Originally Posted by
cyccommute
All that being true, ask any bicyclist about how a steel part or frame fails vs how an aluminum part of frame fails and the vast majority are under the mistaken impression that aluminum is like glass. In other words, it's going to shatter into a million pieces. That has not been my experience.
Ductile failure isn't an inherrent property of either material, its a sign of good engineering. Whether working with steel, aluminum, or titanium, parts can be designed and materials spec'ed with consideration to the mode of failure. Ductile failure over time, even a fairly short time, is preferable to sudden unannounced catastrophic failure, and good designers build that in whenever possible.
Where it isn't built in, knowledgeable consumers can select parts with that in mind. It's one reason that, despite lighter stronger alloys being used today, I still ride with 2000 series aluminum handlebars.