What's the life-span of your average aluminium frame?

Zippie Most aluminium forks are guaranteed for a year only (look at the small print on 'life-time' aluminium frame guarantees). Maybe aluminium frames have improved, and also it probably depends on how hard they are ridden - but aluminium work-hardens and age-hardens, when I used to race and had a friend who was a professional frame builder he said that the pro's would be given aluminium frames free to advertise them, would ride them for a year only, and then bin them.

I have verified that aluminium becomes brittle after time and use having snapped two elderly hose-clamps - for fire-fighting - important that they do not snap.

If I were lighter (but I am not), if I did not like to put some pressure on the pedals every now and then (but I do), and if aluminium did not have such a tinny feel and look to it (but it does), I would think about an aluminium frame .....

Everyone to their own, and life has many risks whatever.

I agree Al can fail catastrophically where steel will plastic deform over a longer term but to you should put things into context. The "pro's" are producing the around 7W/kG and are doing a heck of a lot of miles each year which is going to produce fatigue in any material .. including manganese-molybdenum medium carbon steel (531). If you was a sponsor would you want someone on last years frame ? it just doesn't make marketing sense .. Oh and the 'tinny' feel is probably the thin wall thinkness .. don't ever ping a Columbus Spirit framed top tube (goes from 0.5 to 0.38mm butted) it will put you off steel ..

'The Steel is Real' lobby does have its points, especially for comfort on long rides, and durability is important - per kG Al has a higher stiffness and strength to weight ratio until you get to 853. But it comes down to personal choice, how you intend to use your bike, your riding style and how long your going to keep the frame. Personally, for my frugal £ I like Al stiffness / weight and ride a 3 year old Al geared road bike and a 5 year old NOS (road based) Al Track frame both with no problems but I wouldn't say no to a Scapin or Pegoretti ..