Welcome To Bike Forums, Simonsez!

IMHO unless you're seriously racing road bicycles, steel is the only way to go. Otherwise, you can't get any lighter in mass than a CF road bike. Therefore, if racing, then get a CF road bike! As for any other type of cycling, steel will usually be the answer, unless you live close to coastal areas. Saltwater wreaks havoc upon steel frames!

Back in 1973, an MIT student by the name of Gary Klein got the idea that bicycles could be made successfully out of aluminum. In 1994 Klein Bicycles launched the first Quantum Pro, a mass produced aluminum bicycle, with an integrated headset. Of course, it had its flaws, as many other trail-blazing aluminum framed bicycles that followed suit had, as well. In 1996 Trek purchased Klein Bicycles and both pursued and elevated aluminum bicycle technology. Klein and Cannondale began producing aluminum bikes in the 1980's. Soon afterwards, other bicycle companies began their own aluminum bicycle frame material research and produced their own interpretations of aluminum bicycles. Of course, in the beginning, all of the bicycle companies experienced some form of catastrophic failure with aluminum. However, within the next decade, technology developed to the point where aluminum became the main staple of the industry.

It is my firm belief, that the bicycle industrial pioneers had predicted years earlier, that once the aluminum frame was adequtely developed, the mining of iron ore could be curtailed and the industry could then gradually build up the factory infrastructure to recycle aluminum. An element that is already in abundant supply, and can be 100% recycled indefinitely. Also since aluminum has a lower melting point, is lighter in transporting, plus it's easier to cut and machine, production costs would plummet immensely, due to energy conservation, if nothing else!

Now the average cyclist, gets to buy three or four bicycles within a lifetime, as opposed to just one or two.

Thanks to Klein, Trek, Giant, Specialized, Raleigh, and Cannondale...