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Carbon!
okenny
Posts: 231
in General Chat
I'm gonna geta new bike soon!
But, is a carbon fram really worth the cash?
Is it a lot better than a good Alu frame?
I know that the 1kg difference isnÄt much, but what about the stifness?
Thanks!
But, is a carbon fram really worth the cash?
Is it a lot better than a good Alu frame?
I know that the 1kg difference isnÄt much, but what about the stifness?
Thanks!
0
Comments
Carbon helps reduce vibration on the road, its lighter and stronger...It looks better as well. Look at the joints on a alu compared to a carbon
Get a carbon bling bike now!
I know that the frame can be more aero, but the difference is really small, the bike itself really has very little drag compared to the rider.
A stiffer frame can mean that more power is transferred from the pedals to the road, but does this really make a difference?
What do you guys think the difference between a good alu frame and a carbon frame would be over 40km?
Just cos its got Carbon written on it dosnt mean the weave is a good quality or the frame is made of a good grade of Carbon. Trust me, a good ally frame (cervelo, principia etc) will shit ALL over a cheap carbon frame.
Do your homework, go round a few bike shops, snoop round a few cycling forums (dont join them though!!) and spend the max you can afford (and a bit more if poss) or you'll be back on here within 12 months saying I need another new bike...........
I bought this bike purely because I couldn't afford the £1000+ for pure carbon and always thought I'd buy carbon when I was rich enough.
But this bike has been utterly smoking all year, I'm in love and wouldn't change a thing. I've beaten grown men on BIG hills as well as fast flats (screw-on TT bars) on it and will not be parted from it.
The latest 220 actually has a good article about frame materials and explodes a few myths about carbon.
Not that my head won't be turned by bling......just quoting personal experience here.
blurredgirl
I'm not talking a £250 toys r us bike versus a carbon fibre bike, I'm saying the difference between......lets say a Cervelo Carbon Soloist and Cervello soloist (ally frame) the weight is a minor issue and the time saved on a 40kmTT probably wouldnt offset the extra cost.
i'd be more interested in the longevity of carbon, like bman said.
So... assuming that Carbon Vs Alu is the primary difference between these two bikes I was wondering how much time going carbon would actually save you, and how much each additional second would cost?
I couldn't find the answer but there seemed to be a lot of vigorous debate about whether the S1 or S2 was the best bike. From the (possibly unrepresentative) sample of comments which I saw the consensus was pretty split, but I think the gist was that if the bikes were evenly equipped then the S2 is marginally better for longer rides (carbon= smoother ride), but that there was not much to choose between them on short rides. If working to a budget the consensus was for the S1 and better components every time.
Anyway... the point I'm trying to make is that the potential benefits of carbon may not be as clear cut as is commonly believed, especially where price is a limiting factor.
I'm not justifying the price tag just the benefits. Ofcourse the real difference is the rider..
I ride a carbon bike by the way....................
I ride a Planet X SL Pro Carbon - it was pretty cheap (£999 full Ultegra) and it's light years ahead of alu bikes I've ridden but then I've never ridden a £1000 alu bike.
Though, I'm still not closer to deciding on which frame material to go for!!
I don't want to buy a bike (which I want to use for a few 70.3s and an IM) and be disapointed with it in any way, I'd rather save a little longer and get the right bike.
I agree with the comments about going tit for tat on the alu frame against the carbon dude. I've been there and its quite satisfying
So, if I understand you correctly, you're happy u went for the Carbon?
Only rode here once so far.... I don't have enough experience but the difference between the old alu bike and this one is like night and day....
PS this photo was taken in one the mankiest hotels I've been in.... total hovel.
I'm lookiung at a Cannondale Slice... also a nice set of wheels!
I ride a Bianchi that had an RRP of just over £1000 last September but that I bought for around £600 (Evans sale, plus I reaped the benefits of wanting an odd size). It's one of their C2C frames (Via Nirone) which is comprised of aluminium with carbon and kevlar stays and forks. It also has a carbon head-tube and seat post. It's fitted with Ultegra throughout. I swapped the saddle for a female-specific one and put Look keo pedals on.
I must qualify how I ride this bike - because I do believe that makes all the difference when you choose a bike.
Firstly - I'm female, so the stem is short and I had the seat post cut down, and that makes the geometry quite specific.
Secondly, although I do a lot of triathlons - my big love is road cycling and I researched and eventually bought this bike based on that. When not training for and competing in triathlons, I ride distance and big hills, non-competetively - for the love of it. For instance I was holiday in France recently and me and my DH would go for 60km+ bike rides that often included climbing 5-7kms out of the gorge to the tops of cols as well as riding along undulating roads.
What that means is that I wanted a bike that is comfortable over distance and that likes to climb. The Bianchi came out top in all my research for those factors. For triathlon I compromise by screwing TT bars on the bike and changing my position.
If you are looking for something fast just for racing you may well have different criteria and a full carbon beast - probably a specific tri bike if you are primarily doing non-drafting races - is likely to be your bag.
I thought that I'd found exactly the right bike for me, and I was right. Whether it was carbon or not was not an issue.
But as I said before, I do drool over carbon fibre, wherever it is and if someone handed me a full carbon bike I would not kick it out of bed.....
blurredgirl
Have just gone from Alu frame DHCycle with carbon forks and campy mirage groupset to a Boardman Team Carbon with SRAM Rival (penny short of a grand - Cycle to work)
I've got to say the carbon does make me a bit faster but you could argue the SRAM groupset has a lot to do with that. BUT I find the bike responsive and smooth in every way, it just feels right - and it also feels like it can give more than the Alu - I know this isn't specific but I don't think the difference is much about actual lightness or increased speed due tot he material.
That said carbon makes me feel like a million dollars and as someone said here before - if it makes you get on your bike and get out on the road then it is money well spent!!!
I love Carbon. Fact.
I am very glad I went for a Carbon frame, and luckily got a reasonably good deal on it.
Thanks guys!
I got it because I trust the LBS and it was the most comfortable I tried and so far I love going out on it. Mind you I love Harry the hybrid too but for different reasons.
I think that's the most important thing - that you get the bike that is right for you at a good price and don't get too fixated one thing over another. If it doesn't fit and you find it too twitchy then you aren't going to be happy riding it
SOne1 - What did you get your Argon18 built up with?