If you're going to start a response with "statistically" - you should probably bring some statistics. And cite resources. Please and thank you.mattr wrote: ↑Tue Jun 25, 2019 3:50 pmBecause statistically, a frame with less material will *tend* to fail earlier (fatigue, crash, overload, whatever). There are clever things that can be done with optimisation, most brands don't have the budget or technical know how to do it well. So they accept a level of failure and have these marvellous warranty programs. Or not. Very few manage to optimise well, and you pay through the nose for it. And the frames tend to have no redundancy built in (so the top tube cracks if you rest your leg/weight on it while waiting for your mates.)
I've also had some pretty light bikes and always rest on the top tube. No cracks yet! I'll chalk that up as another internet wives tail that gets overused.
It was rhetorical. Categorically claiming that lighter is less durable is also implying that heavier is more reliable. Which seems to me the same as *insert stereotype about any group of people*. Point being, categorical statements like that don't serve anyone. In motorsports, heavier parts are often heavier because they're cast rather than forged, cnc, etc. The cast parts are also more likely to fail (speaking from experience).No one said that. In fact, if you were to look at the cost/weight of frames as compared to failure rates, you'd have an uptick at both ends, lightweight, well made expensive frames would have a *slightly* higher incidence of failure (but a good warranty), heavy, cheap frames would as well, because they were badly made. But you can go whistle for your warranty
So yeah, I think the right answer for the OP is "it depends." And we can probably get away from wives tails about this material or that - instead focusing on who does QUALITY regardless of their medium.
As a couple high zoot Italian manufacturers were mentioned - I'll throw in that the finish work on my Specialissima and Dogma (fd tab, Rd hanger and spacing, inside of tubes) were both a lot better than my Colnagos. Not to say I think the Colnago frame is going to fail - but it's like driving a really nice car with lots of bells and whistles and then the bells and whistles break. You'll still have transportation, but it may be a little busted.