Bike Frame Material Strength
1190
Member
337 days
TriSooner posted 9 weeks ago.
TryScott wrote:
aluminum gets a crinkle, it becomes really weak. If carbon is cracked,same thingit disintegrates.
Fixed it for you :) And remember, that the full name is carbon fiber reinforced plastic.
TryScott wrote:
2. Aluminum and carbon will remain structurally sound even after taking a hard impact.
Absolutely false re: carbon. If 'hard impact' you mean it cracks? Cracked carbon goes in the trash.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-materials.html
TryScott wrote:
Lots? Litespeed, Moots, QRoo, Serotta, start at over $2,000 for the frame. I know of no major retailer that puts out any ti under $2k.
3. There’s lots of titanium frame bikes out there for less than $2000 . . .
17
Member
945 days
Porksalad posted 9 weeks ago.
Hey Tryscott,
I am planning on selling my QR Santo (2005) frame, fork, headseat, and aerobars. It is titanium and a great frame just a little to small for me so I ended up buying a new frame and removing all of the gear. I was going to put it on ebay for $750. If you are interested I will get you some pictures and more details if you want. I think you can go to the website: www.rooworld.com/bikes/2005/santo.aspx. I don't think they make the frame anymore but it will last you forever.
50
Member
305 days
gshuldes posted 9 weeks ago.
TryScott wrote:
I have a feeling that all these statements are false, but if one of them is true, let me know.1. The lifetime warranty that bikes have on the frame covers things like being in a wreck, or dropping your wheelbarrow on the top tube in the garage.
2. Aluminum and carbon will remain structurally sound even after taking a hard impact.
3. There’s lots of titanium frame bikes out there for less than $2000, and they hold up as well as the old BMX I had in 1980.
I agree ... the above statements are all false:
1. Frame warranties cover you for things that the manufacturer may have done wrong ... getting in a wreck or dropping your wheelbarrow on the frame are not the fault of the manufacturer.
2. depending on the definition of "structurally sound" and "hard impact" no material can pass this test.
3. Titanium bikes almost always start at over $2,000.
90
Member
457 days
danpatgal posted 9 weeks ago.
TryScott wrote:
If it were up to me, I’d take a bike that weighted 10 more pounds, but would hold up if it had a hard ding on the top tube.
How about steel? It's not as stiff, but it would be less than your 10 pounds heavier, much cheaper, and hold up if there's a hard ding on the top tube. Heck, you could cut it in half and with a good weld put it back together with almost the same structural strength.
558
Member
474 days
TryScott posted 9 weeks ago.
danpatgal wrote:
TryScott wrote:If it were up to me, I’d take a bike that weighted 10 more pounds, but would hold up if it had a hard ding on the top tube.
How about steel? It's not as stiff, but it would be less than your 10 pounds heavier, much cheaper, and hold up if there's a hard ding on the top tube. Heck, you could cut it in half and with a good weld put it back together with almost the same structural strength.
I don't think they make steel tri bikes.
558
Member
474 days
TryScott posted 9 weeks ago.
I was wrong, steel tri bikes do exist. I've only tracked down one brand, but if one exist, there has to be more out there, right?
301
Member
158 days
jonovision_man posted 9 weeks ago.
I smoked my bike into the side of a truck... (it was making an illegal left into my path).
There was damage to my bike, but the carbon fork was intact, so was the aluminum frame.
But... insurance still paid for a new fork, as they said carbon can get fractures you don't see and it's dangerous to keep riding it post-impact.
FWIW. No big deal for me, they paid for it, but if you hit something on your own and insurance wasn't paying that might be a big bill on a nice bike. Or you can risk it.
jono
112
Member
437 days
Toothless posted 9 weeks ago.
TryScott wrote:
I was wrong, steel tri bikes do exist. I've only tracked down one brand, but if one exist, there has to be more out there, right?
Cahaba Cycles? I moved from Birmingham, Alabama 10 years ago and used to shop at Cahaba Cycles. Are you from Birmingham?
Back to the thread, I've been riding carbon bikes exclusively on the road for 7 years and have had zero structural problems. A lot of carbon mountain bikes are even out there. I wouldn't worry about it.
1821
Member
1080 days
59
Member
1756 days
Dannyboy posted 9 weeks ago.
I see where your concern is, Tons of money and a chance of it all going bye bye with one accident. To be honest I have been riding aluminum and carbon bikes for a long time, and have had no problems with them. It's like not going out for a run because there is a chance that you might get hit by a car. The benefits of these materials FAR outweighs the drawbacks. So when you are looking at bikes, relax and get one that you like regardless of what it's made out of.
2437
Member
1321 days
Triguy98 posted 9 weeks ago.
You want a strong impact resistance frame? Go with a metal. Ive seen alum mountain bikes with dents in the tubes go for another 10 years. But if the impact is big enough to misalign the frame, the only thing that can be straightened is steel.
I personally ride aluminum cause it fits my budget. Never had a problem with it. Nor with the carbon forks on my tri bike (no impacts there, tho.) If i could afford it, i would go Ti.
Life is short. Play hard and get dirty doing it.
558
Member
474 days
TryScott posted 9 weeks ago.
Toothless wrote:
TryScott wrote:I was wrong, steel tri bikes do exist. I've only tracked down one brand, but if one exist, there has to be more out there, right?
Cahaba Cycles? I moved from Birmingham, Alabama 10 years ago and used to shop at Cahaba Cycles. Are you from Birmingham?Back to the thread, I've been riding carbon bikes exclusively on the road for 7 years and have had zero structural problems. A lot of carbon mountain bikes are even out there. I wouldn't worry about it.
No, I'm actually about 250 miles South of Birmingham now. We are in the process of moving from Ohio, so there will be a few trips up and down I-65 in the next few months. This is just the first dealer I saw for these bikes. If you had your choice of places to shop and get fit between Ohio and Pensacola, Florida, would you go to Cahaba?
I guess I'm just paranoid because I know someone that crashed and had to replace their carbon bike. Maybe he's the 1 in 1,000 that has that happen. Regardless, I'm still going to consider Porksalad's used Ti frame and the steel bikes. Chances are I'll end up getting a $1500 aluminum bike... If I buy something anymore expensive, I'll be scared to ride it.
4483
Member
1634 days
kylie posted 9 weeks ago.
If you crash badly on carbon, there is a good chance you will have to replace it. For me it was just a risk that is worth it. Mike has already been hit by a car on his PX so he is on his second (which the driver paid for), but mine is still the first frame.
When I crashed on aluminum at first they thought I had distorted the headtube (or something like that... it was a while ago) which would have meant needing a new frame. Apparently that isn't too hard to do depending on the material of the steerer tube of the fork -- but someone who knows more about bike materials could probably fill in the details on that one ;)
Anyone else concerned about breaking their expensive bike? I understand that bike companies pay engineers lots of money to make angles and wall thickness optimal for holding up when going over bumps and stuff, but I’m thinking about the side impact if something hit it while in the garage, or during a wreck. If aluminum gets a crinkle, it becomes really weak. If carbon is cracked, same thing. I hear titanium is better, but it’s a rare material for tri bikes, and I think it’s expensive. If it were up to me, I’d take a bike that weighted 10 more pounds, but would hold up if it had a hard ding on the top tube. I must be the only one, because I don’t see those bikes out there.
I have a feeling that all these statements are false, but if one of them is true, let me know.
1. The lifetime warranty that bikes have on the frame covers things like being in a wreck, or dropping your wheelbarrow on the top tube in the garage.
2. Aluminum and carbon will remain structurally sound even after taking a hard impact.
3. There’s lots of titanium frame bikes out there for less than $2000, and they hold up as well as the old BMX I had in 1980.
It looks like I’m going to have a hard time making a jump from my $500 bike to a tri bike.