What frame materials are others riding in here?
#26
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I have ridden at 245 on both my bikes, one is carbon the other alloy - both Scott. No problems.
#28
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My main bike is a 2008 Specialized Tarmac (carbon). Have had zero issues with it. Not sure how many miles but I'd guess 25-30k. I also have a couple Specialized Allez and a Tricross - all aluminum. No problems with them either.
I also have an early 90s Tommasini Super Prestige which is steel. I feel like that one flexes a little too much when I ride it. I didn't really buy it to ride though. It's slightly too small for me. I bought it as a display piece as I think it's one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen.
I also have an early 90s Tommasini Super Prestige which is steel. I feel like that one flexes a little too much when I ride it. I didn't really buy it to ride though. It's slightly too small for me. I bought it as a display piece as I think it's one of the most beautiful bikes I've ever seen.
#29
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I've ridden both CF and aluminum frames (when I've ranged from 240-280#) without issue. Carbon is nice and can eat up a lot of road noise, but I tend to prefer alu as it is tougher (killed a carbon road frame due to a weird bounce and the resulting chainsuck).
#30
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I am now riding an aluminum frame trek 7200, no problems, I weigh 270 lbs. I have just bought from ebay a fugi touring bike with steel frame with 40 spoke wheels. Looking forward to working on it this winter.
#31
Junior Member
HiTens steel from the 90's and an alloy bike from 2010 both 700c and I'm not much fussed with the newer alloy one... I also have an alloy mountain bike but I find it tiring on rides over 50k, I think the steel frame road bike with the areo-bars is by far the best for 50- 120k rides.
Not happy that my weight has gone up over Christmas, right on 91kg today or 200.621lbs...... Oh well back in the saddle tomorrow!
Not happy that my weight has gone up over Christmas, right on 91kg today or 200.621lbs...... Oh well back in the saddle tomorrow!
Last edited by Mr Thylacine; 01-01-20 at 01:11 AM.
#32
Senior Member
I enjoy my carbon gravel bike. I'm 6'2 and currently 250lbs and the bike is a 56cm and comes in at 19lbs. It's fast. I recently built a vintage steel framed gravel bike and I enjoy riding it just as much as my carbon bike. It's 25lbs (with 38 spoke rims) but if I had to buy a new bike I would strongly consider a nice steel frame. I would like to ride a Ti bike though. That might change my mind.
#34
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#36
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I'm 5' 8" and currently 206lbs but was about 224-230lbs for most of last year which was my first year of retirement.
I've not discovered a secret diet! In early October I took a part-time job (16 hours a week) and reconnected with physical work plus I got in a few commuting miles.
Anyway, last year I shared out my mileage fairly evenly among 1 steel framed road bike (skinny tubes too!) and 3 alu' framed road bikes - all have 25c tyres. From previously being a "steel is real" disciple I'm now a bit more relaxed and realise that my alu' bikes really don't beat me up anymore than my steel bike.
Having always wanted a Cannondale (well, from the CAAD3 days) I've bought a CAAD Optimo for general riding and club runs and also a CAAD 12 for 'Sunday best' but I'm going to hold off riding them until April as in the UK we just like to dump rock salt everywhere at the first sign of a frost.
I've not discovered a secret diet! In early October I took a part-time job (16 hours a week) and reconnected with physical work plus I got in a few commuting miles.
Anyway, last year I shared out my mileage fairly evenly among 1 steel framed road bike (skinny tubes too!) and 3 alu' framed road bikes - all have 25c tyres. From previously being a "steel is real" disciple I'm now a bit more relaxed and realise that my alu' bikes really don't beat me up anymore than my steel bike.
Having always wanted a Cannondale (well, from the CAAD3 days) I've bought a CAAD Optimo for general riding and club runs and also a CAAD 12 for 'Sunday best' but I'm going to hold off riding them until April as in the UK we just like to dump rock salt everywhere at the first sign of a frost.
#37
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How many miles have you put on the bike? I am much smaller than you and thrashed a similar bike (Lemond, mfgr'ed by Trek). I had 13,000 miles on it when it cracked on a climb.
So curious as to how many miles you have on the bike which is more important than time owned. For instance, I have seen guys give durability reports having owned a bike, or wheels for 2 years but only managed 300 miles.
#38
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How many miles have you put on the bike? I am much smaller than you and thrashed a similar bike (Lemond, mfgr'ed by Trek). I had 13,000 miles on it when it cracked on a climb.
So curious as to how many miles you have on the bike which is more important than time owned. For instance, I have seen guys give durability reports having owned a bike, or wheels for 2 years but only managed 300 miles.
So curious as to how many miles you have on the bike which is more important than time owned. For instance, I have seen guys give durability reports having owned a bike, or wheels for 2 years but only managed 300 miles.
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#40
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While all 3 of my bikes are steel, I wouldn't mind a CAAD 10 or other nice aluminum road bike. Being a clyde and liking to keep bikes for decades, I don't think carbon is in my future.
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Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
#41
Junior Member
Currently I ride a straight-gauge steel MTB-style commuter with 26” downhill rims, cargo-spec stainless spokes and brass nipples. The frame is built by BTwin and has lifetime warranty.
As for me, I’m 1,76m/5’9” and 128kg/280lb, down from 157kg/345lb. My previous frame was also steel, but lower quality: broke on the chain stay, near the dropout on the driveside.
As for me, I’m 1,76m/5’9” and 128kg/280lb, down from 157kg/345lb. My previous frame was also steel, but lower quality: broke on the chain stay, near the dropout on the driveside.
#42
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I had 3 aluminum bikes, Cannondale, Trek, Lemond. 2 of the 3 aluminum frames snapped, 1 at the chainstay, one at the BB area (terrible mess). Each snapped at just over 13,000 miles.
I have a carbon Trek Madone now, has 15,000 on, not even a single issue with the frame!
One Aluminum is still alive, very stiff, no problems but less mileage than the others.
Carbon is not the monster so many make it out to be.
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#44
Senior Member
My primary road bike is titanium. The one I rode before that, that I probably put 8-10k miles on, is aluminum. My MTB (also probably 9k miles but mostly road miles) is also aluminum.
My primary bike I got in 2017. The old aluminum bike still works well, but the new bike is massively better. My aluminum MTB is a hardtail, and the components on it are all but worn out. To get it back to great condition would probably cost more than it's worth. I used it as a road bike up until I got an actual road bike 8 years ago. Since then it's only been ridden in actual mountains, where it's taken a pounding.
My primary bike I got in 2017. The old aluminum bike still works well, but the new bike is massively better. My aluminum MTB is a hardtail, and the components on it are all but worn out. To get it back to great condition would probably cost more than it's worth. I used it as a road bike up until I got an actual road bike 8 years ago. Since then it's only been ridden in actual mountains, where it's taken a pounding.
#45
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Trek's Alpha Gold aluminum
Raleigh's Atomic 13 SL butted aluminum
True Temper OXIII triple-butted chromoly steel
Much prefer the ride quality of the TT OXIII steel. And it's as light as the other aluminum framesets I've got. A bit older, heavier components, but with a livelier feel.
Raleigh's Atomic 13 SL butted aluminum
True Temper OXIII triple-butted chromoly steel
Much prefer the ride quality of the TT OXIII steel. And it's as light as the other aluminum framesets I've got. A bit older, heavier components, but with a livelier feel.
#46
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Steel,
81 Centurion Pro-tour, drop bar 105
12 Fuji Stratos, flat bar Ultegra
83 Gazelle Primeur, big market bike
A Bridgestone steel klunker
Aluminum
Giant Revel 29r
I like steel.
81 Centurion Pro-tour, drop bar 105
12 Fuji Stratos, flat bar Ultegra
83 Gazelle Primeur, big market bike
A Bridgestone steel klunker
Aluminum
Giant Revel 29r
I like steel.
#47
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I have had Carbon race bikes previously, but am pretty much exclusively on steel these days.
Carbon always made me a little nervous, even though I never had issues.
I sold my Super6 Evo HM because it didn't make sense to have a super light race bike when I am over 215lbs haha
Carbon always made me a little nervous, even though I never had issues.
I sold my Super6 Evo HM because it didn't make sense to have a super light race bike when I am over 215lbs haha
#48
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My "gravel bike" has a steel frame and carbon fork, bars, seat-post and stem. Gives the best of both worlds.
#49
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63cm 1987 Cannondale SR Alumionum frame w/carbon fork.
I'm 6'4" and 234# (down from 265)
Been on a Cannondale since 1986........Love 'em !
I'm 6'4" and 234# (down from 265)
Been on a Cannondale since 1986........Love 'em !
#50
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5'9" @ 235lbs. Current bike is a chrome-moly steel non-compact frame and fork. I prefer the feel and look of a steel frame and curved blade forks. I also prefer silver components, canti brakes, and tan sidewalls.
I use 36 hole rims with supple 32mm tires, a frame pump and flint-flickers on the tires. Give me brifters, cassettes, and indexed shifting, but some old tech and habits still have use. .
I use 36 hole rims with supple 32mm tires, a frame pump and flint-flickers on the tires. Give me brifters, cassettes, and indexed shifting, but some old tech and habits still have use. .