Originally Posted by
chaadster
Trek made nearly 3k alu bikes across 3 models in '85, 1,290 of which were the 2000. The following year, in '86, they made over 10,000 alu frames, more than 4k of which were 1000s.
Mass produced alu bikes were widely available in the mid '80s.
great! thanks for bursting my bubble, and here I thought I was actually a Pioneer for something
Originally Posted by
CliffordK
I may have been off by a few years... but the general idea remains.
One can't say that aluminum frames are stiff, then hop on an early Vitus frame for a good stiff ride.
The Aluminum has been evolving quickly in design, form, and function, both to make stiffer main triangles, and allowing some compliance in the rear triangle. .
yeah it was evolving quickly but in 1992 the 1400 AL frame/AL Fork was an AWFUL ride. I remember coming home from a 75 miler and all 10 of my fingers were completely numb from the buzzing of the AL fork. I did not regain any sensation in my fingertips until 24 hours later.
The only thing that makes an AL frame something to even consider today, IMHO, is a Carbon fork. I still remember the feeling after putting one on my 1400, threaded steel 1" steerer with Carbon legs, it became a completely different bike. It would still pound your lower back pretty hard but I think today they can dial that in with special tubing?
I read comments on here from people who say they can barely tell their new AL frames apart from their Carbon and it blows me away. Now THAT is some awesome technology in frame building.