aluminum frames
07-17-22, 08:53 PM
#26
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many lightweight aluminum frames use oversize / large diameter tubing to add strength when the wall thickness is (very) thin
( I believe this was the subject of the project / thesis Gary Klein worked on back in his days at MIT )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klein_Bicycle_Corporation
I had an early 90's Cannondale 2.8 frame that had large diameter butted tubing with thin walls - in some areas I believe the wall thickness was .6 mm
this frame was defective - we cut to inspect - but this was in the mid-90's so I cannot be certain on the dimensions
a relatively strong hand could get a little 'oil can' effect from the middle of the top tube on that frame
That’s the whole premise of the big-tube design pioneered by Cannondale and KLEIN. Members like seat tubes and chain stays were “conventionally thick” although still oversized, but the top and down tubes are quite thin, particularly the butted 57mm down tube on the CAADs, as seen here.
Last edited by Ironfish653; 07-17-22 at 08:56 PM.
07-18-22, 04:10 AM
#27
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07-18-22, 09:35 AM
#28
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Any commercially produced "raw" aluminum frames you see are painted with clear coat. I do like the looks - my wife had that kind of a Cannondale cross frame that I built up for her first "gravel" bike and I really liked the looks of it. It didn't really show minor grease grime, was easy to clean and looked brand new with no visible scuffs and scrapes. I bought her a new gravel bike, Litespeed titanium Watia and i sincerely believe I could have "snuck" it into the garage with her thinking it was another clear coated aluminum frame. But since she pays the credit card bills, I didn't bother. 
(this is one of my Cannondale hybrids)
if so - hopefully with less 'Cannondale' stickers lol
07-18-22, 09:39 AM
#29
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07-18-22, 11:33 AM
#30
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It's no problem to have a raw aluminum frame, even a DIY one. I have an '85 Cannondale that I stripped & finished using the techniques described here by Charlie Cunningham, who knows way more about it than we do - don't sand the hell out of Al, just do this, with the Scotchbrite than the Fluid Film, which is the key:
Black Mtn Cycles article re bare Al frame - read the comments too!
Black Mtn Cycles article re bare Al frame - read the comments too!
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07-18-22, 04:37 PM
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I thought it was a very nice looking bike and suited my wife's purposes very well except with the high bottom bracket and a horizontal-ish top tube typical of cross frames, the standover was just too tall for her comfort.
That's another possibly significant difference between a cross bike and what's being marketed as gravel: Her new bike, marketed as "gravel" has more of a road-ish BB height (i.e. lower) and more of a slanted top tube. These things reduce the standover even if a frame is about the same size in terms of stack and reach.
07-20-22, 02:12 PM
#32
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hello people and people of the corn, that's pop corn, you know: I'm still thinking about taking the paint off my alum. frame. What I really want to do is get rid of the bike's advertising name. Specialized in big letters is what I have on both sides. The logo is painted or maybe cleared over but anyway it's not a sticker. I took all stickers off from the wheels to the forks. I like it better that way. Maybe just mess with the logo and leave some of it.
IBBY
IBBY
07-20-22, 02:55 PM
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hello people and people of the corn, that's pop corn, you know: I'm still thinking about taking the paint off my alum. frame. What I really want to do is get rid of the bike's advertising name. Specialized in big letters is what I have on both sides. The logo is painted or maybe cleared over but anyway it's not a sticker. I took all stickers off from the wheels to the forks. I like it better that way. Maybe just mess with the logo and leave some of it.
IBBY
IBBY
07-20-22, 04:02 PM
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07-21-22, 01:39 AM
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Raw aluminium frames are great. If you polish you need to clear coat. If you don't polish it will just have a satin oxide layer. It's not just gonna rust away.
Last edited by tFUnK; 07-21-22 at 06:56 PM.
07-21-22, 01:01 PM
#39
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I was told that the dull-ish aluminum oxide on my aluminum hull boat is actually a good thing and I shouldn't regularly remove it via polishing (not that I would, eew, that's a lot of work!)
07-21-22, 10:04 PM
#41
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They do. I've seen many. I've sold a few. I worked on a Trek today, the odd Cannondale a time or two & I even took a Raleigh to the recycling facility about 2 weeks ago.
It is a thing. I swear.
It is a thing. I swear.
__________________
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
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07-21-22, 10:12 PM
#42
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07-23-22, 08:52 AM
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07-23-22, 09:12 AM
#45
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hello people; I like raw alum. And as I said get some fine scothbright or a little heavier grade and any oxidation comes right off. It's been hot as balls here in Mass. so I have not messed with the Hard Rock at all. With the specialized logo, I might leave spec on one side and zed on the other. Spec zed that's top of the line youz know.
IBBY
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