You are reading a single comment by @BringMeMyFix and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@BringMeMyFix
As discussed on this forum (and many others) before, it's often a mistake to generalize about the ride characteristics of frame materials. It's as much about geometry, design, individual tubes used, and even tyre pressure.
I've ridden super noodley aluminium frames, and beat-you-up steel ones. 10psi out your tyres on an alu frame can give you a 'steely' spring, and a steel frame with an ovalized down tube and tight back end can give 'alu-ish' responsiveness.
If you had to generalize, and take example frames from imaginary mid points on the steel and alu spectrums, yes, steel is likely to be a little more forgiving, particularly if you're tired and sitting 'heavier' on the bike; and yes, aluminium will probably leap forward with more haste when you put the hammer down.
But differences in geometry, wheel build, and tyre pressure are more immediately noticable; frame material characteristics only at extremes of endurance or power production.