Thread: frame materials for Road or Mountain

personally I'm hoping to buy a custom made titanium road frame in the new year - equipped with carbon damped contact points like Easton EC90 series seat post, stem, handlebars... would love a Baum, but the budget probably says something made in Taiwan

I'm a fan of the ally stuff, IVe ridden on carbon and titanium frames. but Ive never had the opportunity to compare the same frame design made from different materials.

ridden on all and they all have pros and cons but for all round - carbon wins hands down for me

Steel. All the others have their place but for ride quality and durability steel does it for me.

Although I do ride an alloy dually at the moment.

Originally Posted by jaseh

Steel. All the others have their place but for ride quality and durability steel does it for me.

I've only ever ridden steel framed bicycles & was most surprised when one of the guys in my LBS said he actually preferred steel frames for the ride quality. I'd never even considered that the weight difference would have that effect.

I have a fine example of a steel frame (Reynolds), a carbon frame (OCLV 110) and an Alloy frame (ZR9000). Each has it's own strengths and weaknesses. Titanium is also a quality frame material - I used to ride a Merlin which was different again. Makes it hard to choose a poll option

I use each for a different purpose - my carbon bike is my daily ride, my alloy bike is on the mag trainer, and my steel bike is a track bike. I use them as "fit for purpose". It's a personal choice. My (former) coach uses a carbon track bike, for example.

You will often hear "new to cycling" guys say, "Just ride carbon - they are so soooooth". So they (generally) are. But a quality Brisbane built Llewellyn steel frame is the equal to any other frame on the planet. , not to mention a work of art....it's how the frame is built - as well as the material.

Originally Posted by Scouse

I've only ever ridden steel framed bicycles & was most surprised when one of the guys in my LBS said he actually preferred steel frames for the ride quality. I'd never even considered that the weight difference would have that effect.

The biggest difference in ride quality comes from the ability of the frame to flex. If you ride a steel-framed mountain bike, and then get on a (near) identical al.alloy framed one, you will notice a huge difference in comfort based on the ability of the frame (mainly the rear triangle) to flex. Which makes it more comfortable and often helps you keep power to the ground over corrugations.

Not sure if it would make a difference on a road bike though...?

I have F+R suspension for flex these days

Originally Posted by isuzurover

The biggest difference in ride quality comes from the ability of the frame to flex. If you ride a steel-framed mountain bike, and then get on a (near) identical al.alloy framed one, you will notice a huge difference in comfort based on the ability of the frame (mainly the rear triangle) to flex.

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; ie - it doesn't buck around as much compared to the lightweight frames.