View Poll Results: Frame Material Preference
Carbon Fiber
39
30.71%
Aluminum
10
7.87%
Steel
61
48.03%
Titanium
17
13.39%
Voters: 127. You may not vote on this poll
Frame Material Preference Poll
11-11-22, 07:50 AM
#51
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I have no desire to try carbon because I believe it's inferior to steel it terms of toughness and durability. And I also have an old aluminum MTB with a rigid steel fork which is holding up great after many years of hard riding. The only issue with aluminum frame is a bit of galvanic corrosion on the lower chainstay bridge and that is the result of road salt corroding a steel bolt and reacting with aluminum. My steel frames had rustroofing oil sprayed inside tubes and there is no rust even after many years of winter riding.
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11-11-22, 08:15 AM
#52
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I have no desire to try carbon because I believe it's inferior to steel it terms of toughness and durability. And I also have an old aluminum MTB with a rigid steel fork which is holding up great after many years of hard riding. The only issue with aluminum frame is a bit of galvanic corrosion on the lower chainstay bridge and that is the result of road salt corroding a steel bolt and reacting with aluminum. My steel frames had rustroofing oil sprayed inside tubes and there is no rust even after many years of winter riding.
I like steel, too -- three of my five bikes have steel frames. But let's be realistic.
11-11-22, 08:31 AM
#53
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11-11-22, 08:44 AM
#54
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I have no desire to try carbon because I believe it's inferior to steel it terms of toughness and durability. And I also have an old aluminum MTB with a rigid steel fork which is holding up great after many years of hard riding. The only issue with aluminum frame is a bit of galvanic corrosion on the lower chainstay bridge and that is the result of road salt corroding a steel bolt and reacting with aluminum. My steel frames had rustroofing oil sprayed inside tubes and there is no rust even after many years of winter riding.
11-11-22, 10:09 AM
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Originally Posted by Koyote
You know what else doesn't rust? Carbon fiber..
11-11-22, 10:18 AM
#56
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Aluminum also doesn't rust.
There's nothing wrong with AL, but let's be realistic.
11-11-22, 10:32 AM
#57
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.
...hi.
What's this thread about ?
...hi.
What's this thread about ?
__________________
11-11-22, 10:37 AM
#58
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Originally Posted by 3alarmer
.
...hi. What's this thread about ?
...hi.
What's this thread about ?
11-11-22, 10:47 AM
#59
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Originally Posted by tomato coupe
Chocolate > vanilla.
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11-11-22, 10:47 AM
#60
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Originally Posted by Koyote
AL doesn't rust, but it can corrode. It also has the shortest fatigue life of any commonly-used bike frame material. CF, on the other hand, effectively has NO fatigue life.
There's nothing wrong with AL, but let's be realistic.
There's nothing wrong with AL, but let's be realistic.
Fiber-reinforced resins do not exhibit a fatigue limit, which makes stress failure harder to design for. Presumably, bike frame engineers are being very cautious and building in big strength safety margins to be on the safe side.
Also, current fiber-reinforced resins typically are using a resin that is relatively brittle which is an issue because initial fractures may be hard to detect and tend to fail catastrophically. There are promising new matrix options that will significantly reduce brittleness but are currently too expensive.
Otto
11-11-22, 10:50 AM
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Uncorrect.
11-11-22, 11:01 AM
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Originally Posted by SpedFast
I've been doing so much research into frame materials that I actually forgot why I was looking in the first place, sorry. I'm looking for the holy grail of bikes. In other words, the single one that says, "Hey, you don't need those others." And that would make my DW very happy. She encourages me (I'm 73 btw) to do good in the neighborhood which is why I fix other people's bikes, cars, trailers, and whatever is needed. But she is now encouraging me to begin downsizing the herd. I'm looking for an endurance style bike that I can put full fenders on in the winter, ride strictly roads/mups. Don't need to fit anything wider than 28mm tires. And last, but definitely not least, not weigh as much as the iron I currently own. I've already donated several bikes to the local charity and I still have 2 sheds full. (They're small sheds) I need to get down to one though so the DW can have the other for a potting shed. My fave right now is an aluminum with carbon fork, but it's a racing geometry and after 30 miles I feel done in but love the speed and quickness of it. My second fave is vintage steel and so comfortable I can go all day on it, just much slower. I contemplated upgrading it to brifters and 700c wheels a while back, but that won't make it any lighter. The other's in the stable are mostly alloys with low end components that I never ride anymore. Carbon was my first choice, but then I started thinking maybe titanium. However, like I said earlier, my current fave is alum, so maybe just find an alum endurance bike with drop bars. Lots of nice ones out there. Too many options really. Just thought I would filter through what others thought and why. Thanks for all the input. Smokey
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11-11-22, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by SpedFast
I've been doing so much research into frame materials that I actually forgot why I was looking in the first place, sorry.
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11-11-22, 11:09 AM
#64
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
Doesn't sound like an effective way to research something.
11-11-22, 11:11 AM
#65
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Originally Posted by SpedFast
You are really a negative wave type person, aren't you?
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11-11-22, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Koyote
AL doesn't rust, but it can corrode. It also has the shortest fatigue life of any commonly-used bike frame material. CF, on the other hand, effectively has NO fatigue life.
There's nothing wrong with AL, but let's be realistic.
There's nothing wrong with AL, but let's be realistic.
11-11-22, 12:41 PM
#67
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Aluminum frames can be pretty damn strong and long lasting depending on the frame design, the type of aluminum used, and manufacturing process / quality control. Aluminum will only corrode if it comes in prolonged contact with corroded steel in wet salty conditions. Corrosion on aluminum frames is really a non-issue , I have never seen an aluminum frame corroded to a point that it was unusable.
11-11-22, 01:01 PM
#68
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My experience with frame materials: Steel frames, the most comfortable and least comfortable frames were steel with several in between. Aluminum mountain bike frame: broke 2 main triangles and one rear chain stay. Titanium? Crack in seat tube. Carbon? No failures so far after over 15 years. Conclusion? These are not generic frame materials that you can judge by the material alone. I will not weigh in on the survey because it makes no sense
11-11-22, 01:07 PM
#69
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Originally Posted by ofajen
Not sure what you are trying to say here
Otto
Otto
11-11-22, 01:15 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Aluminum frames can be pretty damn strong and long lasting depending on the frame design, the type of aluminum used, and manufacturing process / quality control. Aluminum will only corrode if it comes in prolonged contact with corroded steel in wet salty conditions. Corrosion on aluminum frames is really a non-issue , I have never seen an aluminum frame corroded to a point that it was unusable.
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11-11-22, 02:11 PM
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Originally Posted by tomato coupe
There are many examples of aluminum bars that became severely corroded without any contact with corroded steel.
11-11-22, 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by big john
I sweat a lot and I have corroded the cable stops more than half way through on an aluminum frame. Also corroded the top tube pretty bad on a steel frame because the paint was worn away by the brake cable.
...
11-11-22, 02:16 PM
#73
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Originally Posted by 1989Pre
It depends on the type of riding and a couple dozen other factors.
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11-11-22, 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
I've only few examples of aluminum drop bars getting corroded, but I've never seen any other types of aluminum handlebars getting corroded to a point of becoming unusable.
11-11-22, 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Your sweat must be more toxic and corrosive than the road salt and de-icing chemicals that I ride through each winter here in my city ...
...
