Originally Posted by
AlanO
Ummm, might want to correct that original post. Of course energy is dissipated when the frame flexes. Where do you think that energy comes from?
If what you actually mean to say is it might not matter to some people that’s fine but the laws of physics do indeed apply to bicycles. I, personally, prefer a steel frame because, yes, it flexes more than aluminum. Can I measure it? I doubt it and I don’t care.
If one thinks of the frame as a spring, a spring does not
dissipate energy. It
stores energy (most of it, anyway). And in the case of a bike frame,
releases that energy. Steel and aluminum are pretty efficient in terms of storing and releasing energy. I'm not sure about CF.
A
damper dissipates energy.
A damper dissipates energy.