Originally Posted by
grolby
There are absolutely collectible vintage aluminum and carbon fiber bicycles of high value. There's a very simple reason that most collectible old bikes are steel: most old bikes are steel, period. Durability and quality isn't that relevant. Italian high-end steel of the 70's and 80's generally isn't of outstanding build quality, even for the standards of the day. There were also zillions of mass-produced steel frames of excellent quality that simply aren't worth much today. These were the "disposable" bikes of the time. Frame material isn't much of a factor in collectibility.
I didn't mention "collectible market", I said "vintage market" and I did say "mostly for Italian frame" bikes not gas pipe frames from Asia. In fact, I considered buying some, but then decided to try an Al frame and new "brifters" for less money...that's right, I could have bought a 20 year old Italian steel framed bike, with Camyp record, but for *more* than what I paid for a brand new Al framed bike with Ultegra and 105.
If you feel comfortable riding a 20 year old Al bike at full tilt, ...power to you. If you want to otoh, hang it on your wall, i.e. collect it you won't have to worry about collapsing the frame while you're riding it. I'd have no safety concerns riding a 20 year old Italian steel framed bike...none. I, personally, would not buy a used Al or c.f frame, no matter how old it was. YMMV.