Buying a Bianchi Roader for Commuting

Corsaire said:

I know AL frames are good and all if well designed etc etc, but overtime it'll FAIL, in other
words: its life span is limited, not so with steel. Which bike should I go for if I don't want
to buy another bike in 5 or ten years, DURABILITY for the long haul???? Thanks for the
feedback, Corsaire

With luck, you will live longer than the frame will take to wear out in your application.

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>With luck, you will live longer than the frame will take to wear out in your application. [/B]

<<<<<<

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I'd only wish it was that easy but according to the technical data I've been reading over the net, the AL metal FATIGUE is a fact in a given time period, regardless of the best design, frame geometry, etc etc, after so many (not talking bike abuse here) rides those little microscopic crack in the Al will compound to a point where it'll fatigue and possibly crack the frame structure, it's just a matter of time. Just like when they retire airplanes after 15 years, as to steel frames can last a long time given its properties and if not abuse, normal riding with the usual bumpy road could last a life time.
These fact are bugging me a lot, I just came back from the LBS and lifted the Vigorelli (reynolds 631)...man! very light for steel. not as light as the GIRO AL, but light......I don't know, I'm inclining towards STEEL.....
Corsaire

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Corsaire
>>>>With luck, you will live longer than the frame will take to wear out in your application.

<<<<<<

I'd only wish it was that easy but according to the technical data I've been reading over the net, the AL metal FATIGUE is a fact in a given time period, regardless of the best design, frame geometry, etc etc, after so many (not talking bike abuse here) rides those little microscopic crack in the Al will compound to a point where it'll fatigue and possibly crack the frame structure, it's just a matter of time. Just like when they retire airplanes after 15 years, as to steel frames can last a long time given its properties and if not abuse, normal riding with the usual bumpy road could last a life time.
These fact are bugging me a lot, I just came back from the LBS and lifted the Vigorelli (reynolds 631)...man! very light for steel. not as light as the GIRO AL, but light......I don't know, I'm inclining towards STEEL.....
Corsaire [/B][/QUOTE]

Buy what you want or are most comfortable with.

My '95 aluminum mountain bike and my '98 aluminum road bike are still going strong. I'm sure others have greater longevity stories but I wouldn't (and haven't) hesitate on buying aluminum frames again.

Definitely ride the others for a comparison.

Quoted message said:

I'd only wish it was that easy but according to the technical data I've been reading over the net,
the AL metal FATIGUE is a fact in a given time period, regardless of the best design, frame
geometry, etc etc, after so many (not talking bike abuse here) rides those little microscopic
crack in the Al will compound to a point where it'll fatigue and possibly crack the frame
structure, it's just a matter of time.

yes, but how much time? it really depends how much you ride. it's most unlikely that you will
fatigue most modern al frames in less than 100,000 miles unless it has a manufacturing defect or has
been damaged.

Quoted message said:

Just like when they retire airplanes after 15 years, as to steel frames can last a long time given
its properties and if not abuse, normal riding with the usual bumpy road could last a life time.
These fact are bugging me a lot, I just came back from the LBS and lifted the Vigorelli (reynolds
631)...man! very light for steel. not as light as the GIRO AL, but light......I don't know, I'm
inclining towards STEEL..... Corsaire

low tensile steels fatigue above their endurance limit, high tensile steels don't have an endurance
limit. tough choice isn't it!

my opinion, fwiw, is that steel is abuse tolerant and tough. otoh, al can make a very strong, stable
and light frame. it's a really hard choice. personally, i'm leaning towards al at this time because
of my shimmy experiences with larger steel frames.

jb

In article said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>>With luck, you will live longer than the frame will take to wear out in your application.
>><<<<<<

I'd only wish it was that easy but according to the technical data I've been reading over the net

Heh.

There are a lot of posters to the net who post, well, [censored].

Quoted message said:

, the AL metal FATIGUE is a fact in a given time period, regardless of the best design, frame
geometry, etc etc, after so many (not talking bike abuse here) rides those little microscopic crack
in the Al will compound to a point where it'll fatigue and possibly crack the frame structure, it's
just a matter of time.

Yes, that is true. But if you're only riding a few miles back and forth to work, that time is
probably a centuries or two.

Hence the last poster's comment.

Quoted message said:

Just like when they retire airplanes after 15 years, as to steel frames can last a long time given
its properties and if not abuse, normal riding with the usual bumpy road could last a life time.
These fact are bugging me a lot, I just came back from the LBS and lifted the Vigorelli (reynolds
631)...man! very light for steel. not as light as the GIRO AL, but light......I don't know, I'm
inclining towards STEEL..... Corsaire

The Vigorelli's a nice bike. My wife loves hers. The extra pound or whatever it weighs over the alu
frame won't be noticed. Especially for commuting.

But if you like ride of the Alu frame, buy it.

Eric

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The Vigorelli's a nice bike. My wife loves hers. The extra pound or whatever it weighs over the alu

frame won't be noticed. Especially for commuting.

But if you like ride of the Alu frame, buy it.<<<<<<<

Eric [/B][/QUOTE]

Thanks a lot guys for the advice, I guess I'll go for whatever feels 'right' at the moment of test/riding the bike, be it Al or steel:
I'll just "close my eyes", metal blind and F-E-E-L the bike, the one that 'blends' with me, that I will buy.
Corsaire 😉