for a big powerfull rider, is a stiff aluminium frame better than a steel frame?

Would you rather it bent,

Or snapped?

Depends how lightweight or not the frame is.

FAIL

It depends how it’s designed.

Off the shelf alu frames are likely to be stiffer, but you can get a custom steel to ride how you want.

Off the shelf carbon is probbers the stiffest generally.

Depends.

The ‘big powerful’ riders on any pro team ride the same as the other guys, apart from odd exceptions like Magnus Backstedt.

For your average ‘big powerful’ (ie, a bit chubby and clumsy) amateur it matters not a jot.

Forget ti, it’ll be like sitting atop a wet noodle

Noodle it and go for best of both:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300526611426&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Have you considered beryllium? Great frames for big lads.

Ton, you are quite welcome to have a spin on my PX Sportive Ti if you want to test BB flex. Obviously since you are at least a smidge taller than me then it won’t fit you, but it might prove the point on flex.

(PS Hope you are a bit better mate, had meant to email, but crappness prevented).

crikey – Member
For your average ‘big powerful’ (ie, a bit chubby and clumsy) amateur it matters not a jot.

Yet another FAIL.

It may matter quite a lot t the individual.

Whatever.

My mate Ian is similar physique to yourself(you met on the cold, v-wet stw aborted ride) he got himself a custom built Dave Yates, called Big Dave 😆 He uses it for touring so depends what you intend doing, racing or touring?
I have an old Ti Raliegh I got through lbs when Raliegh were closing down and there were some surplus warranty frames lying around.

cynic-al – Member
FAIL

It depends how it’s designed.
Correct.
The frame I have has a front mech mount riveted to the seat tube and “strong” riders have broken these frames at that point. Think standing & sprinting, something I dont/cant do due to dodgy knees ❗

conrad………cheers mate, might hold you to that.

a lot of years ago i had a cannondale roadbike, not very comfy, but very fast and direct feeling.
longish road rides were a blast on it.
longish road rides on a dawes steel frame and a aravis steel audax frame seemed somewhat of a chore.

crieky…hard day?

Seriously though – of course it matters **** all to performance, but it’s about how the bike feels for the OP, no?

Seriously though – of course it matters **** all to performance, but it’s about how the bike feels for the OP, no?

That’s a much more acceptable response than FAIL, no?

I have a couple of road bikes. One cost a lot and was ridden by Lance on one of his tour wins, the other cost £500 ten years ago. I like both. If I knew then what I know now I might have saved a few quid. Look at a Bianchi via nirone. They are always coming up on ebay. Here is a 61″
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bianchi-C2C-Via-Nirone-61cm-Road-Bike-/230589702037?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item35b0379f95

crikey – Member
That’s a much more acceptable response than FAIL, no?

Yes but my response included:

It may matter quite a lot t the individual.

If in doubt, imagine a ” 😀 ” in all my posts.

Personally I don’t like steel road frames. To be stiff enough at large sizes they end up heavy and dead-feeling compared to a decent aluminium frame. Not that I’ve gone the custom route.

That’s my point – I’ve ridden a 27″ Rourke steel custom that was luvverly.

Anyway going by your inbred you ride a 21″ road frame yes?

Whereas my point was clearly qualified by the first word in my post, and the last sentence.

63cm, FWIW.

Oooh get you, Mr Serious! Worse than a lawyer!

I appreciate your last sentence, however it was a non-statement re. large custom steel frames (for the man at large…see what I did there?), mine was a positive.

None of which creates any logic as to why you’d ride a 63 when you ride a 16″ mtb.

If in doubt, imagine a ” :)” in all my posts.

One man’s “non statement” is another’s caveat and context.

Anyhow, re frame sizes. On a road bike you have two riding positions, you’re in one of them for 90% of the time. So the important thing is to have a fit that’s good for that. On an MTB you (I) want to ride fast over rough ground, which means I don’t spend much time in the saddle, so the important thing is something that handles well and can be moved around under me easily, hence using the smallest frames I can get away with.

what does powerful mean? 😉 A Colnago Master x-light will handle more power than anyone on here can put out.

How a bike feels is very subjective (assuming it meets some minimum quality level) so its a case of whatever floats your boat.

Pegoretti Big Leg Emma.

But Bez I had no idea you were joking – you are like a serious elder statesman on here, like Fred etc.

Anyway all of our opinions are, by definition, personal.

If by serious elder statesman you mean facetious argumentative cock then I’m with you 🙂

Tony – my road bike is a Steel Le Mond LE Croix De Ferr with Carbon forks and I find it very comfy indeed. Flex is not an issue.