steel frame
Cheaper bike frames will be made from solid steel. As pure steel is quite brittle, it tends to be quite thick making the bike heavier and unresponsive.
Steel Alloy Frames. If Steel is mixed with another element it becomes much stronger and so can be thinner and lighter. For example, Chrome Molybedenum is made from manganese and molybedenum. This is used in the manufacture of Reynolds steel frames and creates lightweight good quality frames.
Double Butted Frames. A double butted frames adds extra strength to frames at the position where they are welded together. This gives extra strength at their weakest point.
A good steel frame will be double butted and use CrMo.
Heat Treated Steel Frames
Some top of the range steel frames have been heat treated to make them stronger and lighter. This is used in frames such as Reynolds 753 and Reynolds 853 and Columbus Nivacrom. Steel frames are more prone to denting, but unlike carbon fibre can be repaired more easily.
An advantage of steel is that it gives a very responsive ride i.e. as you pedal harder, you feel the return on your efforts.
Alloy steel remains the most popular material for frame builders and enables you to buy a custom built bike. However, steel frames have been losing out to the advantages of carbon fibre. Yet, steel frames still have their supporters, especially amongst tourers.
Great post I have no idea about the advantages of steel frames to a bicycle.I am a starter cyclist and I appreciate information that makes my sport more comfortable.
cheaper bike frames will be made from solid steel ……. I suppose you don’t mean that!