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> Bikes started being less repairable when manufacturers noticed that steel frame 10 speeds were lasting multiple decades. Steel frames are heavy beasts. Alumi
by mschuster91 2y ago
> Bikes started being less repairable when manufacturers noticed that steel frame 10 speeds were lasting multiple decades.
Steel frames are heavy beasts. Aluminum alloys, magnesium alloys or carbon fiber is waaaay lighter in contrast, and weight is king at least if you're not running with electrical assistance.
It's exactly the same in cars, there we have exactly the same trend towards lighter but more brittle materials.
- AdrianB1 2y agoI used to race as an amateur for almost 10 years. I saw people winning on steel frame bikes and for flat terrain the weight of the bike is not that important. Carbon is light indeed, but the frame as a percent of the overall bike can be quite low, as low as 25%. Half a kilo in a 12 kg MTB is insignificant except pro races.
- mschuster91 2y agoI'm not necessarily talking about bike races... for commuter bikes that you have to lug up and down stairs into your basement, every gram counts. My e-bike is somewhat around 20 kg, that thing is a tank in its own right, and it's hell to haul around when our beloved Deutsche Bahn once again manages to fuck up elevators.