Which is stiffer?
Steel Bikes
How does Titanium ride?
Steel, Carbon, Aluminium or Titanium Frame??
Ti vs Al vs Steel need help thanks
Why would Alum feel better than Steel?
Carbon Conspiracy....
Is Aluminum stronger than Steel?
If steel is real, then what is carbon fiber?
has anyone seen ti crack?
biased against steel?
tell me about the different frame materials, please.
materials
Titanium or Steel?
Frames made from air hardening alloy
Steel, Aluminum, Titanium, Carbon - What's the difference in the ride!
Full Carbon Bikes
frame materal
Titanium Frames
Aluminum + carbon frames: better ride?
Aluminium, Ti, or Carbon
Good read on frame metallurgy
Steel vs. aluminum w/carbon fork
How much does a frame REALLY matter?
frame material
What kind of materials do you prefer?
steel bike vs. aluminum ?
Titanium vs. Carbon Fiber
Are aluminum bikes THAT uncomfortable?
Alloy vs Carbon
CANNONDALE VS TREK. (the debate begins)
Carbon fiber vs Steel vs Aluminum vs Ti
Titanium vs. Aluminum Frames
Titanium, steel, aluminum, carbon?

531Aussie

Pros are still winning races on aluminium frames. The importance of materials is overstated. Also, the weight difference between alu and carbon is often less than 200g. Some of the Look carbons aren't that light at all.

Alessandro Ballan and his teammates were even racing steel in the recent "Classics" (!!!), and it wasn't the frame that prevented Ballan from winning, it was his legs and/or lungs........or his mind?

bfloyd

Thanks to all! I didn't realize how beaten a topic this was. It makes perfect sense about personal preference. For the inexpensive price of the Nashbar Frame I guess it is who of me to just get one and go with it. Thanks again.

bfloyd

Thanks for the tip, I did see this one too. Seems like another great deal. Probably made by the same manufacturer and probably the same frame, just different finishes. From what I recall, Performance owns Nashbar or vice versa . . .

Phantoj

If you're wanting to race, and you don't have much money... all but the most diehard carbon, steel and ti guys will probably recommend an inexpensive aluminum frame.

wagathon

Aluminum is great for an offroad bike with a frame shock; go to a hard tail and the sore tail starts, so I imagine that you don't expect a no-shock road bike to be very forgiving, but that's what some riders like, i.e., stiff frame rather than a more compliant (steel) or buzz absorbing (CF) frame. Even aluminum or steel bikes generally will have a CF fork

531Aussie

the Belgian team recently broke one of their national track records on this alu bike.



https://www.cyclingnews.com/track/200...k_worlds_bikes