Comments on: Bicycle Frames, The Heart Of The Bike http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html Perhaps the Best Hub on Cycling Information Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:34:25 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Martin http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-1199 Martin Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:53:28 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-1199 My current bike is aluminium (a 2001 Klein Quantum) and I'm looking to replace it. I'm prepared to spend a couple of grand to find a bike as good as my Klein was when I bought it 8yrs ago. If that brings me a lighter, faster more comfortable bike I'll smile even broader when crunching the miles. The local bike shop says go carbon, a couple of cyclist I know say go carbon. They say aluminium is harsh/stiff, yet I have never thought my Klein as harsh, before people mentioned it the thought never crossed my mind. And some say wait until you've tried carbon and you'll see the difference. Not sure it makes much difference but I'm short and lean so while I'm happy to sacrifice frame weight if I can save weight elsewhere. And my bike will be used for the occasional triathlon (1-2 per year). My current bike is aluminium (a 2001 Klein Quantum) and I’m looking to replace it.

I’m prepared to spend a couple of grand to find a bike as good as my Klein was when I bought it 8yrs ago. If that brings me a lighter, faster more comfortable bike I’ll smile even broader when crunching the miles.

The local bike shop says go carbon, a couple of cyclist I know say go carbon. They say aluminium is harsh/stiff, yet I have never thought my Klein as harsh, before people mentioned it the thought never crossed my mind. And some say wait until you’ve tried carbon and you’ll see the difference.

Not sure it makes much difference but I’m short and lean so while I’m happy to sacrifice frame weight if I can save weight elsewhere. And my bike will be used for the occasional triathlon (1-2 per year).

]]> By: phil webb http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-1070 phil webb Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:56:30 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-1070 Bamboo is the up and coming material of choice. 10 year warranty? No problem. Crash resistance? Better than Carbon. Ride? Smooth and quiet beyond belief. Responsiveness? When selecting the right species and processing the raw material correctly, very responsive. Green? Green. Bamboo is the up and coming material of choice. 10 year warranty? No problem. Crash resistance? Better than Carbon. Ride? Smooth and quiet beyond belief. Responsiveness? When selecting the right species and processing the raw material correctly, very responsive. Green? Green.

]]> By: Jim Wedeking http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-788 Jim Wedeking Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:18:13 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-788 I have 4 bikes, One is Chromoly, one is steel, one is Aluminumn, and one is a mixture of Carbon and Aluminumn. Of all my bikes, the oldest and my favorite is the one made of Chromoly, yet I now ride it least of all because I got used to the index shifting of the newest bike.My friends tell me to go all carbon or titanuum. What happened to Chromoly? It was lighter than steel, and just as light as Aluminum and just as stiff as Titanium. I'm confused about what direction to turn. Bike shops only care about making a sale or is it because I don't know what to tell them what's best for me? I have 4 bikes, One is Chromoly, one is steel, one is Aluminumn, and one is a mixture of Carbon and Aluminumn. Of all my bikes, the oldest and my favorite is the one made of Chromoly, yet I now ride it least of all because I got used to the index shifting of the newest bike.My friends tell me to go all carbon or titanuum. What happened to Chromoly? It was lighter than steel, and just as light as Aluminum and just as stiff as Titanium. I’m confused about what direction to turn. Bike shops only care about making a sale or is it because I don’t know what to tell them what’s best for me?

]]> By: Oliver http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-744 Oliver Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:48:00 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-744 I'm amazed at the dearth of conversation and information on the web about steel frames. While aluminum is cheap and light, it is a ROUGH ride, especially for those of us heavy enough to require very stiff/tough wheels. I think the laid-back geometry of older steel designs is wonderful for folks who like to ride distances but don't necessarily race, as well as those new to longer-distance road riding. Do you know of any websites/rags that are devoted to steel bikes? I’m amazed at the dearth of conversation and information on the web about steel frames. While aluminum is cheap and light, it is a ROUGH ride, especially for those of us heavy enough to require very stiff/tough wheels. I think the laid-back geometry of older steel designs is wonderful for folks who like to ride distances but don’t necessarily race, as well as those new to longer-distance road riding. Do you know of any websites/rags that are devoted to steel bikes?

]]> By: john http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-712 john Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:31:47 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-712 this is so typical.... The tunnel vision of focus on racing. This article started off talking about frames in general, and frame materials. Then they started focussing on a carbon fiber Ferrari of the biking world. Unfortunately this is what gets the free press every year with the Tour de France. Yes if your racing the tour de france then 2-3 minutes difference in performance over the alps is crucial. But if your looking to commute to work, it's inconsequential. If your trying to accomplish your first century, or taking a bike tour vacation... then comfortable positioning, gearing for your fitness level, and other factors are far more important than a few minutes. If your built like me (or too many of my fellow Americans), the 50 extra pounds i am still carrying (but still losing as I progress) have far more importance than a few ounces that might be shaved on a bike frame. Spend your Ferrari money, I'm doing fine getting around on my ford Taurus of a cycle.If you focus on yourself and not on others than you can always compete against the clock on whatever bike you ride.john this is so typical…. The tunnel vision of focus on racing. This article started off talking about frames in general, and frame materials. Then they started focussing on a carbon fiber Ferrari of the biking world. Unfortunately this is what gets the free press every year with the Tour de France. Yes if your racing the tour de france then 2-3 minutes difference in performance over the alps is crucial. But if your looking to commute to work, it’s inconsequential. If your trying to accomplish your first century, or taking a bike tour vacation… then comfortable positioning, gearing for your fitness level, and other factors are far more important than a few minutes. If your built like me (or too many of my fellow Americans), the 50 extra pounds i am still carrying (but still losing as I progress) have far more importance than a few ounces that might be shaved on a bike frame. Spend your Ferrari money, I’m doing fine getting around on my ford Taurus of a cycle.If you focus on yourself and not on others than you can always compete against the clock on whatever bike you ride.john

]]> By: Carbon Fiber Bike Frame http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-660 Carbon Fiber Bike Frame Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:47:09 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-660 As "Mike said, owning a carbon fiber frame does come down to having the cash to buy it and also the need for it. Your run of the mill cyclist will not need a CF frame at all and I expect the majority of people who do have one don't really need one either.Light, durable and excellent they may be, but not always the right thing to buy - unless you have more money than sense! As “Mike said, owning a carbon fiber frame does come down to having the cash to buy it and also the need for it. Your run of the mill cyclist will not need a CF frame at all and I expect the majority of people who do have one don’t really need one either.Light, durable and excellent they may be, but not always the right thing to buy – unless you have more money than sense!

]]> By: Vince http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-449 Vince Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:08:57 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-449 Carbon Fiber frames are very commonplace nowadays and full bikes with proven racing credentials can be had for under $2K. I've tried looking for steel bikes and it would seem the only option is to custom build a bike around an Italian frame. Usually the steel frame itself sells for more than $2k. The cost of the entire bike would end up costing twice that. Steel has become the new exotic and expensive material. Am I missing something?Can you tell me of a manufacturer as reputable as Trek, that produces steel bikes with proven racing geometry for a reasonable price. It doesn't even have to be lightweight. Thanks Carbon Fiber frames are very commonplace nowadays and full bikes with proven racing credentials can be had for under $2K. I’ve tried looking for steel bikes and it would seem the only option is to custom build a bike around an Italian frame. Usually the steel frame itself sells for more than $2k. The cost of the entire bike would end up costing twice that. Steel has become the new exotic and expensive material. Am I missing something?Can you tell me of a manufacturer as reputable as Trek, that produces steel bikes with proven racing geometry for a reasonable price. It doesn’t even have to be lightweight. Thanks

]]> By: Mike http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-431 Mike Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:59:54 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-431 @Jim Wedeking -as you probably already know, steel is a generic name for all alloys of iron. Chromoly is name for a family of steel alloys that have relatively more molybdenum added. Chromoly steels tend to be strong, so the tubing of the bike can be ma @Jim Wedeking -as you probably already know, steel is a generic name for all alloys of iron. Chromoly is name for a family of steel alloys that have relatively more molybdenum added. Chromoly steels tend to be strong, so the tubing of the bike can be ma

]]> By: Fk http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-354 Fk Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:29:30 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-354 dont forget the magnesium frames that (if memory serves me correctly) were available for a short period of time in the early 90's.no end of problems with them from what i can remember. dont forget the magnesium frames that (if memory serves me correctly) were available for a short period of time in the early 90’s.no end of problems with them from what i can remember.

]]> By: Carrie http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/frames.html/comment-page-1#comment-290 Carrie Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:31:37 +0000 http://www.bikecyclingreviews.com/wpd/?p=3243#comment-290 I don't think there's any danger of the extinction of steel bikes any time soon. Their durability, welding ease (fix your bike if you crash!), ride and price/weight (many chromoly or newer steel composites are as light as aluminum), all contribute to their popularity. This review reads like it was written towards the end of the 1990s when steel was losing ground over fancy new technologies, but in the last 5 years steel continues to be the real thing.Maybe I'm biased b/c I was searching for steel tubing reviews (for my custom bike) when I came across this article. I don’t think there’s any danger of the extinction of steel bikes any time soon. Their durability, welding ease (fix your bike if you crash!), ride and price/weight (many chromoly or newer steel composites are as light as aluminum), all contribute to their popularity. This review reads like it was written towards the end of the 1990s when steel was losing ground over fancy new technologies, but in the last 5 years steel continues to be the real thing.Maybe I’m biased b/c I was searching for steel tubing reviews (for my custom bike) when I came across this article.

]]>