What is Your Bike Made of & Why Does it Matter?
Bikes can be made out of a variety of materials, each with their own qualities that make them unique & drawbacks to consider.
There’s a lot to consider when picking out a new bike. Arguably the most important thing to consider is the frame of the bike itself. The frame is the bones on which the rest of the bike is built off of, so while almost everything on a bike can be swapped out and customized, the frame is the thing that will remain consistent through it all. The material that frame is made of will have a huge effect on the overall ride quality, so you want to make sure you choose the right material for how you’ll be using your next bike.
Aluminum
Aluminum is a common material found on many hybrids as well as entry-level road & mountain bikes. It is lightweight with a high strength-to-weight ratio, meaning that the material is strong for how light it is. Not to mention it’s resistant to corrosion, which is certainly nice if you plan on riding in & around Chicago where the weather is not known to play nice. There are stronger & lighter materials out there, but aluminum is a great middle ground option for the rider who wants something pretty light without totally breaking the bank.
Steel
The steel used in making bikes usually falls into one of two categories – High-Tensile or Chromoly. Each has their own unique properties, let’s break it down:
High-Tensile (hi-ten):
This is the heaviest of all frame materials but also one of the cheapest to manufacture. You can find high-ten on many lower-end models or department store bikes that are made to hit a certain price point. If you have an old bike that you pulled out of the garage and it feels clunky & heavy, odds are it’s made from this kind of steel. New bikes made out of hi-ten steel can still feel really good to ride, but will likely still be heavier.
Chromoly (CROMO):
This ain’t your grandma’s steel! Cromo is a steel-alloy that retains all the strength of steel without the weight. When properly designed, a cromo bike can even be lighter than aluminum, but because it is stronger & has vibration-dampening qualities, it is often favored by custom builders or those who ride over long distances. When you hear folks saying “steel is real”, they’re not talking about that steel Schwinn that’s been buried in the garage for decades, they’re talking about modern steel frames made with comfort in mind and made to last.
Carbon
If you’re looking at higher-end models, you’re most likely looking at frames made out of carbon fiber. Carbon is endlessly customizable with most of the major bike brands experimenting with unique shapes in an effort to create the most aerodynamic bike on the market. Pair that with a high stiffness-to-weight ratio, and this means that most bikes meant to win races are built from carbon.
However, there are still some drawbacks to the material – when stressed in ways that the bike isn’t intended to take (such as if the bike experiences a crash or a bolt is over-tightened), the carbon itself can be extra-susceptible to cracking. Once it cracks, the frame needs to be scrapped or repaired. Because of how difficult carbon is to work with, repairing a frame can be incredibly costly and will almost certainly require you to send your bike to a carbon repair specialist. Despite this and the high price tag that come part and parcel with a carbon bike, these models are still incredibly sought after by people seeking the highest-performance.
Titanium
Titanium shares lots of properties with steel but manages to be lighter while retaining its strength, it doesn’t corrode, and it flexes so well that it can be used on its own as a shock absorber. The drawbacks? It is incredibly difficult to work with as the metal reacts poorly with oxygen, which means other gases (such as Argon) have to be pumped in during the welding process. Plus it’s generally uncommon, making it one of the most expensive frame materials out on the market with many models costing more than even carbon-fiber bikes. That being said, titanium bikes feel incredible to ride — they’re lightweight and springy in all the best ways while still being durable.
Which is right for you?
It all comes down to what you’re looking for in a bike. Are you seeking the highest performance out there and are ready to spare no expense? Then you should maybe be looking at titanium & carbon fiber. Do you daydream about touring off-road and want something durable to last you tens of thousands of miles? A nice CroMo bike might be just the thing you need. Is your budget a little more restrained and you want something that won’t break the bank? Aluminum is still a great lightweight option that won’t set you back too much. Some bikes may even have a mix of materials! You may find a bike with an aluminum frame & heavier hi-ten steel fork offered at a lower price point. That same aluminum frame might also be available with a carbon fork to shave weight & dampen vibrations while not adding too much to the price tag.