shaun
Retrobike Rider
WHY STEEL IS REAL
Here's the way it works...on a downtube that's 31.8mm in diameter, the butts (tube wall thickness at the ends of the tube) are 0.9mm thick, less than a millimeter. :shock: The mid portion of the tube is only 0.6mm thick! :shock: :shock: Fortunately you can't see that, because that's even scarier. In aluminium, carbon or titanium or anything other than strong CroMo steel, these dimensions would be instantly foolish and dangerous, but it works in steel, because steel has the corrct balance of strength, toughness and rigidity. Quality steel tubing (often alloyed with chromium, vanadium or molybdenum) thus will soak up some of the vibration giving a very comfortable ride and is also resistant to 'fatigue' and therefore resistant to cracking. So long as it dosn't rust, a steel frame should last you a lifetime.
Here's the way it works...on a downtube that's 31.8mm in diameter, the butts (tube wall thickness at the ends of the tube) are 0.9mm thick, less than a millimeter. :shock: The mid portion of the tube is only 0.6mm thick! :shock: :shock: Fortunately you can't see that, because that's even scarier. In aluminium, carbon or titanium or anything other than strong CroMo steel, these dimensions would be instantly foolish and dangerous, but it works in steel, because steel has the corrct balance of strength, toughness and rigidity. Quality steel tubing (often alloyed with chromium, vanadium or molybdenum) thus will soak up some of the vibration giving a very comfortable ride and is also resistant to 'fatigue' and therefore resistant to cracking. So long as it dosn't rust, a steel frame should last you a lifetime.
