frame materials for Road or Mountain

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Originally Posted by isuzurover

No, the other way around. Steel frames are made from smaller diameter and thinner wall tubing, and have more flex, which means they can smooth out small imperfections in the road/track.

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Ahh, that explains it :).

I agree on the horses for courses idea, but can't afford 2-3 frames @ $2-3k a piece, so I'm going for a combination of longevity, comfort and beauty... hence titanium. In the high humidity climate here, aluminium gets all kind of weird galvanic corrosion issues after a few years, steel rusts and I've seen too many carbon frames with cracks etc after coming off in criteriums or group rides... plus I like the classic look of a Ti frame e.g. http://172.31.254.242/farm4.static.f...b060fbedee.jpg

ally frame, carbon forks. One with carbon seat post.

I would only ever buy a carbon frame - or critical components - if I raced XC or road (semi)professionally.

For recreational use, the chances of something like this happening:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...09/12/1354.jpg make it not worth the risk IMHO.

Steel and Ti bend (usually) and while AL may fracture in a similar way, it usually gives you plenty of warning (so long as you wash/clean your bike regularly).

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Originally Posted by isuzurover

I would only ever buy a carbon frame - or critical components - if I raced XC or road (semi)professionally.
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Is club racing an OK excuse? :o

I'm fat and old now :p but I did ride my very same Madone to a few State Medallions, so I reckon I'm justified to potter to work on it still. :D

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Originally Posted by Scallops

Is club racing an OK excuse? :o

I'm fat and old now :p but I did ride my very same Madone to a few State Medallions, so I reckon I'm justified to potter to work on it still. :D

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I only said what I would do - you are free to do whatever you want (or believe whatever you want - no wait, that is another thread...).

But it sounds like a good excuse to me. Better to use it than let it gather dust ;)

Yeah - sorry, re-reading my post, I didn't mean to sound cranky. :) I actually had one bloke (another cyclist) accuse me of knicking it the other day - just 'cos I was wearing a drill cotton safety shirt and not lycra! :eek:

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Originally Posted by Scouse

So, the alloy flexes but the steel doesn't?

I was under the impression from the LBS that the comfort came from the extra weight in the steel frame....

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Steel frames can actually be as light as anything else - just depends on the actual steel used and the maker's design. :)

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Originally Posted by Scallops

Steel frames can actually be as light as anything else - just depends on the actual steel used and the maker's design. :)

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I think mine is made from RSJ :(.

Still, it gives the legs a workout :D.

My road trainer is a Ridley Damoclese 09 full carbon , my race bike is Ridley Noah full carbon even the SMP saddle ... started on steel graduated to alloy .. but there is no comprimise when it comes to carbon fibre and geometry