Steel - is the pinnacle of bicycles, often referred as "Classic" as it is the primary material used for bicycles (before alloys came) since of it being inexpensive and and strong. Often used for touring, custom and handmade bicycles. Most of the major manufacturers have already stopped using steel in production, however there are still some who includes steel bikes in their catalog such as Colnago.
Handmade steel frames are often connected by lugs, the two are joined by the process of brazing - where the lugs are melted into the tubes. Another method is through fillet brazing - where no lugs are used, just an insert of brass is brazed into the joint where two tubes are to be joined.
The difference of steel vs its other rivals is weight as it is the heaviest material and it is prone to rusting.
Aluminum - Replaced steel as the commonly used material for bicycles as its lighter, stiffer and does not rust like steel. Aluminum tubes are usually butted, where the metal is thick at the ends and grows thinner towards the center.
Unlike steel alloys can be manipulated to form shapes for design and aerodynamics. Aluminum frames are often joined through TIG welding, the weld can be internal or external.
High end aluminum frames are at par or even better than the cheapest carbon fiber frames.
Titanium - The most exotic and expensive metal used for bicycle frames. Its strong as steel, but lighter, has excellent anti-corrosion properties that steel does not have and it is the highest durability with the other metals used in the bicycle industry. Since titanium is an exotic metal and is difficult to work with, the cost of a titanium frame dwarfs its metal relatives.
Titanium tubes are joined by only through GATW. Titanium looks identical to steel frames, it can have lugs or just a plain weld look. Titanium frames are usually sold unpainted having a bare look, however there are a few companies who offer painted versions as well.
Cyclists usually associate a titanium frame as the last frame a cyclist will buy, with proper care it can last a lifetime.
Carbon Fiber - Is the most coveted material used for bicycles nowadays, since its light, strong and resistant to corrosion. Though expensive, many cyclists especially those seeking for a performance factor still buy these frames. Carbon fiber is known of its strength to weight ratio and well as for its vibration dampening properties making a overall comfortable ride.
The weakness of carbon fiber is its impact resistance, it is vulnerable to damage to any impact. A tiny crack even superficial ones can render the frame unsafe for riding, because carbon fiber shatters without warning from these tiny cracks vs metals slowly showing signs of damage such as generating larger cracks overtime.
Carbon fiber frames are constructed through binding the fibers together. With this process it is possible to dictate where the fibers will point and is being able to apply varying thickness all throughout the frame. These factors adds to the strength, stiffness and as well as reduced total weight of the frame.
The weakness of carbon fiber is its impact resistance, it is vulnerable to damage to any impact. A tiny crack even superficial ones can render the frame unsafe for riding, because carbon fiber shatters without warning from these tiny cracks vs metals slowly showing signs of damage such as generating larger cracks overtime.
Carbon fiber frames are constructed through binding the fibers together. With this process it is possible to dictate where the fibers will point and is being able to apply varying thickness all throughout the frame. These factors adds to the strength, stiffness and as well as reduced total weight of the frame.
Carbon fiber still a developing technology and will soon mature in the future.
This leaves us with the question, what would the future bicycles be made of and how will they look like?
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