franky

True, what I meant by saying that is, more homogeneous than before. You will never get a perfect material, you can only strive to increase performance.

Very interesting article, to add to the confusion I will add some information. As RC stated, when you finish welding a frame, you have varying hardnesses and strengths, especially in areas near welds known as the heat affected zone or HAZ. Solution annealing aims to make the complete frame into a homogeneous or consistent body - all one property of strength, dissolving hard spots (little islands or precipitates). Aging or precipitation strengthening allows precipitates to form (points in the Al that act as pinning locations for dislocation movement) in a uniform fasion to hinder the movement of dislocations (stresses). These precipitates are what makes the frame stronger because they hinder dislocation movement. It is the movement of disolcations that cause stress risers in the frame and ultimately the frame to yield (plastically deform). The reason that frames crack on welds is because you have areas of higher hardness near welds and the softer aluminum next to these hard areas is what cracks because there is a discontinuous strength i.e. dislocations moving easily through softer material until they hit a harder material and build up, eventually forming a crack. - A very tough subject to simplify

High frame rate slow mow can make anything and everything look cool* *as long as you play it to the right music

Fernie, being the place I grew up riding since 2001, I agree is one of the best mountain bike destinations out there!