You've got the following in your house:TVComputer with internet accessMovies, computer games programsCrafty gismos like a sewing machine, a Knifty Knitter, yarn, fabric, books, IM, myspace, Facebook, a phone, a cell phone, and beautiful nature trails out our back door that we could explore.and yet we still find ourselves saying.I'M BORED!!!!!LOL Happy Eve to all.
Your best friend (above) is a mechanical engineer?! I hope I never have to rely on anything he designsIn fairness, I think he means that aluminum is stiffer than the other materials, not strongerAs a general rule, aluminum is 1/2 the weight of steel but only 1/3 the strengthOf the materials you mention, steel is by far the strongest, then comes titanium, then aluminum, then carbon fiber WHEN IT COMES TO A BICYCLE FRAMEbut I have another suggestion at the endI was on a Cannondale when a sudden catastrophic failure occured and would never recommend any aluminum frame to anyoneTitanium is a very good frame material if you can get past the costIt has a very low notch memory, so dents really don't affect it too muchThere are widely varying qualities of Ti fraames and I haven't yet been able to determine a way to immediately tell good from better from bestHi zoot carbon fiber frames tend to be well thought out, but they are damaged relatively easilyIf a fiber is compromised then the strength in that area is as wellAlso, carbon agesThe glue that holds it together becomes fatigued with use and the structure becomes slowly unstableI ride steel frames so I'll keep my opinion out of thisNow, my suggestionthink about a magnesium frameSuperlight and extremely strongOnce I get tired of steel I'll probably go to magnesiumDo a search for Paketa bicycles.
Carbon frames are more fragile than aluminum or steel frames, but when it comes to everyday riding, you shouldn't worry about denting or cracking your frameSome carbon frames may have a weight limit so if you are a clydesdale rider (200+ lbs) you may want to do some research into the specific frame to see if that is an issueMost if not all the major manufacturers provide a lifetime warranty on the frame so if you do damage it, new frame!
As far as aluminum frames are concerned, Cannondale has a well-deserved reputation fro making solid, strong and light bikesI've seen a few catastrophic failures on aluminum frames but never a CannondaleThe worst I've seen on a C-dale is a dented tube (think beer can, just stronger)Aluminum C-dales are hand made in USA so quality is not an issueEven the rough ride of aluminum has been minimizedIf you want a bike that is hard to damage, steel is the way to go although there are some superlight steels that have thin walls that dent easily If you want indestructible, titanium is the only choiceHeard many stories of race crashes involving badly hurt riders and intact titanium framesNice ride too.
Steel is the most durableIf you bend steel, then you can bend it back with little loss of strengthIf you bend aluminum or titanium, you have a problemBoth metals are stronger than steel, but they are far less durable when damagedAnd, carbon fiber cannot be repaired if damagedIt is always a tradeoff between materials of construction (btw, brand has nothing to do with this - Cannondale, Giant, Lemond, etcwill make bikes from different materials)Steel can be a more springy ride, and Aluminum and titanium can be harsherBut, it also depends on wall thickness of the tubing and how the tubes are joined to characterize the ride I suggest riding a few bikes and determine for yourself what you likeI doubt you will have major problems with aluminumIf you have lots of disposable income, you might risk carbon fiber.
I love the way you think, we're insolent, spoiled human beings and with technology advancing these days (and in the future) its only going to get worseIt makes me sad and its actually pretty pathetic but you know i think if a few of those who aren't into playing computer 24/7 or texting 24/7 or i don't knowpeople who are in tune with the world can help change things for the better :) that is my hope for this world :)
