Originally Posted by
PaulRivers
The point is something *falling* on the bike - and not something terribly heavy like the rider behind you - dented the frame, which shows modern lightweight aluminum frames aren't some sort of incredibly sturdy thing, and in my opinion makes it highly doubtful that aluminum frames have any sort of better survivability in a crash vs carbon fiber.
Should I tell you about the guy who "totaled" his brand new Soloist carbon frame just by dropping the bike (where the top tube contacted something on the way down)? I'm sure that an Aluminum Soloist wouldn't have been totaled in that situation. It might have had a dent in the top tube, but it would still be safely ridable.