This or That: Aluminum-framed or steel-framed bicycles?
Aluminum-framed or steel-framed bicycles?
Your four main choices when buying a bike frame are as follows: carbon fiber, titanium, steel, and aluminum.
Now, let's focus on the last two. On the whole, steel bikes are pretty sturdy. They hold up well, and they can be fashioned in part from recycled materials. They're also really durable, and can take a beating.
That said, they're a good investment, because you won't have to buy a new frame as often (unless you're, like, incredibly reckless). And according to The Green Book, when producing a steel frame as opposed to an aluminum frame, 25 kilowatt hours of energy is saved.
The main drawback to steel frames? They're heavy. But unless you're training for the Tour de France or lugging your bike up and down five flights of stairs every day, a slightly heavier frame shouldn't be an issue.
Now onto aluminum frames. Obviously, they're a bit lighter than steel. But in this case, "light" is synonymous with "less durable" and "less well-made." They're also more difficult to repair, which can mean more frames on the landfill, and can only be manufactured from virgin ore, not recycled materials.
If an additional 10 percent of steel-framed bikes were sold each year instead of aluminum-framed bikes, we would save the energy equivalent of a year's worth of gas for 2,400 cars.
Based on use of recycled materials and potential for repair and reuse, steel framed bicycles are a better bet than aluminum ones.
Your four main choices when buying a bike frame are as follows: carbon fiber, titanium, steel, and aluminum. Now, let's focus on the last two. On the whole, steel bikes are pretty sturdy. They hold up well, and they can be fashioned in part from recycled materials. They're also really durable, and can take a beating.
That said, they're a good investment, because you won't have to buy a new frame as often (unless you're, like, incredibly reckless). And according to The Green Book, when producing a steel frame as opposed to an aluminum frame, 25 kilowatt hours of energy is saved.
The main drawback to steel frames? They're heavy. But unless you're training for the Tour de France or lugging your bike up and down five flights of stairs every day, a slightly heavier frame shouldn't be an issue.
Now onto aluminum frames. Obviously, they're a bit lighter than steel. But in this case, "light" is synonymous with "less durable" and "less well-made." They're also more difficult to repair, which can mean more frames on the landfill, and can only be manufactured from virgin ore, not recycled materials.
If an additional 10 percent of steel-framed bikes were sold each year instead of aluminum-framed bikes, we would save the energy equivalent of a year's worth of gas for 2,400 cars.
Based on use of recycled materials and potential for repair and reuse, steel framed bicycles are a better bet than aluminum ones.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-11-2008 @ 2:39AM
Deborah said...
neither!
*to tune of veggie tale's "cebu"*
Bamboo~!
Bamboo~!
They're easier to sustain,
and they make a stronger bike frame,
Bamboo!
BAMBOO!
;)
Reply
5-13-2008 @ 11:14AM
Velocruzer said...
I can see the author knows nothing about selecting a bike. Try researching not only the cost of a bike in electricity but the usefulness of a bike in miles the rider will put on it. I doubt seriously the iron boat anchor you would select for it's durability would be somthing any of us that ride would want to use on a daily 50 mile commute. Also I doubt seriuosly that any worthwhile steel frame made of recycled scrap is worth owning... I just sold my old bike, 5 years old with over 70,000 miles, I average 280 to 320 miles per week. I doubt you lil green butt has been over 10 miles on one stretch. find someting you know about because bike commuting aint it.
My daily commute is 40 miles, on satrurday its 20 miles to the club ride, 40 miles of club ride and 20 miles back home. this does not count miles just for the hell of it.
Very few of the "greenies" ever go the distance. When you do the write.
I normally ride a "Davidson" from Davidson Cycles of Seattle Washington. I use a steel frame and it's nothing like your description.
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5-14-2008 @ 11:31PM
joe cross said...
Steel is much better for absorbing shock and you can make up for the weight difference by choosing a "hardtail" bike without suspension components.Another way to look at it is you will get that hardtail you are looking for faster riding a slightly heavier bike.Steel frames are much less expensive also.I raced a $600 steel Bridgestone MB6 in local beginner mens mountain bike races years ago and handily smoked some riders on $2000 aluminum bikes.
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