It is true that aluminum is less tolerant of bending than steel...without treatment after bending. But the point is that when bent, the aluminum does not shatter like glass as so many in the anti-aluminum crowd think. Even when fractured, aluminum just doesn't propagate fractures all that fast.

The reason I jump all over this is that the anti-aluminum crowd spread myths about aluminum that just are not true. Personally, the frame material of a bike isn't something that I worry too much about in terms of strength. I've broken aluminum frames and I've broken steel frames (2 of each). I've also owned steel and aluminum frames in about equal measure. I don't look on steel frames as being indestructible nor do I look on aluminum as being fragile. Given the choice, however, I will choose aluminum over steel because of weight, especially when it comes to production bicycles. The steel ones that are offered by the major manufacturers...when you can find them...are entry level boat anchors.