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Ask a rider what kind of bike frame to buy and you can plan a long conversation. What kind of bike? Are you considering a road, mountain, triathlon, cyclocross or fat bike? And the biggest: steel, aluminum, carbon or titanium?
According to cycling historians, the first bicycle was built in 1817 entirely of wood. Soon after came steel, then aluminum alloy, space age carbon fiber and now titanium.
All four building methods have passionate and loyal followers who don’t care about anything other than their favorite material. The formula for determining the “best frame material” involves a number of variables. The relationships between cost, riding style, area, distance and feel all influence choice.
Steel: strong, durable, heavy
More bikes have been constructed from steel than any other material. When Schwinn dominated the American cycling market in the mid-20th century, iconic models like the 10-speed Varsity and the cool Sting Ray had steel frames.
From a frame builder’s point of view, welding steel tubing results in a durable, strong and durable bike. For cyclists, steel cushions rough road surfaces that can hit your hands, crush your legs, and make a century of riding miserable. Steel frames can withstand all kinds of abuse and are relatively easy to repair. Finally, steel is cheaper than other chassis options.
For all the positive attributes that steel has to offer, it has a really big negative: Iit’s heavy.
In a race, a steel frame represents a significant competitive disadvantage.
For some riders, steel is still the preferred frame material, but in a racing environment where ounces count, aluminum and other materials have captured the attention of riders.
One final negative point: steel can rust. Beware if you live in a climate with a lot of rain or where winter driving is practiced. Steel is fine in these situations as long as it is cleaned and maintained, but it requires more care than other materials.
Aluminum: light, rigid, perishable
Long-time riders recall oversized oval aluminum tubes introduced on bikes from Klein and Cannondale. Frames constructed from aluminum alloys are lighter and less dense than steel without sacrificing stiffness. The compromise?
On the one hand, aluminum frames are less durable than steel. Knock over an aluminum frame on a gravel-strewn road and repairs will challenge even the most skilled bike mechanic. Aluminum simply cannot be welded or bent to its original shape.
Aluminum can also be a turn harder than steel. This tends to transmit a lot of vibrations from the road to the rider, which can lead to more fatigue after many miles on the bike.
For high-end road and racing bikes, aluminum frames are a solid option when weight influences performance. In many cases, bike brands will offer aluminum and carbon frame options to fit the budgets of any rider.
Aluminum is extremely popular for full suspension mountain bikes, where its ability to take on many shapes and strength to weight ratio make it a solid choice for builders.
Titanium: Powerful, Waterproof, Expensive
Bike builders never stop exploring and experimenting. For cyclists, the results are bike frames that push performance standards. Titanium offers interesting possibilities. Lighter than steel and more durable than aluminum, titanium represents the best of both worlds.
For riders above the snow belt who cycle comfortable all year round, titanium removes corrosive elements like road salt. You won’t find rust spots on a titanium frame. In fact, most titanium frames are unpainted, letting the inherent beauty of the metal shine through.
Heavier runners will appreciate a the titanium frame’s ability to cushion bumps, rattles, and rough roads encountered on century tours, gravel races, and commutes. Like steel, a well-constructed titanium frame will last a lifetime. Aluminum and carbon simply cannot live up to this warranty.
On the other hand, building a titanium frame requires skill and experience. Repairs, if necessary, can be difficult. Finally, titanium frames cost significantly more than comparable steel models.
Carbon: ultralight, stiff, fallible
In 1998, Marco Pantini seizes the yellow jersey of the Tour de France on a Bianchi aluminum frame racing bike – for the last time. From that point on, every winning bike was built in carbon fiber. Noted for their lightness, stiffness and strength, carbon fiber frame designs can be tailored to very specific applications. Tour de France time trial bikes and high-end triathlon models are good examples of frame designs that improve racing performance.
As the early building processes evolved, carbon frames encountered reliability issues. Inconsistencies lead to frame cracks and failure. As production methods improved, these issues were resolved. The flagship models of major bicycle brands are usually equipped with carbon fiber frames.
Like other frame options, carbon has its weaknesses. Sustainability is a question. An accident that could scratch the paint on a steel frame could cause significant and difficult to repair damage to a carbon frame. Since carbon fiber frames are generally stiffer than other materials, these stresses can lead to structural failures in motion. A rare event, but not something a cyclist would encounter on steel or titanium frames.
High-end mountain bikes also take advantage of carbon, and here again, it’s a wonderful frame material. The biggest pitfall for mountain bikes is durability (big crashes can send that expensive frame flying through boulder fields) and price.
While they remain expensive overall, the prices of carbon bikes have come down over time, and weekend warriors willing to postpone saving for retirement can find an affordable carbon frame.
So what’s your choice of bike: steel, aluminum, titanium, or carbon fiber? Let the debate begin.
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