Hello all,
Don't know if this belongs in the mechanics forum, but I seem to be destroying chainrings.

I only seriously got into this a couple of months ago for weight loss and to save gas (commuting and such), and in that time I've catastrophically bent two chainrings. Bent the outer chainring 90' to the rest of itself, that is to say, folded in half.

I've since taken the bike into a LBS for a new crankset, hoping that a newer piece of equipment would be stronger. But after a bit of research, the Shimano chainrings are sade to be made of Aluminum. Are all chainrings Aluminum or an some type of Aluminum alloy? I bought my Raliegh in 97 or 98, can't remember, and I'm told the original crankset was an Impel (though it had no markings on it). It was a one piece riveted unit. Was it steel or aluminum as well?

Anyway, is this normal? Am I peddling too hard? Is it a matter of technique? Am I just too strong? Is it cheap chinese junk parts? What is going on?

No, I am not joking.