Which Frame?

The question most often asked is what is the best material for a frame, aluminium, titanium, carbon or steel.

These four are the most commonly used frame materials because they facilitate safe and functional construction of bicycle frames. Which is better is the question everyone has on their lips?

The answer is all of these materials are useful but some have advantages and disadvantages compared to each other. I understand high performance cycling due to my work involvement with national cycling teams but I also have an appreciation of traditional frame building for those who desire such qualities in their bicycle.

Straight away I want to stress that my first preference is steel tubing. Why, Steel gives ride and performance qualities that sets the standard. Steel has a smooth road handling personality combined with lugs for their aesthetic charm that is hard to beat.

Why use traditional materials and methods? It is inherently tough, rigid and has high fatigue resistance. A well-built steel frame will still ride the same ten or twenty years after it was built. Steel also lends itself to expression from the craftsman/constructor that is not possible in other materials.

This is craftsman ship is disappearing in the frame builder's profession as the desire for higher profits and the need for shortcuts to reduce labour is overwhelming.
Most frames now are only distinguished from their rivals by paint or radical tube shape (Aluminium frames all look like and are welded just like 4 wheel drive bull bars excepting their paintwork).

The disadvantage of steel is the 200 to 300 grams more an average frame weighs over an average aluminium frame. Not as much as one can be led to believe, choice of pedals on the bicycle can make a greater difference. (read Sacrifices to the Alter of the Goddess "GRAMS") But if one builds into an aluminium frame similar fatigue life as steel it will be about the same or most times heavier. The biggest disadvantage of building steel frames is the much higher labour content required in production compared to aluminium frames. TIG welding tubes is a required skill with considerably less labour compared in construction than a luged steel frame. Also light aluminium frames have lower rigidity in the rear triangle compared to steel; this is often ignored in discussion.

I will be building quality aluminium frames soon for customers who want a shorter lifespan performance frame. At this moment special equipment is being purchased from Italy to commence production along side steel Llewellyn frames.

The challenge with aluminium is to make reliability acceptable and to introduce craftsman ship to the frame.
I enjoy crafting frames with each material. If you feel the need to discuss this in detail please contact me.