Hey,

Thanks for the reply. You are right, there is no hard and fast cut off where if you weigh a given amount Ti is fine and if you gain 10 pounds that it will suddenly suck and steel will be your only choice. If the rider is big and powerful an aggressive I think that a steel bike can be made that will outperform a Ti bike. Note I said a steel bike 'can be made' and not 'any steel bike would be better'. One can make stiff or soft steel bike just as one can make stiff or soft Ti bikes - it's just that the stiffest steel bike will be stiffer than the stiffest Ti bike due to the properties of the materials and the size constraints of the chainstays.

If on the other hand the rider is big and not aggressive and rides at a steady pace and doesn't climb or sprint a lot then the Ti can be great...... it's light and tough and gives a very nice ride..... But if this guy gets fitter and more aggressive and wants to climb and sprint a lot he may find the Ti bike lacking.

I'd hesitate to put a number to it. I've known strong racers who are big for racers at 180 pounds and they could not get a Ti bike to work well for them. So I think it all depends. If someone came to me and wanted my advice as to what material would be best I'd get their size and weight and have them answer lots of questions about how they ride and how the bike will be used and only then could the most appropriate material be chosen.

This is IMO, like most things in life and it is nuanced. There is no one right answer and anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong. Does that make sense?

Dave