[Industry_Hack]

Originally Posted by funetical

IF you guys posted links to articles about the mistery metals I would appreciate it. Saves me from having to Google so much.

Geez.

[edit] I need to clean that article up. Looks like a line or two has gone missing.

[jpmike6656]

I appreciate all the information. My comment regarding "made in China/Taiwan" has nothing to do w/ quality as almost every frame today seems to come out of Taiwan. My point is that I like buying from an American manufacturer so as much $$ as possible is earned by American workers/companies. I am a truck driver (non union) and it saddens me to see how much of the freight I carry comes in from container ships, primarily from China/Taiwan. That was my point in the original post. Perhaps I should have elaborated. Anyway, Thanks for the finer points of metalurgy. Every material has it's + & -. Aluminum is abundant, light, easy to cast and machine. I guess that's why it's the predominant material for frames all the way down to the WalMart specials. I have some experience w/ carbon since I hunt w/ carbon arrows. It's stiff, tough, and fairly light if not too thick. With carbon though, when it suffers a hard impact it doesn't dent or bend, it breaks, and in hunting arrows at least, is unrepairable. It splinters and can cause injury through skin punctures. I would have to think a carbon bike frame would have the same potential problem.

[Industry_Hack]

I hate to say it, but buying a Lynskey is probably not putting much money into the pockets of many Americans, compared to buying a bike made in Taiwan. The former would only benefit a very few, while everyone involved from the moment those containers arrive at our ports would benefit from the latter.

[Mootsguy]

My last comment, think Erikson...

[stealthammer]

You'd have to ride the two side-by-side to feel the difference (because there can be significant handling and ride quality differences even with the same geometry), but the titanium frame will definitely live a longer lifespan than an aluminum one will. Aluminum frames tend to develop cracks or "catasrophically degrade" after a period of time due to stress cycles, but a titanium frame will probably last through the 21st century (maybe with periodic repairs). If you really ride an aluminum mountain bike hard, you will likely be swapping out frames as frequently as you do wheelsets. It's just part of aluminum's "charm".

[CTD50]

Hack, as far as the Arantix frame goes -- did you catch the failures documented last year? Head tubes "detaching" from the main frame with no warning.... Don't remember the details, since the Arantix was so far into the stratosphere from my riding world; even when I first saw it (in PopSci), I didn't care for it, wouldn't buy it if I had Bill Gates' money. But the reports locked that down for ME.

[Industry_Hack]

Honestly, I was not aware of that. I get some much info sent to me from so many sources, I rarely have time to read for leisure.

[dovitsky]

i have been riding scandium frames for years now, and they are great. They have have a great flex and smooth ride. A great plus is that they are really light.