Originally Posted by
Trakhak
Aluminum has all but replaced the other materials in the U.S. marketplace, except for the high-end bikes, where carbon dominates. Are people really that worried about rust?
What does aluminum do better that another material wouldn't? Not all changes are innovative. Perhaps 30 years ago, aluminum use in bicycles was somewhat innovative. Today, I really struggle to find any application where aluminum is better than its alternatives. Marketing and institutional inertia don't make things better.