Steel vs Aluminium.....HELP!

[Groovemachine86]

Hi all

Im soon going to be in the market for a proper tourer. But I keep hearing conflicting advice about frame materials.
Some people say Steel is the only choice, because Aluminium is to weak for the job of a tourer. But some people I have spoken to use a Alu frame and have had no issues.

Please advise o ye great people of cycle chat

James

 

[Muddyfox]

I bought a steel tourer this week (Ridgeback Panorama) my other bike is a Cannondale Synapse (Aluminium) i dont know which would have the stronger frame but in terms of comfort the steel frame wins hands down

Simon

 

[Hacienda71]

It comes down to personal taste. The ride on a steel frame is less rigid and absorbs the bumps a little better, there is a whole string on here of peoples steel bikes, but people wouldn't make alu tourers if they were not up to the job.

 

[xilios]

We tour on Aluminum bikes, they are great. Have never toured on a steal frame so could not say it they're more comfortable. You can also check out this page and see what most people tour on.
I would just get a bike that fit's right and ride.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

james bowthorpes round the world record was set on a santos alli frame. so they must be strong enough. cannondales touring bikes are alli. personally i would prefer steel if i was planning on keeping the bike for decades as alli does work harden, don't know long it would take to crack on a bike. plus if touring in the back of beyond a cracked steel frame can be welded almost anywhere there is a major town; whereas alli is specialised welding.

 

[TheDoctor]

I've toured on both, and would happily tour on either. If I was going way off the beaten track (like over the Himalayas or something) I'd probably opt for steel, but anywhere else I'd use either.

 

[andym]

I think it does come down to preference: there's no difference in strength (aluminium frames are simply built with thicker/more rigid tubing to compensate for the difference in the strenght of the material). For me going from an aluminium framed bike to steel did make a noticeable difference in terms of the harshness of the ride. If you can, try test riding bikes using both.

 

[Steve Austin]

Buy the one you want!

There is an old theory that all tourers should be Steel so if you snap your frame whilst riding through Kathmandu a local town will have someone who will be able to weld it back together for you. But considering you could get a new frame shipped to you within a few days wherever you are in the world, and insurance would cover this, i think the old theory is a bit silly now.

 

[Rohloff_Brompton_Rider]

Buy the one you want!

There is an old theory that all tourers should be Steel so if you snap your frame whilst riding through Kathmandu a local town will have someone who will be able to weld it back together for you. But considering you could get a new frame shipped to you within a few days wherever you are in the world, and insurance would cover this, i think the old theory is a bit silly now.

really? how long does the warranty last?

 

[Steve Austin]

Warranty? travel insurance would cover it, i didn't say warranty

 

[Davidc]

Its mostly preference. Any frame can fail, few actually do in normal use. I had a Peugeot steel frame fail, but it was over 20 years old, was visibly rusty and had spent part of its life outdoors. It failed when I crashed into a ditch avoiding a crazy moton.

For riding distance I prefer steel. Might be a result of riding it for the past 50 years though. (I also have an ali atb I use for local trips).

That said I wouldn't go near carbon fibre. Brittle and easily damaged. Not even just for forks. Again, that may be just personal prejudice.

Do your own research, take one or more bikes for a test ride, make up your mind, and don't look back!

 

[Hacienda71]

no one has mentioned titanium yet!

 

[GrasB]

As a long haul ride I think it's a nice mix of low weight, durabilty & compliancy though it is expensive.

 

[jamesxyz]

I bought a steel tourer this week (Ridgeback Panorama) my other bike is a Cannondale Synapse (Aluminium) i dont know which would have the stronger frame but in terms of comfort the steel frame wins hands down

Simon

Have you been out on yet JD? Mine's on order so lookign forward to giving it a test run ... if the snow ever stops

 

[Groovemachine86]

Ok! Thanks all! Seems about 50/50. Anyone have any thoughts in the new Ridgeback Voyage?