Bike Forums - Aluminum frames

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Hello all. In the new world of the increase of carbon frames, are aluminum frames loosing their place? I come from a mountain biking background in the time when aluminum frames where the "thing". Are aluminum frames still used in some road racing? I am considering the Nashbar Frame

http://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

for a start into road competitions. Does anyone ride this frame that can comment on it. Do you's feel that it is up to par for light local racing? I currently have an '87 Raleigh Technium with the aluminum main frame and chromoly rear triangle and fork (with 126mm rear spacing, thus 27in. wheels). Would this Nashbar frame be an upgrade for me? Thanks for the help.

Let the Bickering Begin:

It's all about personal preference! I find I get more road feedback from Alu over Carbon. There's nothing wrong with either so it really comes down to choice.

You might want to take a look at the Scattante Frame/Fork set over at Performance.

Do a search, this horse has been beaten to death.

I don't race, so can't speak to that specifically, but I can say that aluminum frames are still very popular. They're not getting the ink they used to, having been superseded as the "it" frame material by carbon, but they're still very popular and often relatively inexpensive. As FormerBMX'er said, which frame material you choose is largely a matter of personal preference. Though different specific frames will demonstrate different characteristics, aluminum is generally thought on the plus side to be very light and very stiff (read "good for accelerating/racing") and on the minus side to be very stiff (read "hard on your bum"). (I understand design technology has been able to dampen some of the ride harshness in newer frame models, however.) Bottom line, aluminum is fine for racing under most circumstances. If the races will be over long distances, however, or if your nether regions are particularly tender, you may want to consider a different material.

I don't know anything about the Nashbar frame you posted the link to, but a lot of manufacturers make fine frames out of aluminum. I'd recommend finding one that is built up that you can test ride to (1) see how well it fits; and (2) compare to frames made of other materials. That way you'll be able to make a more educated decision.

Finally, enjoy. Picking the frame/bike that calls out to you is one of the most fun parts! Good luck.

....beaten past death, backed over repeatedly by a pickup truck, tortured in "Gitmo" after being wisked away in the night and beeoch-slapped in three Snoop-dog videos.

I have all sorts of bikes. Last December my brother ran across a Fuji Newest frame in my size and gave it to me for Christmas. I had it put together with barends, shimano derailleurs, a set of old Ultegra calipers that I'd had laying around, a set of Nasbar normal brake levers and a Look HSC-1 fork that I'd picked up from the racing team throw away box down at Sea Otter the previous year. I had been given some Mavic Helium wheels because the spokes were all loose and the wheels were way out of alignment but I had my local shop owner who is a really good wheelman, set them up with proper tension and they're perfectly straight and true.

Not only is this one of the best riding bikes I've ever owned, it's also one of the lightest.

There's nothing wrong with aluminum frames if the geometry is right for you.

I don't think the nashbar frame is light.

I have owned some very light and comfortable aluminum frames along the way.
Carbon is sweeet no doubt.....but aluminum is a bigger bang for the buck. If you can afford an all carbon frame then that's great. If you only have 1k to 1.5k in your budget then you can get more bike if you choose aluminum. Many(perhaps all) of the pros in the peloton will be riding carbon. They don't have budgetary issues though. They are always going to ride the newest and best thing on the market. That's how the manufacturers get us to buy them. We don't necessarily have to try and keep up with what jan Ullrich is riding. Don't forget....the motor is the most important thing.

Many Bianchi pros ride the aluminum frames and several of the Lotto/Domo pros ride aluminum Ridleys. I personally like the ride of high-quality aluminum, but I believe that the quality of the frame (geometry, quality of the respective material used, assembly, QC, etc.) is probably more important than the simple base material it is made from.

Pros are still winning races on aluminium frames. The importance of materials is overstated. Also, the weight difference between alu and carbon is often less than 200g. Some of the Look carbons aren't that light at all.

Alessandro Ballan and his teammates were even racing steel in the recent "Classics" (!!!), and it wasn't the frame that prevented Ballan from winning, it was his legs and/or lungs........or his mind? :)

Thanks to all! I didn't realize how beaten a topic this was. It makes perfect sense about personal preference. For the inexpensive price of the Nashbar Frame I guess it is who of me to just get one and go with it. Thanks again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FormerBMX'er

Thanks for the tip, I did see this one too. Seems like another great deal. Probably made by the same manufacturer and probably the same frame, just different finishes. From what I recall, Performance owns Nashbar or vice versa . . .

If you're wanting to race, and you don't have much money... all but the most diehard carbon, steel and ti guys will probably recommend an inexpensive aluminum frame.

Aluminum is great for an offroad bike with a frame shock; go to a hard tail and the sore tail starts, so I imagine that you don't expect a no-shock road bike to be very forgiving, but that's what some riders like, i.e., stiff frame rather than a more compliant (steel) or buzz absorbing (CF) frame. Even aluminum or steel bikes generally will have a CF fork :)

the Belgian team recently broke one of their national track records on this alu bike.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/20...ikes/MS007.jpg

http://www.cyclingnews.com/track/200...k_worlds_bikes