Why no polished aluminum frames? - Page 2 - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

06-13-2004, 11:33 PM

Matt O'Toole wrote:

>Gooserider wrote:
>
>>When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX,
>>which had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny
>>polished frames, both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my
>>neglect, so I was forced to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished
>>frame. Is this a matter of the frames being too labor intensive, or
>>just a matter of fashion? Shame, because I think it's a nice look,
>>especially when it's freshly washed and polished.
>>
>
>It's probably both. It does cost more to polish a frame than to paint it. But
>if the public demanded it, bike makers would find a way to offer it.
>
>Polishing does seem to come and go. I've even seen a few half-painted,
>half-polished frames lately.
>
>Matt O.
>
>
My Marin Larkspur (2001 editon?) had a nice brushed aluminum frame with
a plastic coat. Looked good. I peeled the decals off just to improve
the look. I liked it. Don't they do that any more?
Bernie

06-14-2004, 05:17 AM

In article <mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com >,
"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX, which
> had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny polished frames,
> both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was forced
> to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame. Is this a matter of the
> frames being too labor intensive, or just a matter of fashion? Shame,
> because I think it's a nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
> polished.

Just a guess on my part, but maybe it's done so
after-sales painting of the frame is an option
left to the buyer, and powdercoat sticks better
to brushed aluminum?

cheers,
Tom

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06-14-2004, 05:17 AM

In article <mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com >,
"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX, which
> had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny polished frames,
> both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was forced
> to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame. Is this a matter of the
> frames being too labor intensive, or just a matter of fashion? Shame,
> because I think it's a nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
> polished.

Just a guess on my part, but maybe it's done so
after-sales painting of the frame is an option
left to the buyer, and powdercoat sticks better
to brushed aluminum?

cheers,
Tom

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Above address is just a spam midden.
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06-14-2004, 05:17 AM

In article <mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com >,
"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX, which
> had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny polished frames,
> both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was forced
> to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame. Is this a matter of the
> frames being too labor intensive, or just a matter of fashion? Shame,
> because I think it's a nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
> polished.

Just a guess on my part, but maybe it's done so
after-sales painting of the frame is an option
left to the buyer, and powdercoat sticks better
to brushed aluminum?

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

06-14-2004, 05:17 AM

In article <mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com >,
"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX, which
> had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny polished frames,
> both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was forced
> to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame. Is this a matter of the
> frames being too labor intensive, or just a matter of fashion? Shame,
> because I think it's a nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
> polished.

Just a guess on my part, but maybe it's done so
after-sales painting of the frame is an option
left to the buyer, and powdercoat sticks better
to brushed aluminum?

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

06-14-2004, 05:17 AM

In article <mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].com >,
"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> writes:
> When I bought my first quality MTB, I bought a Mongoose Rockadile SX, which
> had a polished aluminum frame. The shops were full of shiny polished frames,
> both road and MTB. My head tube cracked, due to my neglect, so I was forced
> to buy a new frame. NOBODY offers a polished frame. Is this a matter of the
> frames being too labor intensive, or just a matter of fashion? Shame,
> because I think it's a nice look, especially when it's freshly washed and
> polished.

Just a guess on my part, but maybe it's done so
after-sales painting of the frame is an option
left to the buyer, and powdercoat sticks better
to brushed aluminum?

cheers,
Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD
Above address is just a spam midden.
I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn [point] bc [point] ca

06-14-2004, 12:00 PM

"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. com>...
> NOBODY offers a polished frame.
--------
I'd guess its a combination of labor, exposing every imperfect weld,
and people complained about fingerprints.

Along those lines though, is anyone aware of a shop anywhere that
could strip the paint off a frame, brush it, and anodize it to prevent
oxidation? The paint on my tandem is ok, but seems to chip pretty
easily, exposing a reddish primer. I would just as soon plan to strip
it and leave it bare someday....

sources?

d

06-14-2004, 12:00 PM

"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. com>...
> NOBODY offers a polished frame.
--------
I'd guess its a combination of labor, exposing every imperfect weld,
and people complained about fingerprints.

Along those lines though, is anyone aware of a shop anywhere that
could strip the paint off a frame, brush it, and anodize it to prevent
oxidation? The paint on my tandem is ok, but seems to chip pretty
easily, exposing a reddish primer. I would just as soon plan to strip
it and leave it bare someday....

sources?

d

06-14-2004, 12:00 PM

"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. com>...
> NOBODY offers a polished frame.
--------
I'd guess its a combination of labor, exposing every imperfect weld,
and people complained about fingerprints.

Along those lines though, is anyone aware of a shop anywhere that
could strip the paint off a frame, brush it, and anodize it to prevent
oxidation? The paint on my tandem is ok, but seems to chip pretty
easily, exposing a reddish primer. I would just as soon plan to strip
it and leave it bare someday....

sources?

d

06-14-2004, 12:00 PM

"Gooserider" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<mv3zc.89714$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. com>...
> NOBODY offers a polished frame.
--------
I'd guess its a combination of labor, exposing every imperfect weld,
and people complained about fingerprints.

Along those lines though, is anyone aware of a shop anywhere that
could strip the paint off a frame, brush it, and anodize it to prevent
oxidation? The paint on my tandem is ok, but seems to chip pretty
easily, exposing a reddish primer. I would just as soon plan to strip
it and leave it bare someday....

sources?

d