Originally Posted by
electrik
Aaron... this is a $300 bicycle for the city. Nobody I know can actually tell the difference between the materials, only at the higher levels when skill and different tubing types come into play does it even make a TINY difference... In fact i bet keeping the proper psi in a tire is a better thing to worry about. And yes, thin walled steel tubing, the kind that gives you a "lively" ride as those artists say rusts out quickly.
edit:
I should add one more thing, i'm all for enjoying a bicycle, but i have issue when the dutch bicycle is better conversation comes around again and again. There is a significant snob component going on here. So, without calling anybody a snob i'll just leave it at that! One doesn't neet a $1500 pashley or whatever to run errands and slamming a $300 bicycle for not being steel... well, whatever. I'm sure it was necessary.
I have seen not one but 3 inexpensive aluminum frame bikes fail shortly after purchase, taking a close look at the fracture it appears that too much heat was applied to the weld area. I have 2 other steel framed cheap bicycles (~$90) that unbelievably crappy welds on them, but are not likely to fail without warning.
I agree that not everyone needs a Pashley nor a cheap bike. I cannot fathom why they would want to send a non repairable frame bike to a third world country, which was my understanding of the reason behind the Africa bike.
Aaron
