> It is ******** plain and simple... Aluminum as a material is a fine choice and can be as durable
> as anything else. Any short life is due entirely to either poor design or poor construction ...
> and Aluminum is not the only material with that problem.
Not always a result of poor design or poor construction, but rather a choice made between being
stupid-light and long-lasting. When you get aluminum road frames under 2.5 lbs, you're taking the
material to the edge, plain & simple. It's a choice that people can make (do I want something
stronger and a bit heavier, or do I want the lightest thing made?) if they wish. As long as the
manufacturer makes people aware of that choice, then at least some of the responsibility for its
short life lies with the purchaser (who created a demand for the product).
And this doesn't apply just to aluminum. Could be steel, ti or carbon. Any material can be taken to
the edge, to make something a bit lighter, but at the expense of durability. There could be poor
design or construction responsible for failures, but that's a secondary issue. Primary is a
willingness to trade off durability for lightness, and that decision is made by the consumer who
buys it. If people weren't willing to buy something that has a 30 feet/30 second warranty (whichever
comes first), manufacturers wouldn't build the stuff.
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"ajames54" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Fri, 17 Jan 2003 15:12:27 GMT, "(Pete Cresswell)" <
[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Just saw a post on alt.mountain-bike ("Foes Customer Service - someone
else
> >doin' it right") that contained the statement:
> >
> >"Believe it or not, if ridden off-road for that long (minimum it seems 5 years) just about any
> >aluminum frame will break."
> >
> >I've heard others say that this is nonsense, but source seems pretty
reliable.
> >
> >OTOH, airplane frames last a lot longer than 5 years...
> >
> >Comments?
> >-----------------------
> >Pete Cresswell
>
>
> It is ******** plain and simple... Aluminum as a material is a fine choice and can be as durable
> as anything else. Any short life is due entirely to either poor design or poor construction ...
> and Aluminum is not the only material with that problem.
>
> Or it could be an industry that is working to convince you that you need to replace your bike far
> more frequently that may ever be necessary ... hmmmm.