Are aluminium steerers stronger?
04-22-05, 11:41 PM
#1
Aluminium Crusader :-)
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I've noticed on Cycling News that a few teams changed their forks to aluminium steerers for the cobbles, saying that they are stronger! 
I always thought carbon was stronger, but slightly more flexable. Which is which?
"the aluminium steerer provides a little extra strength when these boys are pounding their way over a total of 51.1 kilometres of pavé.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/teamtech0...atures/roubaix
I always thought carbon was stronger, but slightly more flexable. Which is which?
"the aluminium steerer provides a little extra strength when these boys are pounding their way over a total of 51.1 kilometres of pavé.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/teamtech0...atures/roubaix
04-23-05, 12:18 AM
#2
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This shouldn't be shocking, if I were riding on the pave, i'd go with aluminium also. I'm not convinced that it's that much stronger, but I would trust it more than CF.
04-23-05, 12:49 AM
#3
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If nothing else, when aluminum passes it's bending point, it bends. Carbon fiber composites shatter.
04-23-05, 01:21 AM
#4
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Also, carbon fiber has this nasty tendency to fracture if it is clamped too hard, due to almost non-existient elasticity. Baaaad times.
04-23-05, 02:46 AM
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the carbon steerer can crush when clamped too tight at the end of the tube. that is why many are set with another 1" above the stem. btw all treks come with alum steerers and those forks are pretty light.
04-24-05, 10:16 AM
#6
Aluminium Crusader :-)
Thread Starter
jeeez, i always thought carbon steerers were stronger because alu steerers tend to be on much cheaper forks
learn something new every........well, every now and then
learn something new every........well, every now and then
Last edited by 531Aussie; 04-24-05 at 10:33 AM.
04-24-05, 10:39 AM
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if x=byh then x+1=byn
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Originally Posted by fogrider
the carbon steerer can crush when clamped too tight at the end of the tube. that is why many are set with another 1" above the stem. btw all treks come with alum steerers and those forks are pretty light.
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04-24-05, 11:50 AM
#8
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Here's a pic that shows how Mondonico built my frame to work with my carbon steerer. I suppose that people who are really concerned about weight might no want that little bit of extra steel on the steerer tube, but if you are so concerned about weight you probably would not buy steel.
04-24-05, 11:53 AM
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Originally Posted by fogrider
the carbon steerer can crush when clamped too tight at the end of the tube. that is why many are set with another 1" above the stem.
Last edited by sydney; 04-24-05 at 11:59 AM.
04-24-05, 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Figaro
Here's a pic that shows how Mondonico built my frame to work with my carbon steerer. I suppose that people who are really concerned about weight might no want that little bit of extra steel on the steerer tube, but if you are so concerned about weight you probably would not buy steel.
04-24-05, 12:38 PM
#11
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Nice Hybrid
04-24-05, 01:38 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by sydney
you meant your frame was built with an extended steerer tube, but I'm just just speculating,not guessing.
04-24-05, 02:45 PM
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Just a joke, with that spacer, and rising stem, you'd be sitting upright, like on a Hybrid.
https://www.biketrax.co.uk/smsimg/6/669speed05.jpg
https://www.biketrax.co.uk/smsimg/6/669speed05.jpg
04-24-05, 03:58 PM
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^^ Haha, I love your posts smoothie. So knowledgeable, yet also very funny at times. 
Not that I think steerer tubes are made out of this, but I know certain alloys of aluminum will crack, and probably even splinter like CF can. Ever seen a top-of-the-line Al handlebar bend? Probably not. I've seen one fail, and it cracked like brittle wood. Now, this is not saying that CF would have been a better choice, any bar would have been killed in this crash, but not all Al bends...
If nothing else, when aluminum passes it's bending point, it bends. Carbon fiber composites shatter.
04-24-05, 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Smoothie104
Just a joke
Originally Posted by Smoothie104
with that spacer, and rising stem, you'd be sitting upright
04-24-05, 10:00 PM
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I would imagine that the manufacturing and/or marketing companies would subject their products to stress tests. And that the products would have to meet a certain benchmarks for compression strength, shear strength etc... Some designs/materials will be stronger than others, but I hope that all that are produced pass, and that the benchmarks surpass real world forces.
I ride a carbon steerer tube, and I think about it from time to time, but I don't think it is subject to any excessive forces, the top of the crown bears a lot of compression forces. and the top of the steerer is clamped by the stem. I know it bears a lot less weight per mile than my carbon seat post, but no one seems to worry about those.
Maybe becuase the thought of your steerer tube breaking, and the invetible crash are pretty grisly thoughts... If your seat post broke, you probably wouldn't go flying over the bars.
I ride a carbon steerer tube, and I think about it from time to time, but I don't think it is subject to any excessive forces, the top of the crown bears a lot of compression forces. and the top of the steerer is clamped by the stem. I know it bears a lot less weight per mile than my carbon seat post, but no one seems to worry about those.
Maybe becuase the thought of your steerer tube breaking, and the invetible crash are pretty grisly thoughts... If your seat post broke, you probably wouldn't go flying over the bars.
