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RE: Steel vs aluminum

You jump to conclusions ONCE AGAIN.
For a bike? I think Titanium may be the best metal. And than only a few select alloys....Like 6/4 which is good for dropouts OR 6/2.5 which finds use as aircraft hydraulic tubing. Among the first successful framesets, Gary Helfrich used surplus or not quite-to-spec tubing.
For STEEL? The Unavailable tubing made by EXCELL which is the ONLY steel alloy I know in bicycle use (ago) that used NICKEL in the alloy. The remainder are mainly Chrome / Moly with a few minor alloying agents addes. VERY high tensile strenght and fatigue limits. Tensile over 200,000lb and yield of 171,000. Good elongation, too which may mean a more 'compliant' ride?

This is better than your 4130 Huffy......by far.

Most people do not know that......just for example.....The very famous Reynolds 531 is exactly the same composition as the highly regarded 753r.......the difference being cold working and such.
You needed a special certification from Reyonlds to be sold this material.

Within its limits, (not to exceed fatigue limit) steel should last nearly forever. However, for Aluminum, EACH stress cycle eats into ultimate lifespan.

As an aside? I've seen the NEW Carbon Wheels. OUCH! They are VERY expensive and also massively durable. Spoke counts are now approaching Egyptian Chariot levels.....

I had this chat with my brother. He was a long haul trucker where NET WEIGHT of cargo carried is the rule. He showed me Aluminium trailers. Ravens, I think? Check LINK.

They ARE lighter, but not in proportion of the weights of the same amount of Steel V Aluminum.
Strength and longevity are the reason. Most of the trailers at the link are about 20 years old and I suspect near the end of a useful life......i'd inpsect CAREFULLY for cracks, stress risers and other career limiting defects. The extra capacity made more money for the hauler, but took years. Big Rigs even use aluminum wheels which are also much heavier than the ratio of Fe / Al weights would imply.

The first Aluminum frame I rode? VITUS. And it was awful. LIke riding a screen door. Next up was Klein / Cannondale. Both used thicker wall 'big' diameter tubing of 6061 alloy which were post treated to T6 hardness. VERY brutal ride, as you may have noticed. Big dimeter / thick wall was very rigid and necessary to avoid 'soda straw' breakage. this is when a tube 'folds' in half at a dent. Try it WITH a straw for a demo...


i'd own steel if I could afford it. Or Ti or even Beryllium......But Aluminim is abundent and cheap. As long as ridden properly, it'll last me a long time......
Look at the NEW Pinarello bikes. Like carbon graphite space ships. And priced like one!

Enjoy the ride.
Too much is never enough

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