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Old steel vs. new aluminum

Started by Beans Baxter · · Last activity · 29 posts · 694 views

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Road Cycling
Published
23 May 2004
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3 June 2004
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Beans Baxter
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  1. Thanks to everybody that helped me out with my question about upgrading a
    Panasonic DX-4000. I have another question related to that bike. I have
    the opportunity to purchase a used Trek 1000 and I was wondering what
    people's opinion of the two frames are.

    For those of you unfamilar with the Panasonic, it's a lugged frame made
    with Tange 2 double-butted tubing. The Trek 1000 is a year 2000 model
    aluminum frame. Thanks for your help.

    Beans Baxter

  2. Beans Baxter said:

    Thanks to everybody that helped me out with my question about upgrading a
    Panasonic DX-4000. I have another question related to that bike. I have
    the opportunity to purchase a used Trek 1000 and I was wondering what
    people's opinion of the two frames are.

    For those of you unfamilar with the Panasonic, it's a lugged frame made
    with Tange 2 double-butted tubing. The Trek 1000 is a year 2000 model
    aluminum frame. Thanks for your help.

    Beans Baxter

    apples and oranges, I don't think either frame is better if you take away
    the variable of the nicer modern components.

    The Trek will probably be a little stiffer and a better hillclimber if
    you're the out of the saddle type. I bet it weights a pound less as well.
    The handling will be slightly more responsive or twitchier depending on
    how you want to perceive it. It's an all around darn good frame--I think
    it even has braze ons for fenders and a rack if you wanted to go the sport
    tour route. List for a complete bike is around 600 bucks, so if you can
    pick a used one up for half or a little more, then by all means do it.
    It's a solid ride.

    The Panasonic's going to be slightly more shock absorbent than the
    Trek--not tons, the Trek's ride is pretty nice--but if you ride on bumpy
    pavement you'll probably like it better. I believe the wheelbase and
    fork rake are larger--don't have the specs in front of me, I'm going by
    what the norm for the vintages are--so the Panasonic would be more of a
    "steady rider".

    Which one feels better? That's the important question. If the Trek fits
    well, then why not get something modern and fresher? I'd still hang on the
    panasonic and perhaps slap some sturdier rubber on it and make it a foul
    weather bike--can't have enough ponies! 🙂

  3. "Beans Baxter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    Thanks to everybody that helped me out with my question about upgrading a
    Panasonic DX-4000. I have another question related to that bike. I have
    the opportunity to purchase a used Trek 1000 and I was wondering what
    people's opinion of the two frames are.

    For those of you unfamilar with the Panasonic, it's a lugged frame made
    with Tange 2 double-butted tubing. The Trek 1000 is a year 2000 model
    aluminum frame. Thanks for your help.

    Beans Baxter

    My opinion is to go with the steel frame. I would worry about the life span
    of the Aluminium frame frame. Also narrower tubes are generally more aero
    than fat tubes. The Aluminium frame is probably a bit lighter but I know
    that overall the weight difference is not significant. (For example I would
    be better off not eating chips and drinking beer.)

    Marty

  4. If the trek is cheap and it fits buy it. However you will be more comfy riding
    the panasonic. I have a DX3000 and loved riding it. It is now my errand bike
    meaning if it gets stolen I wont be committed to an asylum. For long fast rides
    I use my Lemond also steel as it is lighter and just as comfortable.

    Quoted message said:

    me out with my question about upgrading a
    Panasonic DX-4000. I have another question related to that bike. I have
    the opportunity to purchase a used Trek 1000 and I was wondering what
    people's opinion

  5. Beans Baxter said:

    Thanks to everybody that helped me out with my question about upgrading a
    Panasonic DX-4000. I have another question related to that bike. I have
    the opportunity to purchase a used Trek 1000 and I was wondering what
    people's opinion of the two frames are.

    For those of you unfamilar with the Panasonic, it's a lugged frame made
    with Tange 2 double-butted tubing. The Trek 1000 is a year 2000 model
    aluminum frame. Thanks for your help.

    Beans Baxter

    As others have said, hard to compare them. Both are nice bikes.

    Geometry and fitting will be the big differences. I have one bike with
    tight angles- probably similar to the Trek. And one with more relaxed
    angles- probably similar to the Panasonic. They ride differently. The
    tight one is zippy and twitchy and fun. The relaxed one is steady and
    smooth and fun.

    Depending on my mood and where I am riding, I'll use either bike. When
    I have had either one off the road, I am happy with the one that
    works, and yet I miss riding the other one. If the Trek feels good and
    you have money and room for two bikes, get it? You can always sell one
    or the other later if need be.

  6. Beans Baxter said:

    For those of you unfamilar with the Panasonic, it's a lugged frame made
    with Tange 2 double-butted tubing. The Trek 1000 is a year 2000 model
    aluminum frame. Thanks for your help.

    I have a a ~1990 Trek 1100 and the one thing I hate about it is the
    bottem end (where the bottom bracket goes). I'm not a big guy (5'8",
    180lbs) but I can twist the bottom bracket so the chaing scrapes the
    derailleur when I stand or pedal real hard. I now have a low end Ti
    bike and I love it (Mongoose RX100). I can't twist that bike.

    Oh, I rode the 1100 for about 35K miles, I still have it but I put
    most of my miles on the RX100.

    --
    Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry [email hidden]
    http://home.comcast.net/~ncherry/ (Text only)
    http://linuxha.sourceforge.net/ (SourceForge)
    http://hcs.sourceforge.net/ (HCS II)

  7. Quoted message said:

    My opinion is to go with the steel frame. I would worry about the life


    span

    Quoted message said:

    of the Aluminium frame frame. Also narrower tubes are generally more aero
    than fat tubes. The Aluminium frame is probably a bit lighter but I know
    that overall the weight difference is not significant. (For example I


    would

    Quoted message said:

    be better off not eating chips and drinking beer.)

    Marty

    Fear of life span is unwarrented. Both frames are designed to similar risk
    standards, regardless of material. I'd expect either to last more than
    50,000 km unless you do lots of pogo jumping (which isn't a common use for a
    road frame).

    Bruce

  8. "Bruce Frech" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    My opinion is to go with the steel frame. I would worry about the life


    span

    Quoted message said:

    of the Aluminium frame frame. Also narrower tubes are generally more


    aero

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    than fat tubes. The Aluminium frame is probably a bit lighter but I know
    that overall the weight difference is not significant. (For example I


    would

    Quoted message said:

    be better off not eating chips and drinking beer.)

    Marty

    Fear of life span is unwarrented. Both frames are designed to similar


    risk

    Quoted message said:

    standards, regardless of material. I'd expect either to last more than
    50,000 km unless you do lots of pogo jumping (which isn't a common use for


    a

    Quoted message said:

    road frame).

    Bruce


    They may be designed to similar risk standards but from my own observations
    I've seen more Aluminium frames fail than steel frames. I'm not knocking
    Aluminium frames but just drawing conclusions from what I've seen.

    Marty

  9. Neil Cherry said:

    I'm not a big guy (5'8",
    180lbs) but I can twist the bottom bracket so the chaing scrapes the
    derailleur when I stand or pedal real hard.

    That's not a bad thing and it's quite normal 🙂 Some of us like to ride
    "lively" frames and ride gears so we don't have to exert such torque upon
    our machines. I've got a 70s straight gauge steelie as my main ride--she's
    brutally strong, but I can easily cause the bike to "autoshift" or rub the
    derailleur cage if I give it all I've got--I take that sound as a sign to
    downshift and save the old knees :P

    My former city bike was a breathtakingly stiff Marin San Anselmo (the
    original, with a 7-speed hub), You could literally throw it down a cliff
    or ride home with (no joke) a hundred pounds of groceries on the rear
    rack--with no complaint. The jackhammer up the rectum quality of the ride
    left much to be desired, though she was quite the hillclimber for an
    urban assault vehicle. LOL

  10. maxo said:

    The Panasonic's going to be slightly more shock absorbent than the
    Trek--not tons, the Trek's ride is pretty nice--but if you ride on bumpy
    pavement you'll probably like it better.

    If you ride on bumpy pavement a lot, the frame is not what you
    should change. Instead, change to fatter tires and shock absorbing
    seatpost and stem.
    --
    Rick Onanian

  11. Beans Baxter said:

    Thanks to everybody that helped me out with my question about upgrading a
    Panasonic DX-4000. I have another question related to that bike. I have
    the opportunity to purchase a used Trek 1000 and I was wondering what
    people's opinion of the two frames are.

    Noticeable differences will result from geometry and componentry.
    Material is an immaterial concern (eh?).
    --
    Rick Onanian

  12. Steel or Aluminum; Boxers or Briefs; Bikini or Thong. It's so personal, only
    you can decide which you prefer... Personally, I don't like the way Aluminum
    bikes ride; feel dead to me. Steel much better, plus steel w/lug
    construction = old school. Old School good.

    Beans Baxter said:

    Thanks to everybody that helped me out with my question about upgrading a
    Panasonic DX-4000. I have another question related to that bike. I have
    the opportunity to purchase a used Trek 1000 and I was wondering what
    people's opinion of the two frames are.

    For those of you unfamilar with the Panasonic, it's a lugged frame made
    with Tange 2 double-butted tubing. The Trek 1000 is a year 2000 model
    aluminum frame. Thanks for your help.

    Beans Baxter

    --
    Tp,

    -------- __o
    ----- -\<. -------- __o
    --- ( )/ ( ) ---- -\<.
    -------------------- ( )/ ( )
    -----------------------------------------

    No Lawsuit Ever Fixed A Moron...

  13. "TomP" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]

    Quoted message said:

    Steel or Aluminum; Boxers or Briefs; Bikini or Thong. It's so
    personal, only you can decide which you prefer... Personally, I
    don't like the way Aluminum bikes ride; feel dead to me. Steel much
    better, plus steel w/lug construction = old school. Old School good.

    Top posting bad.

    --

    A: Top-posters.
    Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

  14. DRS said:

    Top posting bad.

    folks with nothing better to do than point that out:

    worse.

    😄

  15. "maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]

    Quoted message said:
    DRS said:

    Top posting bad.

    folks with nothing better to do than point that out:

    worse.

    Rubbish. If nothing is said then how will the children learn?

    --

    A: Top-posters.
    Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

  16. Show me in the TOS where is says top posting is wrong...

    "DRS" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    "maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]

    Quoted message said:
    DRS said:

    Top posting bad.

    folks with nothing better to do than point that out:

    worse.

    Rubbish. If nothing is said then how will the children learn?

    --

    A: Top-posters.
    Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

  17. "F1" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]

    Quoted message said:

    Show me in the TOS where is says top posting is wrong...

    Nobody mentioned the TOS, moron.

    --

    A: Top-posters.
    Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

  18. -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
    Hash: SHA1

    F1 said:

    Show me in the TOS where is says top posting is wrong...


    Bottom vs. top posting and quotation style on Usenet
    http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/usenet/brox.html

    Why is Bottom-posting better than Top-posting
    http://www.caliburn.nl/topposting.html

    http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/gey_stv0.htm

    http://www.fscked.co.uk/writing/top-posting-cuss.html

    Wade your way through even one of those and then come back an try to
    convince me that top-posting has any advantages to the reader.

    Mark

    - --
    Remove both wrongs to make the email address right.

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    iD8DBQFAvqJDLVmEOl6/PWERArqRAKC4lE3impNCjrZBIUhXeswnNztqwgCfTX7j
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    =nzAN
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  19. Thu, 3 Jun 2004 13:38:41 +1000, <[email hidden]>,

    DRS said:

    "F1" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    news:[email hidden]

    Quoted message said:

    Show me in the TOS where is says top posting is wrong...

    Nobody mentioned the TOS, moron.

    Google Duel!

    top posting bad (310)
    top posting sucks (46)
    top posting wrong (19)
    top posting moron (17)
    top posting idiot (8)
    top posting [censored] (3)
    top posting good (3)

    http://www.googleduel.com/original.php
    --
    zk

  20. This reminds me of the Jeopardy TV show where you have to come up with
    the question to which the subject is the answer. There would be
    nothing to that show if top posting were logical. That's why the
    program has a challenging interest. It is a classic of top posting.

    Jobst Brandt
    [email hidden]

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