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Preferred Frame Material for the Daily Commuter

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Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.
View Poll Results: Which Frame Material Best Suits Your Daily Commute?
Carbon
4.13%
Aluminum
22.31%
Steel
63.64%
Titanium
8.26%
Bamboo
1.65%
Voters: 121. You may not vote on this poll

Preferred Frame Material for the Daily Commuter

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Old 10-13-11, 12:06 AM
  #1  
SlimRider
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Preferred Frame Material for the Daily Commuter

I was just thinking here....

Which frame material do you think would best suit your daily commute?

Please vote for your preferred frame material. If you'd like, please feel free to state why you've selected that particular frame material as best suited for your commute.

BTW - There are no wrong answers, as taste is a very subjective factor.

- Slim

Last edited by SlimRider; 10-13-11 at 01:55 AM.
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Old 10-13-11, 12:13 AM
  #2  
CB HI
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Any, other than Aluminum.
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Old 10-13-11, 12:26 AM
  #3  
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duh, steel is real
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Old 10-13-11, 12:32 AM
  #4  
The Chemist
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Anything metal. I've owned steel and aluminum bikes before, and haven't noticed any difference in ride smoothness between them. I think the harshness of aluminum is highly overstated.

I still remain unconvinced about the long-term durability of carbon, particularly over less-than-perfect roads.
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Old 10-13-11, 01:06 AM
  #5  
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Originally Posted by fastbartender
duh, steel is real
As opposed to... what? I didn't see a unicorn horn option in the poll. Please tell me that you don't think Al, C, and Ti are imaginary.
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Old 10-13-11, 01:15 AM
  #6  
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My bike has taken me to work in 100F degree summers,
heavy rains, light snow and salted roads in the winter.
100 miles per week going on 2 years now(2009 FUJI Newest 1.0).
So my vote is for aluminum


RESPECT OTHERS by 1nterceptor, on Flickr
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Old 10-13-11, 01:57 AM
  #7  
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I voted Al, but really the thing that matters more than frame material is that it fits your body and is well-set up for the commute.
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Old 10-13-11, 03:20 AM
  #8  
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Steel is the best. Riding a steel bike gives me a peace of mind that I don't get with other materials. My second choice would be aluminium. I hate anything carbon fibre, I don't trust CF. A CF bike might be ok for a one time race, but for daily commuting/utility riding it's pointless.
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Old 10-13-11, 03:26 AM
  #9  
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My '00 Trek 5200 and its +30k miles beg to differ.
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Old 10-13-11, 03:46 AM
  #10  
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My current bike is aluminium, but I've had various alu parts suddenly fail on me (crankarms while accelerating in a busy street, that was fun) or horribly oxidize (kickstands).
Since carbon fibre is looking to be the asbestos of the future, for my next bike I would prefer either steel or titanium for it's lovely (anti-)oxidizing properties.
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Old 10-13-11, 04:11 AM
  #11  
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I switch back and forth between steel (crosscheck) and al (newest 1.0) I like them both, but I love my Surly. I dont know if it is because of the frame or not. Most important thing to me is the seat, frame dont matter (much).
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Old 10-13-11, 05:01 AM
  #12  
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I like not having to worry about rust, and cost is a factor, so I choose aluminum.
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Old 10-13-11, 05:18 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by JaccoW
I would prefer either steel or titanium for it's lovely (anti-)oxidizing properties.
Steel oxidizes quite nicely. It's called rust. According to some, it never sleeps.

Lately, I'm on a steel bike as my main commuter. Last year, aluminum. If I built a bamboo or wooden bike, I'd thrilled to commute on that one; if I could afford Ti or CF, I'd commute on them, too.

No preference. More important that it's a bike, construction material is mere nuance.
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Old 10-13-11, 05:21 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by fastbartender
duh, steel is real


Of course, not that al isn't; my al 29er serves me well every day... but there's something so...well, real, about my rigid steel steed.

Last edited by Ratchet; 10-13-11 at 05:24 AM.
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Old 10-13-11, 06:09 AM
  #15  
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Why are you guys NOT voting your preferences?


If you've already stated your postion on frame materias, please come back and vote.

Thank you

- Slim

Last edited by SlimRider; 10-13-11 at 06:19 AM.
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Old 10-13-11, 07:08 AM
  #16  
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Titanium.

Doesn't rust, needs no paint to leave behind on the parking rack, scratches buff out with a Scotch Brite pad.

Heavenly ride too.
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Old 10-13-11, 07:51 AM
  #17  
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wood is good.

i'm old school, i don't trust any of these newfangled metallic materials for frame construction. they either rust into oblivion at the first drop of moisture or catastrophically fail at the slightest of impacts.

Wood: hundreds of thousands of years of development
Steel: barely a thousand years, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?

Last edited by Steely Dan; 10-13-11 at 07:54 AM.
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Old 10-13-11, 07:52 AM
  #18  
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but my real vote is for Magnesium!

too bad the poll has such limited options.

Last edited by Steely Dan; 10-13-11 at 07:56 AM.
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Old 10-13-11, 07:57 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by SlimRider
Why are you guys NOT voting your preferences?


If you've already stated your postion on frame materias, please come back and vote.

Thank you

- Slim

don't wanna
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Old 10-13-11, 07:59 AM
  #20  
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Originally Posted by Steely Dan;13358624[QUOTE
]wood is good.

i'm old school, i don't trust any of these newfangled metallic materials for frame construction. they either rust into oblivion at the first drop of moisture or catastrophically fail at the slightest of impacts.

Wood: hundreds of thousands of years of development
Steel: barely a thousand years, which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?
Steely Dan, You're just too much fun!

- Slim

PS.

Whenever I see you passing by on your magnesium-framed bicycle, I'll be certain to celebrate your arrival by lighting a multitude of fireworks all around your frame!

Last edited by SlimRider; 10-13-11 at 08:06 AM.
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Old 10-13-11, 08:17 AM
  #21  
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One of each please.
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Old 10-13-11, 08:21 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by LeeG
don't wanna
You are so loved!
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Old 10-13-11, 08:22 AM
  #23  
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Originally Posted by tjspiel
One of each please.
Alright then,

Coming right up!
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Old 10-13-11, 08:39 AM
  #24  
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I voted for aluminum because it's my favorite frame material, but I commute on the bikes I own that are lowest on the totem pole: a steel (Reynolds 853) bike that I've left outside all day, every day, for years in DC (no significant rust so far) and a heavy aluminum road bike from Toys 'r' Us that happens to fit me perfectly that I use for my commute to and from the train station in Baltimore.
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Old 10-13-11, 10:51 AM
  #25  
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I've got one of each.... except bamboo. Favorite is my Ti bike, but I like them all.
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