Conference noted::bicycle

    	The August (I believe) issue of BICYCLING had an article
    	discussing aluminum bikes. An older male rider is on the
    	cover.
    
    	Scott

    While I like the idea of aluminum frame bikes, there are definitely
    some problems to be considered.  Some of the aluminum frames are
    glued together and sometimes don't hold.  Also, paint doesn't adhere
    that well to aluminum, so it tends to come off in big chips.  Another
    problem is that the skinnier aluminum frames tend to flex more at
    the bottom bracket; definitely undesirable for the racers, which
    is why Cannondale and Trek have the fat tube models.
    
    Has anyone seen the ads for the Peugeot Galaxie?  This aluminum
    frame bike has just been introduced to the market.  I called O'neals
    bike shop to inquire about the Galaxie.  The guy at the store said
    the Galaxie has been recalled by the factory, but didn't know the
    reason.  Has anybody heard why?
    
    Regards,
    Denis

    I heard rumors that the first few batches of the new Treks had
    serious quality problems - coming apart at the steering tube,
    and the like.
    
    MATT

    I've had a Vitus framed road bike for a number of years, and it hasn't
    fallen apart yet...  some of the European professionals apparently
    ride that frame, so must be reliable if they can go over cobbles with it.

    It isn't super stiff, but that is part of the advantage since it
    is very comfortable for the style of riding I like, a reasonably
    quick 120 miles somewhere, with a break for lunch.  I don't have
    the talent for racing - you'd want something stiffer with a higher
    bottom bracket for criteriums I'd think.

    But the real answer only comes from test riding a bunch of bikes
    for yourself.

    - Jim

    The latest issue of Cyclist has a comparison of the three frames
    you mention.
    Steve

    
    I've had my CANNONDALE (and replacements) for about 3 years.
    The company provides good service, and will replace crashed frames
       for a replacement fee... (last I heard it was a $175 fee) although
       they seem to be slow because of the demand (8 weeks).  The aluminum
       is very difficult to repair.
    The finish on the newer CANNONDALES is very clean.
    Performance is tough to beat... I weight in at about 200lbs and
       punish the bike with hard (if not extremely fast ) riding.  In
       the 3000+ miles I have on the frame this year, it has not fatigued
       and never seems to flex on hillclimbs.  The one time I had a
       crash, last fall, only the dropout had damaged.
    
    /john kowaleski

In .2 someone said:

    ...Also, paint doesn't adhere that well to aluminum, so it tends to come
	off in big chips. ...

I'm confused as to why people bother painting Al bikes.  If I were to build
one, I would leave mine plain metal just for effect.  It would match the
Bluckburn rack perfectly (good old 6061 -T6).  Mounting the generator would be
simpler too.

-Jeff

    
    	Aluminum may not rust but I believe it will corrode, esp. with
    salt water (sweat or salt from roads).
    

      I got a recall notice from Peugeot about two weeks ago stating that
    after the first recall as stated in note .2 that they are still
    having problems, and that all Galexies and Cometes are to be recalled
    and destroied (there terminology), and I will recieve a 1988 Triathlon
    model in place of the Comete that I bought last February. I thought
    it was a great bicycle and had no problems with it in the one thousand
    miles that I logged on it. I was kind of sad to return it. Oh well
    maybe next year they will recall the Triathlon and I'll get an even
    nicer Peugeot.
                                        Gary