steel, cromoly or Al ?
07-11-05, 02:13 PM
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steel, cromoly or Al ?
Hi,
I noticed majority of entry level bikes are AL.
My 4yr old cannondale AL frame is so rough that at first i thought my tires were flat and they were knobbies..but that is ok for MT bike since the fork have shocks.
I have second thoughts about getting a AL roadbike with the tiny tires, it would seem to be even harsher.
Any thoughts?
I just have not have the time to test ride a roadbike yet...
thanks,
Mutsu
I noticed majority of entry level bikes are AL.
My 4yr old cannondale AL frame is so rough that at first i thought my tires were flat and they were knobbies..but that is ok for MT bike since the fork have shocks.
I have second thoughts about getting a AL roadbike with the tiny tires, it would seem to be even harsher.
Any thoughts?
I just have not have the time to test ride a roadbike yet...
thanks,
Mutsu
07-11-05, 03:01 PM
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Cromoly is just a type of steel ( I think).
I have both a Steel tour bike and a AL road bike. Both are comfortable, but the steel tour is more so for really long rides, both because it is steel and because of its geometry. Longer wheel base, longer chain stays, more upright etc. Really soaks ups the bumps well.
My Al bike has a carbon fork and seatpost, so that may help some, but I find it is more fun to ride when I want to go fast. It has quciker handling and is ok for Century rides but not as smooth as the steel.
but there are exceptions to everything you will hear about steel vs carbon vs Alum.
A comfortable road bike can be made of any of these materials or a combination of them. Fit is more important.
I have both a Steel tour bike and a AL road bike. Both are comfortable, but the steel tour is more so for really long rides, both because it is steel and because of its geometry. Longer wheel base, longer chain stays, more upright etc. Really soaks ups the bumps well.
My Al bike has a carbon fork and seatpost, so that may help some, but I find it is more fun to ride when I want to go fast. It has quciker handling and is ok for Century rides but not as smooth as the steel.
but there are exceptions to everything you will hear about steel vs carbon vs Alum.
A comfortable road bike can be made of any of these materials or a combination of them. Fit is more important.
07-11-05, 03:08 PM
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acciaio is real
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Balsa wood, man!! Great lightweight, comfy frames - while they last. 
Nah. Like they say in Orbea-land: "Acero is real."
Nah. Like they say in Orbea-land: "Acero is real."
07-11-05, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Wurm
Balsa wood, man!! Great lightweight, comfy frames - while they last.
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07-11-05, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by cydewaze
Thanks but I'm a bamboo man.
Balsa is far superior to bamboo! It absorbs road shock better and can be layered (whittled) to a desired shape - for those group rides when you wanna pose in style. Bamboo is also noisy (hollow) and old tech, and if you want to do serious climbing you need the uber-lightness of balsa. On top of all that, bamboo will corrode (termites), whereas balsa doesn't have that problem.
Get with the times, old dude!
