Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Merry Old England
Posts: 772
Bikes: Muddyfox Evolve 200, Bicycles4u Paris Explorer, Raleigh Twenty Stowaway, Bickerton California, Saracen Xile, Kona Hoss Deluxe, Vertigo Carnaby, Exodus Havoc, Kona Lanai, Revolution Cuillin Sport, Dawes Kingpin, Bickerton, NSU & Elswick Cosmopolitan
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 297 Post(s)
There are incredibly weak italian road bikes made of steel. They are super lightweight trying to compete with other frame materials and can only do so by using incredibly thin butted tubing and there are overbuilt carbon fibre frames but I'd still say a
general purpose typical steel frame was ideal for heavier riders because they give warning of pending failure. There is an important difference though between those that keep within the weight limits of a bike and those that exceed them. If you are using
a bike within its declared specification then fine but many heavy cyclists sometimes have to exceed the stated weight limits and then considerations about metal fatigue, CF forks and other components come into play to try to reduce risk of the frame, forks and wheels from failing.
Some people simply choose to be greater risk takers too and most of the time they will get away with it.