ALUMINIUM BICYCLE FRAME
Many bicycle frames are made of aluminium. It is light, relatively cheap and easy to repair after an unexpected fall. Professional cyclists also use aluminium frames, for instance when their bike is going to be put through a lot of stress. Think of races over cobblestones. This is because the frame can take a good beating and is therefore somewhat sturdier than carbon. Be aware, however, that aluminium can get a bit 'tired' over time. The frame then becomes less stiff and will start to wobble a bit.
Aluminium also has the advantage of being a relatively light material, lighter than steel. However, it is important to look carefully at the quality of the material. A cheap aluminium bike might not be that light at all! This all has to do with the alloy of the material. CUBE, for instance, uses specially developed alloys to make its aluminium bikes extra strong.
HPA TECHNOLOGY FROM CUBE
Through special alloys and a thermal hardening process, CUBE ensures that the aluminium is even stronger than normal. This High Performance Aluminium (HPA) is further strengthened by also manipulating the wall thickness of the frame tubes several times. This ensures that the frame is strong enough where it is needed, while nowhere too much material is used. Finally, the frame tubes are formed by 'hydroforming', a technique that uses water pressure to create a sturdy structure. The combination of the different techniques creates super-strong aluminium frames with low weight.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF ALUMINIUM BICYCLE FRAMES
+ Relatively low weight
+ Cheaper to buy
+ Sturdy and will not easily tear
+ Easy to repair
- Chance of metal fatigue
- Heavier than carbon
- Large quality difference in types of aluminium
CARBON FRAMES
Bicycles made of carbon are becoming increasingly popular. Carbon is super light and therefore ensures the best performance. After all, the lighter your bike is, the faster you can go. The downside of carbon, however, is that it is a somewhat more expensive material. This is mainly due to the manufacturing process. Carbon is a fibre of carbon which is woven into a kind of mat. Several mats are then laid on top of each other and glued together with epoxy resin. This layering system ensures an extra sturdy construction, which also has a cushioning effect.
CUBE sets itself apart from other brands by aiming for the highest possible carbon content in the material mix. CUBE uses two different variants: C:62 and C:68. Here, the former consists of 62% carbon and the latter of 68% carbon. So a bike with C:68 contains even less resin and even more carbon in the material mix, making the material even lighter and stiffer.
Now, the weight of carbon is the material's biggest advantage, but it is also nice to know that carbon does not rust and does not suffer from metal fatigue. So your bike will always remain as stiff as when you bought it.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CARBON
+ Very light material
+ Does not rust
+ Greater carbon content means greater strength
- Expensive to buy (although carbon is getting cheaper)
- Can break if dropped
- Difficult or impossible to repair
WHEN DO YOU CHOOSE AN ALUMINIUM OR CARBON FRAME?
We now know the difference between the two frame materials and we have listed the pros and cons. But which material should you choose? It is important to consider your own requirements for the bike. For example, are you looking for your first road or mountain bike? Then an aluminium frame is an excellent choice, especially if you choose CUBE's HPA. Do you already have more experience and is speed becoming more important? Then opt for a lightweight bike with carbon frame. It is slightly more expensive than aluminium, although we do see carbon becoming more affordable.
Would you like some additional advice on the different materials of our CUBE bikes? Drop by our CUBE Store in Gloucester. Our bicycle experts will be happy to tell you more about the different bikes!