Aluminum vs Steel?

[VeganBikeChick]

Looking for some guidance...

As I've previously stated, I got my first road bike, not based on testing it out at my LBS, but because it was cheap and I wanted to ride. And it was pre-finding-TE, too.

I just saw the Salsa Casseroll online and it's a beautiful bike! It seems as if it would fit my needs, too - commuting, errands, light touring.

However, I am concerned about its weight compared to my aluminum frame. Is it really going to be that much more difficult to ride up hills? My work commute is very hilly and I don't want a heavy bike weighing me down. I know the more I ride the better I'll be, but I honestly don't want to pedal something heavy up a hill.

I would absolutely try it and a few others before committing to one specific bike this time, just looking for some points of view.

[Biciclista]

how much heavier IS the bike? Steel absorbs road vibration and lasts longer than aluminum.
Salsa makes great bikes! I ride up and down hills on a steel bike myself.
Maybe you should tell us what your other bike is.

[VeganBikeChick]

It's the REI Brand Novara, aluminum frame. States on the website that it's 22.6 lbs. Shimano Sora components.

[Caddy]

From the Salsa website: Frameset weight with uncut steerer: 51cm = 6 lbs 4 oz, 53cm = 6 lbs 5 oz, 54.5cm = 6 lbs 8 oz, 58cm = 6 lbs 14 oz

That really is not very heavy, the components you choose will play a great role in the overall weight too. Most people have a misconception that steel is heavy, but of course there are different quality tubes for both steel and aluminum that will result in a very light or very heavy frame.

Edit: Case in point - Novara uses heavier aluminum. I'm willing to bet the Salsa will be around the same, maybe lighter.

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks. I'll definitely have to try one out. It seems like all the LBS I've perused online have the Salsa's as made to order. Makes for a hard test ride....

[Velocivixen]

Gearing ratios will be more important for riding up hills than weight in my opinion (unless you're comparing your bike to a 45 pound Dutch style bike or something). My first recent bike was a 2011 Trek 7.3 FX WSD 19" with a triple up front and it's aluminum. I recently bought a 2011 52 Surly Cross Check with a compact double which is steel (Chro-moly), and it feels lighter than the aluminum Trek. As I considered various bike models I made gear ratio graph to compare. I wanted to be able to climb hills at least as easily as I was able to on my Trek. With my steel bike I lost my two easiest gears however I never used those anyway so it didn't matter. The steel of today is not as heavy as the steel used 30 years ago. Given that I would be more focused on the gearing. The Salsa website will tell you how many teeth are on the chainrings and sprockets on the rear cassette and Sheldon Brown has a gear ratio converter on his site. Or just go test ride a Casseroll and shift to the easiest gears and ride up a hill. That will tell you soon enough.

[KnottedYet]

My aluminum bike was heavier than my steel bike.

To get strength, aluminum tubes tend to have thicker walls and be larger diameter; which means they have to use more metal.

Generally they seem to pretty much even out steel vs aluminum, and I'd pay more attention to the components for weight.

Some people really have a preference as far as frame material, some can't tell the difference.

Frame material probably doesn't matter much in the great scheme of the universe, as long as you get on ride, ride, ride!

[VeganBikeChick]

Thanks, VV and Knotted. I definitely need to ride, ride, ride...and I want a bike that I want to do that with .

Bike shopping tomorrow!!

[Velocivixen]

@veganbikechick, early on in my search I test rode a Salsa Casseroll but it was too big for me and it was a small shop and they didn't have smaller ones, and they didn't seem interested in getting a smaller one in for me to ride. There were no other shops in town with smaller ones actually in stock. It is a lovely bike though. I think, all in all, just be open to various materials, gears, etc. and test ride. You'll find something that meets your needs. I'd love to know how it goes.

[KnottedYet]

Make sure to check Free Range Cycles and Counterbalance Cycles!

I still like Recycled Cycles, but the last 2 times I took my bike in the repairs were kind of poorly done. (I had them redone at Free Range.) Recycled has gotten a lot bigger and busier and quality may have started to slide.

ETA: By the way, the steel bike in my avatar weighs 2 lbs less than your REI Novara Carema... just sayin'

[Velocivixen]

I'm going to Free Range Cycles on Friday to check out a 7L Zimbale bag in person. Have walking and driving directions from hotel. It's only 2.4 mikes so it would be a nice walk. Going north over what looks like a bridge it has me going along a path instead of the street. Don't mean to hijack, but google walking is in Beta. Thoughts about this trail?

[Bike Chick]

Ride the Salsa--or any similar steel frame bike--to get a comparison to your aluminum and you won't believe the difference in the ride. I would be willing to bet there isn't much weight difference between the two bikes but the difference in comfort will be worth any extra weight. I love my steel frame bikes.

[Catrin]

Knotted makes a good point about the weight of steel frames. My steel Gunnar frame weighs 3.25 pounds...

[Becky]

I've never weighed my steel Bianchi frame by itself, but the full bike is ~20 lbs, and it's not a weight-weenie build by any stretch.

I agree with Velocivixen about weight versus gearing. I don't climb appreciably better or worse on the steel bike than I do on the lightweight carbon bike.

Ride what's comfortable and makes you happy

[KnottedYet]

I'm going to Free Range Cycles on Friday to check out a 7L Zimbale bag in person. Have walking and driving directions from hotel. It's only 2.4 mikes so it would be a nice walk. Going north over what looks like a bridge it has me going along a path instead of the street. Don't mean to hijack, but google walking is in Beta. Thoughts about this trail?

There are a lot of bridges going over Lake Union/the ship canal. The drawbridges have sidewalks (I'm guessing you'd use the Fremont bridge?) If you walk over the Ballard locks, that's a ped/bike only crossing, which might come up on google as a trail?

Free Range is very very tiny and cozy with great wrenches. Be sure to walk kitty-corner to Theo's chocolate factory. Free samples! A block up the hill from Free Range is Cascade Bicycle Studio, and a block or two east (on the same street) from CBS is Hub and Bespoke.

Three bike-y shops and a chocolate factory all within the same 3 or 4 blocks!