Originally Posted by
Magz
how can I tell, if the bars, seatpost and stem are alloy? What is the alternative? I know that CF is an alternative on newer bikes but what am i avoiding on these old bikes. Aluminum?
Yes, instead of steel they will be aluminum alloy. Aluminum alloy is often shortened to "alloy" in the bike world although this is not a good use of the technical term (steel is also an alloy.)
I can usually tell based on appearance, as steel components from this time period are almost always chromed while aluminum components usually have a dull silver color instead. If you want to be sure you can use a magnet. Steel is magnetic, of course. Aluminum is not.
You want aluminum components, not steel. By the 1980s steel rims/stems/bars/seatposts/cranksets/hubs/etc only came on the cheaper/heavier/cruder bikes.