azdroptop said:
How long would one last under normal riding conditions. Say 5 to 6,000 miles a year. And how about Carbon?!
how heavy are you, and do you spend much time mashing the pedals whilst off the saddle?
Also, what aluminium bike are you thinking of buying?
I'd say the main things effecting the potential life expectancy of a frame are riding style, and obviously weight and how light the frame is. If a 240lb track sprinter buys an 1200g alu/scandium frame, in my opinion, this is a recipe for a short life span.
I'm a bit of a masher, and I range from 190 to 200lbs, and I managed to crack 2 aluminium frames is under 2 years, but they were nothing fancy like a Cannondale.
One thing I've noticed on all these forums is that 'many' people seem to think that cracking aluminium frames is some sort of a myth. I figure this is partly because
most people here are enthusiasts who really look after their bikes, rather than mashers who see their bikes primarily as a tool to race the **** out of. If the subject of cracking alu frames is brought up at a racing club, it's clear that alu fatigue is no myth.