Aluminium vs. Steel for Polo Frames

Hi all, sorry if this has been discussed already (I did a search and couldn't find anything), but does anyone have especially positive or negative things to say about playing polo on aluminium-framed bikes? In particular, has anyone noticed that they tend to snap with greater ease than steel? Alternatively, has anyone been playing on an alloy frame for ages and had no problems whatsoever? I know the general consensus is that steel is more pliable and hence more likely to survive crashes, and so on, but would be interested in firsthand anecdotal evidence about polo bikes in particular.
Cheers,
C

Haven't seen any alu frames snap (that I can remember), but most people ride steel. Seen many steel frames bend, so these may have been alu frames snapping, but I have no idea.

alu is lighter, which i believe makes a huge difference. most peoples polo bike are ridiculously heavy.

Can't say I've ever had issues with my bike being too heavy. The only time I've ever even thought about the weight was when we were going to Munich.

when i tried gabes' bike i was noticeably slower at charges and other situations during the game.

once i got used to it i was fine but i had to put in way too much effort, when you are playing two day tournaments i think having a 50% lighter bike will make a difference. maybe i'm over analysing, but i like overanalysing.

also my bike is easier to carry down the steps at downham.

when i tried gabes' bike i was noticeably slower at charges and other situations during the game.

once i got used to it i was fine but i had to put in way too much effort, when you are playing two day tournaments i think having a 50% lighter bike will make a difference. maybe i'm over analysing, but i like overanalysing.

also my bike is easier to carry down the steps at downham.

Have you had any serious crashes?

also my bike is easier to carry down the steps at downham.

lol. i have been wondering about using alu recently too. but mainly cos i have an old frame at my country home that i am thinking of trying. i don't think weight will make much of a difference but it's always worth trying new things

when i tried gabes' bike i was noticeably slower at charges and other situations during the game.

once i got used to it i was fine but i had to put in way too much effort, when you are playing two day tournaments i think having a 50% lighter bike will make a difference. maybe i'm over analysing, but i like overanalysing.

also my bike is easier to carry down the steps at downham.

You borrowed Gabes bike? shakes head

You're also way too tall for Gabes bike.

I may be wrong, but I think that a dented aluminium frame is more likely to catastrophically fail than a dented steel one.

I'm not sure that a super light bike would offer any huge advantages.

I know that Andy Lockett rides aluminium.

i really do think weight makes a difference.

if you are on steel at the same ratio as someone on an alu frame, you will have to work much harder to keep up in games. you will feel this when playing 20, 15 minute games over a weekend.

and my bike isn't a weight weeny or anything, it's got double discs so it's still heavy, just nowhere near as heavy as all those stupidly overbuilt hansomedog forked london polo bikes.

Snoops, You're getting close to being the laziest player in all of London town.
Tom. Totally agree with that sentiment. I dented Ali frame is far more likely to die that a steel one. I've had two dents in my steamroller (one for over a year, one for 5 months) and they haven't effected it at all. Basically I still trust it. If it had been Aluminium I'd have replaced it for fear of damaging myself/others when it snapped. This is all based on my experience with ALi vs Steel mountain bikes by the way.

i really do think weight makes a difference.

if you are on steel at the same ratio as someone on an alu frame, you will have to work much harder to keep up in games. you will feel this when playing 20, 15 minute games over a weekend.
Horses for courses. I can't say that weight has even been an issue and if it were it's surely easy enough to gear down.

disclaimer - i am switching to steel this winter, but only as i need v brake mounts and bigger tyre clearance. IT IS TO MY CHAGRIN!

My langster was WAY lighter than the Sword but never showed any signs of denting or anything, even after a few brain-flicks into the wall.

I do however like the added weight on steel 'overbuilt' bikes for polo. My front wheel since switching to sword/NS fork has not slipped out once.

My bike is stupidly heavy, since trying some's charge plug I'm going to get a modern frame.

By the way, I've killed 4 steal frames so far since jan, my current frame is already showing possible bending!

Weight isn't important in polo bikes. Durability is. Overbuild for the win, ignore snoops.

By the way, I've killed 4 steal frames so far since jan, my current frame is already showing possible bending!

wtf? have you killed that frame already? what the fuck do you do to them dude?!

all those stupidly overbuilt hansomedog forked london polo bikes.

I bet you'll end up with the same set up in a few months.

durability? tyres are the only things on a polo bike that need to be durable, the rest is down to how you ride. if you can't ride a bike for shit (like andy) then you should definitely build heavy.

I bet you'll end up with the same set up in a few months.

because i clearly want a heavy bike

You can't handle a heavy bike with your spaghetti limbs

i wish i had bob dylan's face on me (bob dylan with big hair that is)

wtf? have you killed that frame already? what the fuck do you do to them dude?!

No where near killed, the top tube is not 100% straight and one of the lugs on the head tube seems to be coming away very slightly...
Probably last for ages even with me riding it... I'm also the lightest I've been since I was 14, so that should help? (I'm now 14 stone)... But I'm still thinking that getting a replacement before I kill it is a good idea.

i wish i had bob dylan's face on me (bob dylan with big hair that is)

If Dylan played polo, he'd play on steel. Steel is real.

Are you sponsored by shop
14 Louie?