Originally Posted by
sdgrannygear
It's not that big of a deal to me as I don't shift between rings constantly, but many pro teams opt for the force over the red due to stiffness of the cage. Steel is stiffer than titanium. Then again, their bikes are so light to begin with, they don't care about weight savings nearly as much. I have both a red and force FD, I know the difference exists, but have never really noticed it while I am actually riding.
I just reread that you have two different experiences with your FD, also could be an issue with what gear combo you are in. Another thing would be to look at the adjustment and tension of the cables.
Then why are steel bike frames more flexible than titanium?
Metals are comparatively ductile (which means how much they will bend or stretch before breaking). Steel is the most ductile, then titanium, last aluminum.
My point is that some of this stuff is legend, someone read it someplace, someone they think knows what they are talking about told them therefore it is fact, etc...
Your last sentence is 100% accurate.