Bike Forums - View Single Post - Do aluminum frames eventually crack?

05-07-13 | 05:05 PM

#24

cyccommute

Mad bike riding scientist

Joined: Nov 2004

Posts: 29,141

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From: Denver, CO

Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoonc

I have had both steel and aluminum frames fail. Aluminum frames are prone to failure with no warning, steel usually will give you a bit of notice by creaking. Aluminum has a different fatigue cycle than steel, typically less. With your weight you probably haven't stressed you bike as much as somone that is bigger and stronger. Take off and at the worst you will have to buy a new bike along the way.

Aaron

I've had exactly the opposite experience. Both steel frames...along with pedal shafts and axles and spokes... went "PING!" and were broken. No warning whatsoever.

The aluminum frame...and rims and crank... creaked and groaned and I eventually found the crack. But it didn't fail without warning nor did it fail catastrophically.

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Last edited by cyccommute; 05-07-13 at 05:09 PM.

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