Comparing Steel and Aluminium Bike Frames
It seems that cycling becomes more popular as a sport every day and new makes of bikes pop up all the time. Most frequently bikes are made from some form of steel but as technology advances, so more materials have become viable options. A very popular alternative at the moment is aluminium, which is even now being used in snowboards and surfboards. Lets take a better look at the qualities of aluminium and see how it compares to steel?
Strength. Because aluminium as a metal has about 50% less tensile strength than steel, lots of people consider its use for aggressive bike riding not suitable. However, due to aluminum being around half as heavy as most steels, the frame width can be a lot larger and this somewhat makes up for its weakness. Having said this, thicker stronger steel is required on some bikes to withstand large amounts of punishment put on them during some forms of bike riding.
Performance. aluminium has about 33% of the stiffness that steel has. You would think this would a provide an easier ride, but actually most cyclists report the opposite. Lots of riders feel that steel frames are more comfortable. In events where weight is of the utmost importance, aluminium frames tend to outperform the heavier steel. However when strength is the main quality required, steel consistently is the preferred choice
Cost. This really does vary on a number of factors, not least the quality of the steel. There are now steel products on the market that are light enough to almost rival aluminum, however the cost for these is often quite large. On the other hand, there are some cheaper thin-framed aluminium bikes on the market now. However, due to the fact steel is more readily available and is the standard for most new and second hand bikes, it is usually cheaper than aluminium.