Steel Vs Aluminum Bike Frame Reddit

A steel frame bike when properly cared for can perform admirably for decades.
Steel vs aluminum bike frame reddit. Aluminum frames are slightly more rigid and economical with application to a broader range of bicycle styles and rider weights. Aluminum frames are generally stiffer than steel resulting in a harsher ride. It needs either increased thickness or heat treatment to be strong enough for bike frames so it is common on the low end for thick non treated frames. It all comes down to preference.
If you are doing extended gravel offroad rides then the awol will be far more comfortable with 45mm tires. Most city bikes are built on either steel frames or aluminum frames and which one you pick will impact the quality of your ride and the life of your bike. There s nothing wrong with either frame type. Pros and cons perhaps.
Read on for the how and why and we ll help you navigate the materials market. Quality aluminum frames are butted. Or on the high end for thin wall heat treated frames but not in the middle. In an effort to minimize the harsh nature of aluminum frames modern high end aluminum frames are.
Steel frames typically feature a chromoly blend which provides a. Aluminum is less dense than steel and to make it achieve greater strength to weight ratio. If you were getting ready to drop 5k on a super high end road bike and wanted to talk about the difference between a classic style steel colnago frame and a modern style specialized carbon fiber frame there would be a lot of valid and major points to make between those two frame materials. Four years is nothing for a quality bicycle frame be it carbon aluminum or steel.
Although bike frames today are available in a wide variety of materials such as titanium carbon and even bamboo most entry and mid level cyclists will be deciding between an aluminum frame and a steel frame. I am in the market for a budget bike because i want to try it first before spending a ton of money and i don t know if an aluminum frame can hold up after months and months of abuse. Your local bike shop can give advice on what frame will work best for your. Winter riding i use an aluminum frame as i do not want to ruin my more expensive carbon fiber frames but still want a bike that climbs fast.
While steel has a reputation for offering a smoother ride than aluminum the tires make a much larger difference. The most common steel used in modern bicycles is 4130 cromoly steel which is lighter and stronger than carbon steel. Higher quality steel is more expensive but 4130 cromoly is still affordable when compared to other materials like carbon fiber. Downhill mountain bike i like my titanium frame.
I feel indestructible going downhill.