Originally Posted by cyccommute

If you want to use a 'pool' analogy, the pool of steel framed mountain bikes is next to nonexistant for steel framed bikes from major manufacturers. Your (unfounded) concerns for aluminum frames will only serve to send Eugene_B on a quest for something that simply doesn't exist at his price point. Sure he could buy the Trek 820 with a very low component mix and a pogo stick for a shock or he could spring for a higher quality bike in his price range with a better component mix and a shock that could be locked out for road use. The 820 could be remade with better components but the cost would be about double of the Trek 6000, for example. And you'd still have a boat anchor of a frame.

I'll ask the same question I ask everytime this silliness comes up: If you are so concerned about the fragility of aluminum, do you ride with only steel parts? Aluminum handlebars should be a particular concern if you are worried about fatique cycles.

Eugene_B, I actually weigh more then you do. I do throw my bikes down mountains on a regular basis and I ride aluminum bikes almost exclusively (my non aluminum bikes are titanium). I give not a second thought to how tough the frames of my aluminum bikes are. I have broken 2 aluminum frames but I've also broken two steel frames. Both steel frames were broken through use...and a little abuse...while only one of the aluminum frames was broken in the same manner. The other aluminum frame was broken because of stupidity on my part.