cycling old driver teaches you to recognize bike frames

(Click the image to watch the video, it is recommended to watch under WiFi!)

Before buying a bike, cyclists often struggle with the frame material. For example, is a titanium alloy frame necessarily lighter? Are imported frames always better than domestic ones? Is an aluminum frame uncomfortable to ride? These are all misconceptions.

The frame is the soul of a bicycle. The main criteria are that the frame should be light, strong, and rigid.

1. Weight

Whether for commuting or sports, a lighter bike is always better. No one wants to ride a cumbersome bike.

2. Strength

Under high-intensity riding, the frame should not break or bend.

3. Rigidity

A frame with poor rigidity may not have safety issues, but it might transmit power poorly, making pedaling feel heavy. Therefore, when choosing a bike that is light, strong, and rigid, the frame materials available are aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, titanium alloy, and alloy steel. In recent years, scandium alloy and magnesium alloy have also emerged as new materials.

Aluminum Alloy:

Aluminum alloy offers a nimble and lightweight riding experience with high rigidity, but it also transmits every tiny vibration from the ground, sacrificing some comfort.

Carbon Fiber:

Carbon fiber is elastic, provides a stable riding experience, is great for long-distance cruising, and offers high comfort.

Titanium Alloy:

Titanium alloy combines the characteristics of both aluminum alloy and carbon fiber. It can be as elastic as carbon fiber and as lightweight and rigid as aluminum alloy, but these benefits come at a much higher price than other materials.

Steel:

Steel is the most traditional frame material for bicycles. Modern alloy steels can achieve good results in rigidity, elasticity, transmission, and stability, but the downside is that they are heavy.

Each of the above materials has high and low grades. The characteristics described here refer to high-grade (high-priced) products. In low-end products, the advantages and disadvantages mentioned above may not exist (they are generally of poor quality). Additionally, some high-priced products may still have poor riding experiences due to insufficient material handling capabilities (e.g., carbon fiber and titanium alloy) or poor frame geometry design by the manufacturer. In summary, any material can have good or bad grades, and one cannot generalize.

Mountain Bikes

In the market, low-end bikes are generally made of steel, while sports bikes are mostly made of aluminum. Internationally, Chromoly steel is considered the best frame material for hardtail bikes. For softtail frames, titanium is the first choice, and for full-suspension frames, aluminum is the most suitable.

Road Bikes

For mid-to-high-end racing bikes, the frame material is mostly carbon fiber, followed by aluminum alloy as mentioned in the video. Of course, other materials are also available, depending on the price range cyclists are looking at.

The material of a bicycle is crucial, but the material alone is not the standard for evaluating the entire bike. More consideration should be given to craftsmanship, design, brand, and the best fit for each individual. Therefore, it is advisable to test ride multiple bikes before purchasing.

(The above content is original by Codoon)