05-30-2008, 06:25 PM
Steel, especially in bicycle applications, is a less rigid material than aluminum and therefore transmits less vibration to the rider. Canondale's oversized aluminum tubing used to be renowned for being abusive to the rider, but was popular with criterium (short circuit) racers and sprinters for it's incredible ability to put power straight to the ground. It would also dent very easily. Steel, in the same circumstances, would bend and flex, not allowing some power to hit the road. Titanium emerged as a material that would give both the benefits of steel and aluminium (lightweight, strong, but with good vibration damping properties).
Remember, bicycle racers don't have the opportunity to use DOM roll bar tubing.
Carbon fiber is the vogue thing, at the moment, due to it's ability to be tuned. One frame can be both incredibly rigid in one plane, and soft in another. This allows frame designers to send all the rider's pedal power straight to the ground, but allow for some vertical sponginess to soad up road vibrations for comfort.
Some people say carbon fiber feels 'dead' to ride. Due to it's non-metal nature, it doesn't offer any resiliancy-it damps, and that's all. Titanium and steel, titanium more so, feel "lively" to ride because, upon compression in any direction, they tend to try to resume their previous shape. I won't buy another aluminium frame because they really pound the miles in to your body (RJ doesn't get to comment, carbon at both ends kind of negates things). I ride a streel frame at the moment, a lugged one, at that, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that lugs are superior. My next road frame, most likely, will be carbon monococque. All bets are off on singletrack, though.
Bicycles are a lot like musical instruments, in their construction properties having profound effects on the final product.
Remember, bicycle racers don't have the opportunity to use DOM roll bar tubing.
Carbon fiber is the vogue thing, at the moment, due to it's ability to be tuned. One frame can be both incredibly rigid in one plane, and soft in another. This allows frame designers to send all the rider's pedal power straight to the ground, but allow for some vertical sponginess to soad up road vibrations for comfort.
Some people say carbon fiber feels 'dead' to ride. Due to it's non-metal nature, it doesn't offer any resiliancy-it damps, and that's all. Titanium and steel, titanium more so, feel "lively" to ride because, upon compression in any direction, they tend to try to resume their previous shape. I won't buy another aluminium frame because they really pound the miles in to your body (RJ doesn't get to comment, carbon at both ends kind of negates things). I ride a streel frame at the moment, a lugged one, at that, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that lugs are superior. My next road frame, most likely, will be carbon monococque. All bets are off on singletrack, though.
Bicycles are a lot like musical instruments, in their construction properties having profound effects on the final product.
When it comes to Ryan Jenkins, the story ends with me putting him in the wall.
2009 Speed Triple | 2006 DR-Z400SM | 1999 CBR600F4 | 1998 Jeep Cherokee
-Ginger
2009 Speed Triple | 2006 DR-Z400SM | 1999 CBR600F4 | 1998 Jeep Cherokee
-Ginger