Convincing a female friend to buy an aluminium bicycle

[bill nye scienceguy!]

So one of my friends is buying a bicycle and I'm trying to convince her to plump for an aluminium model over some ridiculous 'retro' steel thing.

I want to illustrate how aluminium allows for lighter structural members even taking into account the wider diameter tubes that ensure similar stiffness.

I'm not sure how to display it graphically though, any ideas?


(ps I'm just doing this for fun. She's already gone on record as saying 'this is getting too technical. i just want a blue one with a basket' :p)

 

[brewnog]

Get her to ride both, then apologise when she prefers the feel of a steel frame.

 

[turbo]

Get her to ride both, then apologise when she prefers the feel of a steel frame.

Yep! Sometimes high-tech has little advantage over old-school when personal preferences are factored in. My wife and I bought nice alloy-framed mountain bikes about 15 years ago, and I think she really would like to have her old English-style 3-speed back for use on back roads. The only time she rides trails anymore is when she goes with her sister, and they ride a really flat rail-bed from Embden to Bingham and back. No need for 18 speeds, ultra-light frame and big knobby tires for that. Plus, the straight-up seating on her old bike was easier on her back.

 

[xxChrisxx]

Just buy the blue one with a basket.

Women don't care about performance or technical criteria. We went to buy my missus a new Beetle, the only thing she was actually adamant about was getting a flower in the little vase on the dash when she picked it up.

 

[AlephZero]

Why get a boring alumimun framed bike, when you can pay at least 10 times as much for a custom-made-to-measure carbon fiber frame?

 

[brewnog]

My company ran a 'bike to work' scheme last year, I spent a small fortune on a bike but couldn't afford the steel version to had to go aluminium instead.

 

[jack action]

Tell her the steel model makes her look fat.

 

[turbo]

Tell her the steel model makes her look fat.

:rofl:

 

[skeptic2]

So one of my friends is buying a bicycle and I'm trying to convince her to plump for an aluminium model over some ridiculous 'retro' steel thing.

Why?

I want to illustrate how aluminium allows for lighter structural members even taking into account the wider diameter tubes that ensure similar stiffness.

So what?

I'm not sure how to display it graphically though, any ideas?

What is you motive for wanting her to get an aluminum one?

(ps I'm just doing this for fun. She's already gone on record as saying 'this is getting too technical. i just want a blue one with a basket' :p)

It sounds to me like she's already made up her mind.

 

[ehilge]

Nothing wrong with a solid steel framed bike. They might be a bit heavier, but its actually a smoother ride compared to aluminum. Regardless, a decently built steel bike will beat the heck out of a walmart aluminum bike any day. So if anything make sure she gets a decent bike for her money at a reputable bike shop. I used to be a mechanic in a shop. Trust me, there's a huge difference in quality between the two.