Road Bike Frame Material-Everything You Need To Know

Each road bike frame has different materials and characteristics. How to buy a bike that meets your needs? First of all, is to understand the characteristics of various materials! Road bike frame material is divided into many types, from steel, aluminum, carbon fiber to titanium. The advantages and disadvantages of each material are very different. Today I will explain different types of road bike frame material, so that everyone can make the right choice after fully understanding!

Retro steel bike frame-unique taste and diligent maintenance

Steel is the first material used to make bicycles. Generally speaking, steel bicycles are heavier. The reason why steel material was first used is mainly because in a long time, besides the strongest rigidity, the pipe is also more elastic and less likely to accumulate metal fatigue, the natural metal characteristics also allow the frame joining easy to process. The early low-cost bike used this material more, but after the new steel developed, it can reduce the weight under constant rigidity, and is mostly used to make high-strength mountaineering, downhill, or high-strength bicycles.

Steel material is easy to rust. Paying attention to the weather when you go out riding, the maintenance afterwards is also very important. Wipe the frame diligently and dry it upside down. It also needs to be protected by anti-rust oil and so on.

Sum up:

Pros: good frame rigidity, elasticity, transmission and stability

Cons: relatively heavy

Aluminum bike frame-Best choice for beginners

Aluminum bike frame is currently the most common material used on bicycles. It is lighter in weight than steel, and the price is acceptable for most people. It is a best choice for many road bike beginner.

Aluminum has many advantages, for example, it can play the best performance of hardness and rigidity in a short time, and it can change shaped easily. through the production process, the tube can be changed extremely thin, and at the same time achieves the effect of lightweight and strength. The aluminum bike is also much easier to maintain. They are not as easy to rust as steel material. Even if you ride a bicycle on a rainy day, you only need to wash and clean the bike when you go home.

Aluminum bikes have many advantages and are widely used in different types of bicycles, from commuter bikes, mountain bikes to road bikes, and even some carbon fiber frame parts. Aluminum material is still used. Is there really no disadvantage at all? Of course, there are still some. The aluminum frame is relatively inelastic, and it is very easy to accumulate metal fatigue. The strong hardness weakens the function of absorbing road vibration. It will be not so comfortable for long-distance riding.

Due to the various reasons mentioned above, as the number of long-distance rides increases, a more flexible frame is needed to alleviate the discomfort of riding, or the first aluminum bike can not fullfil your need, pursuing lightweight to increase speed, all these phenomena show one thing: it is time to buy a new bike! Let us upgrade to a carbon fiber bike!

Sum up:

Pros: not easy to rust, cost less

Cons: poor shock absorption, easy to break.

Carbon fiber-advanced riders’ lover

Carbon fiber is a relatively new technology, and it is also a favorite option for road bike riders. After cycling for a while, many riders will upgrade to carbon fiber bikes. And all kinds of high price bicycles, supercars, aero bikes are also made of carbon fiber. What kind of charm is it that makes road bikers love it. Let us take a look!

First of all, carbon fiber can make a very light frame. The process is to stack pieces of carbon fiber cloth corresponding to the direction of the mechanics’ principle to produce density and strength and form it through the tensile force of the material. So, a light and strong bike frame were born! The elastic shock absorption of carbon fiber material was originally used in sports prosthetics and other appliances and later developed as a road bike frame, which also exerts its excellent characteristics of absorbing impact. Furthermore, the forming method of adding resin and sintering the fiber sheet can create a variety of shapes of frames, and then color them with colorful paintings. The beautiful and dazzling dream frame in front of you, no wonder the riders are overwhelmed!

Rare metal titanium

The last type to be introduced is the titanium bike frame! Titanium is a material that emerged later. There are not many products on the market. Compared with the steel, aluminum, and carbon fiber frames mentioned above, it is very rare!

Titanium is the best material with many advantages in the metal frame. Besides its good elasticity, it is suitable for long-distance riding. It has better corrosion resistance and is less likely to accumulate metal fatigue. New technologies will reduce its weight. Depress it to reach the realm of resistance to aluminum, but it can maintain the durability of titanium and higher strength!

Such a good and rare thing are usually expensive! The manufacturing process is extremely difficult. Due to the special structure of titanium, which is different from other metal frames, this material must be in place at one time during welding. It must be burned at the most precise and perfect angle at the beginning. Once the welding is completed, there is almost no space for correction, and the painting is not easy to color because of low molecular adhesion. so the manufacturing cost is greatly increased and reflected in the high price.

Sum up

Pros: hardness, lightweight, absorbing vibration

Cons: expensive