Aluminum frames dangerous?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 180
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Aluminum frames dangerous?
I have been looking for "bike number 2" and have thinking of getting something slightly modern than my 1970s Italian steel bike.
I have my eye on an early 90s Cannondale with an Aluminum 3.0 frame. Then I start to read that aluminum frames will eventually fail over time, which is giving me second thoughts about getting one.
Should I be worried about this as long as the bike is in good condition? Is there a certain time period after which aluminum bikes should be avoided (10 years? 20?)
I have my eye on an early 90s Cannondale with an Aluminum 3.0 frame. Then I start to read that aluminum frames will eventually fail over time, which is giving me second thoughts about getting one.
Should I be worried about this as long as the bike is in good condition? Is there a certain time period after which aluminum bikes should be avoided (10 years? 20?)
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 180
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My next question would be, if I put 50-100 miles on it per week, how long could I reasonably expect it to last?
#4
Professional Fuss-Budget
Any frame material is likely to fail over time. Steel rusts, y'know.... As long as you don't see any cracks it should be fine. I'd do a basic visual inspection of any bike I use, of any age, on a regular basis -- every 1000 miles or so. It will still likely outlast your usage / ownership of the bike.
The only material I'd have any real concern over would be 1st generation carbon fiber. I believe they understand CF much better these days as a frame material.
The only material I'd have any real concern over would be 1st generation carbon fiber. I believe they understand CF much better these days as a frame material.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,487
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 140 Post(s)
Liked 162 Times
in
89 Posts
As part of their design, aluminum frames are generally "overbuilt;" this is what gives them their inherently stiff ride quality. I've beaten the heck out of enough aluminum mountain bike frames, without problems, to know that a quality aluminum frame is plenty strong and durable enough for anything that I'm likely to throw at it. Regardless, the big thing with aluminum frames is knowing that since aluminum doesn't have a fatigue limit, any and all stresses an aluminum frame encounters puts it a little closer to failure. Steel has a fatigue limit, so at least some of the stresses a steel frame encounters do not put it closer to failure. That being said, steel frames can fatigue and fail, too.
FWIW, I've bought a bunch of bikes in my life, but never a used aluminum-framed one. To each their own-
FWIW, I've bought a bunch of bikes in my life, but never a used aluminum-framed one. To each their own-
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 180
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I understand that steel is not everlasting either. I guess it's a matter of perception. When I think of steel, I think things like skyscrapers and tanks. When I think of aluminum it's soda cans and Reynolds wrap.
#7
My bikes became Vintage
Aluminum's fatigue characteristics don't just apply to frames, but all aluminum alloy components. If you're going to fear aluminum frames, you may as well forget about riding any bicycle with aluminum components.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 180
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
And frankly, the thought of my top tube suddenly cracking in half scares me a lot more than having a crank break.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 348
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Any frame material is likely to fail over time. Steel rusts, y'know.... As long as you don't see any cracks it should be fine. I'd do a basic visual inspection of any bike I use, of any age, on a regular basis -- every 1000 miles or so. It will still likely outlast your usage / ownership of the bike.
The only material I'd have any real concern over would be 1st generation carbon fiber. I believe they understand CF much better these days as a frame material.
The only material I'd have any real concern over would be 1st generation carbon fiber. I believe they understand CF much better these days as a frame material.
i too would shy away from carbon bikes, esp. old ones. the new ones seem to be good, but i will always be spooked. i have seen carbon fiber at its worse. its usually a pretty catastrophic failure.
#10
My bikes became Vintage
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 180
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#12
Senior Gumby
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 151
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have been looking for "bike number 2" and have thinking of getting something slightly modern than my 1970s Italian steel bike.
I have my eye on an early 90s Cannondale with an Aluminum 3.0 frame. Then I start to read that aluminum frames will eventually fail over time, which is giving me second thoughts about getting one.
Should I be worried about this as long as the bike is in good condition? Is there a certain time period after which aluminum bikes should be avoided (10 years? 20?)
I have my eye on an early 90s Cannondale with an Aluminum 3.0 frame. Then I start to read that aluminum frames will eventually fail over time, which is giving me second thoughts about getting one.
Should I be worried about this as long as the bike is in good condition? Is there a certain time period after which aluminum bikes should be avoided (10 years? 20?)
Yes, aluminum will fatigue over time with repeated flexing, BUT a good frame designer can push the number of cycles out into the BILLIONS before the frame fatigues significantly. Note the importance of the word "good" in that sentence. Cannondales will last a lot longer than say, old aluminum Alans or Vitus/Bador frames (or even the old, glued Treks).
- FBB
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 180
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have never seen a Cannondale frame fail due to fatigue. Cannondales are very stiff, and they have plenty of safety factor built in. These factors minimize the impact of cyclic frame flexing in terms of causing fatigue over time, because fatigue is influenced by how much aluminum flexes, not just how many times it flexes. I am 250lb, and I hammered the heck out of my 1986 63cm Cannondale for ~20 years. The only reason I stopped riding it was that I went to bigger frames to make my aging body happy. The old C'dale is still hanging in my garage, as strong and stiff as it was the day I bought it. Granted, my first-generation C'dale frame is even more resistant to fatigue than a 3.0 frame, but the 3.0 frames are plenty over-built as well. They should last many, many tens-of-thousands of miles.
Yes, aluminum will fatigue over time with repeated flexing, BUT a good frame designer can push the number of cycles out into the BILLIONS before the frame fatigues significantly. Note the importance of the word "good" in that sentence. Cannondales will last a lot longer than say, old aluminum Alans or Vitus/Bador frames (or even the old, glued Treks).
- FBB
Yes, aluminum will fatigue over time with repeated flexing, BUT a good frame designer can push the number of cycles out into the BILLIONS before the frame fatigues significantly. Note the importance of the word "good" in that sentence. Cannondales will last a lot longer than say, old aluminum Alans or Vitus/Bador frames (or even the old, glued Treks).
- FBB
#14
more ape than man
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: nyc
Posts: 8,091
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
what happens while it fatigues? does it just it just lose some responsivness over time? for example, can you feel a worn out frame just by riding it? does a frame with 15,000 miles feel less snappy than the same frame with 100 miles? so many questions....
#15
Dolce far niente
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 10,704
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
The flip side of a stiff aluminum frame is the ride quality.
I had a early 90's all aluminum Trek 1500. It was a fantastic riding bike, up to about 30 miles or so. Past that, it got very uncomfortable to ride. I couldn't imagine spending the day on it.
Newer aluminum frames ride significantly better - partly because the construction/geometry has evolved and has been refined, and partly because of the use of CF stays and forks.
I'll not ride a "vintage" all aluminum bike again, if I have a choice about it.
I had a early 90's all aluminum Trek 1500. It was a fantastic riding bike, up to about 30 miles or so. Past that, it got very uncomfortable to ride. I couldn't imagine spending the day on it.
Newer aluminum frames ride significantly better - partly because the construction/geometry has evolved and has been refined, and partly because of the use of CF stays and forks.
I'll not ride a "vintage" all aluminum bike again, if I have a choice about it.
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
#16
Dolce far niente
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 10,704
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
Aluminum is not very elastic - when it fatigues, it cracks.
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
#17
On the road
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New England
Posts: 2,174
Bikes: Old Schwinns and old Raleighs
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 373 Post(s)
Liked 852 Times
in
325 Posts
Aluminum as a material, I think, is plenty strong for bike duty. Hell, they've made aircraft from aluminum for years. Some of the greatest war birds were aluminum (think WWII comes to mind).
I think what to look for is the quality of the aluminum alloy and signs of wear on the frame. Each bike is a little different when used because each is exposed to different wear. I agree with the posts above that emphasize inspecting the thing and being familiar with this particular bike.
It's also a taste thing- I prefer steel to any other material, but some people really like good aluminum alloy.
I think what to look for is the quality of the aluminum alloy and signs of wear on the frame. Each bike is a little different when used because each is exposed to different wear. I agree with the posts above that emphasize inspecting the thing and being familiar with this particular bike.
It's also a taste thing- I prefer steel to any other material, but some people really like good aluminum alloy.
__________________
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
#18
Senior Gumby
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 151
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#19
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,625
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1668 Post(s)
Liked 1,821 Times
in
1,059 Posts
Why worry about just frames? How about aluminum stems, bars, cranks, seat posts and rims?
TCS
TCS
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Absecon, NJ
Posts: 2,947
Bikes: Puch Luzern, Puch Mistral SLE, Bianchi Pista, Motobecane Grand Touring, Austro-Daimler Ultima, Legnano, Raleigh MountainTour, Cannondale SM600
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
#21
It's MY mountain
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Mt.Diablo
Posts: 10,002
Bikes: Klein, Merckx, Trek
Mentioned: 70 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4338 Post(s)
Liked 2,980 Times
in
1,617 Posts
Cracking is the very definition of fatigue failure for any material. The cracks initiate in different materials in different ways and for different reasons and then propogate at different speeds.
The fear factor that anti-aluminum folks toss around is that the cracks propogate faster in aluminum so there will be less warning of an impending failure than there would be for steel or Ti - it's not an unfounded concern but it is largely over-stated.
The fear factor that anti-aluminum folks toss around is that the cracks propogate faster in aluminum so there will be less warning of an impending failure than there would be for steel or Ti - it's not an unfounded concern but it is largely over-stated.
#22
<><
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Oklahoma City
Posts: 768
Bikes: RANS Tailwind
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
The flip side of a stiff aluminum frame is the ride quality.
I had a early 90's all aluminum Trek 1500. It was a fantastic riding bike, up to about 30 miles or so. Past that, it got very uncomfortable to ride. I couldn't imagine spending the day on it.
Newer aluminum frames ride significantly better - partly because the construction/geometry has evolved and has been refined, and partly because of the use of CF stays and forks.
I'll not ride a "vintage" all aluminum bike again, if I have a choice about it.
I had a early 90's all aluminum Trek 1500. It was a fantastic riding bike, up to about 30 miles or so. Past that, it got very uncomfortable to ride. I couldn't imagine spending the day on it.
Newer aluminum frames ride significantly better - partly because the construction/geometry has evolved and has been refined, and partly because of the use of CF stays and forks.
I'll not ride a "vintage" all aluminum bike again, if I have a choice about it.
#23
On the road
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: New England
Posts: 2,174
Bikes: Old Schwinns and old Raleighs
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 373 Post(s)
Liked 852 Times
in
325 Posts
The flip side of a stiff aluminum frame is the ride quality.
I had a early 90's all aluminum Trek 1500. It was a fantastic riding bike, up to about 30 miles or so. Past that, it got very uncomfortable to ride. I couldn't imagine spending the day on it.
Newer aluminum frames ride significantly better - partly because the construction/geometry has evolved and has been refined, and partly because of the use of CF stays and forks.
I'll not ride a "vintage" all aluminum bike again, if I have a choice about it.
I had a early 90's all aluminum Trek 1500. It was a fantastic riding bike, up to about 30 miles or so. Past that, it got very uncomfortable to ride. I couldn't imagine spending the day on it.
Newer aluminum frames ride significantly better - partly because the construction/geometry has evolved and has been refined, and partly because of the use of CF stays and forks.
I'll not ride a "vintage" all aluminum bike again, if I have a choice about it.
__________________
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
Classic American and British Roadsters, Utility Bikes, and Sporting Bikes (1935-1979):
https://bikeshedva.blogspot.com/
#24
Dolce far niente
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 10,704
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
What I meant to convey is that aluminum, not being very elastic, will crack faster and fail quicker when it reaches it's fatigue point. You might "feel" a steel bike ride differently before failure - an aluminum one will probably just crack and ulimately fail without noticeable warning.
In any case, I side with you - the fear factor is oftimes overstated. I would have no problen riding an aluminum bike, aside from ride characteristic issues (personal taste). To me, the older ones tend to ride harsher than I like (in general), but I've ridden some really nice newer ones. I'm particularly fond of the Klein Reve' (not sure if it is in production any more, but I loved the way the 2005 one I rode handled).
Likewise, the danger hype for CF bikes is pretty much nonsense. CF is very, very strong, and there are A LOT of the old Trek glued ones running about. If you're stressing CF to failure, you're probably crashing at high speed and have other fish to fry......
__________________
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
#25
5' 19"
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Maryland
Posts: 829
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I have a '99 Cannondale R1000 66cm bike and what I like most about it is the lightness of it!
My other bikes are made of steel and I LOVE them, but if I'm going on a long, hilly ride I prefer the 'dale.....I do check it regularly at the welds for any signs of cracking...I've heard the stories too, but I've yet to find any signs of "stress" on any of the 3 'dales I've owned over the years.....
My other bikes are made of steel and I LOVE them, but if I'm going on a long, hilly ride I prefer the 'dale.....I do check it regularly at the welds for any signs of cracking...I've heard the stories too, but I've yet to find any signs of "stress" on any of the 3 'dales I've owned over the years.....
__________________
I own my dream bike, a 2023 DirtySixer MkII 3xl
...and also a 2006 R-14 66cm Waterford road bike, my former dream bike :)
I own my dream bike, a 2023 DirtySixer MkII 3xl
...and also a 2006 R-14 66cm Waterford road bike, my former dream bike :)