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  • Why the comeback in the Nineties?

    Because reliable glue became available, and stronger aluminium alloys. Bonded frames like Alan and Vitus solve all the problems I listed above (even if they introduce new ones of their own). Even they were only moderately successful at a fairly high price, it took the introduction of alloys which could achieve full strength with post-weld heat treatment to make aluminium frames mainstream.

  • Furry muff.

    Even so, considering the weight advantage of aluminium over steel (and the pool of reckless talent) it's still surprising to me that there weren't any "ally" bikes in the Fifties and Sixties.

  • Weight advantage is relative anyway. Cut two comparable bikes apart today, one aluminium and one steel and see the wall thickness disparity.

  • considering the weight advantage of aluminium over steel

    What weight advantage? The early aluminium frames used the same tube diameters as traditional steel, and sacrificed some stiffness in exchange for slightly lower weight. The lower density material does let you push the oversize thing further, so the really light aluminium frames are super fat. If you optimise both materials and compare like for like on stiffness and strength, there's no more than a pound to be saved with aluminium.

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