Carbon or not ?

I went from Alloy Frame/Chrome Moly forks to Alloy Frame/Carbon Forks and I notice the ride is not as harsh... Not so much comfortable.

In my next bike, I will aim at a Carbon Fork and Carbon Rearstays, but not an entire Carbon bike...

fauxpas said:

..... but not an entire Carbon bike...

Why not???

CF as a material should give you a more forgiving ride, but then again, it depends on the geometry of the frame and the type of ride it was designed for...

In other words, you can purchase a very comfortable CF bike, steel, Ti and even some Alu+CF fork/rear triangle frames that will be a joy to ride (for your bum and back too). But of course you can also purchase a frame made of any of the materials that I have mentioned that is designed to give you a very responsive *(and often, harsh) ride.

You have to work with your shop/framebuilder to make sure they know what you are looking for, and then have them sell it to/build it to meet your requirements.

::dom:: said:

Why not???

Price, for what ya get... It aint hard getting a light bike and seeing a guy here in this forum recently got a brand new steel bianchi that only weights 8kg, it almost seems wasteful to go full carbon...

Also, in my RIDE magazine, they have a test jig they put their test bikes on that measures frame flex when the cranks are loaded. The alu frames were best and the carbon frames flexed the most.

Also, I am paranoid about overtightening seatclamps and bidon cage screws etc. I'm a bit of a Bjarne Riis around screws, dun know my own strength...

Thanks Guys for your opinions. I am considering carbon fork and seat stays and wondered if the extra cost would give a more comfortable ride over longer distances. I have been told that introducing carbon does reduce the effect produced by rough surfaces etc. I just like the comments of cyclists who have this experience.

I recently bought a full carbon bike.....test rode an aluminum and then carbon back to back.....it was noticeably different. Very noticeable.....

I think you would get used to either....however my preference was the carbon bike.

There are guys in the pro peloton that prefer full alu frames and don't even ride on carbon rearstays...

Depends on where your preferences lie I suppose, but you can't get the best of all worlds as comfort = flex...

Fair enough, but it is rather obvious (as opposed to the OP) that pros that prefer all-Alu bikes are not really that concerned about comfort!

That's why I, for my next bike, will go carbon forks/stays... rolling comfort will be there, but the crank frame torsion will be good... Not the best of both worlds, but a good enough compromise for a fat [censored] like me 😄

fauxpas said:

Also, in my RIDE magazine, they have a test jig they put their test bikes on that measures frame flex when the cranks are loaded. The alu frames were best and the carbon frames flexed the most.

LOL! Not too long ago I came across a similar flex test where the results were ostensibly the same (aluminum had the least amount of flex, carbon had the most) ...but since they were testing for vertical compliance, the conclusion was that *carbon* was "best" !

After doing a 540km ride (taking 27 hours) on my loyal and trusty bone shaker Trek 1000 anything is possible. I now also have a Madone 5.2 thanks to the end of season sales and the difference is huge. There's no road buzz and it's vastly more comfortable. I can't speak from a racing point of view but as someone who regularly cycles hard 50-100mile runs for fun, find a nice carbon frame that suits you over alluminium, if you can afford it. Your body will thank you in the long run.

Don't know about gfp1931 but my decision will be made by the almighty $$$

Still got my eye on a Felt F75 or F65...

My carbon Trek 5900 is MUCH more comfortable than my steel Lemond Zurich. In fact, the 5900 is THE most comfortable bike I have ever personally owned (and in the past I've ridden/owned aluminum Cannondales and a Kestral Carbon Spectra 4000). IMO:o)

As stated over and over and over again on numerous forums and sites, ride quality is NOT in the material, but in the DESIGN of the frame. Of course, people conveniently forget that piece of common knowledge when trying to justify their $4000 CF frame...

Trek 1000 Harsh, Tarmac Comp-Feel great after every ride.

tigradekat said:

As stated over and over and over again on numerous forums and sites, ride quality is NOT in the material, but in the DESIGN of the frame. Of course, people conveniently forget that piece of common knowledge when trying to justify their $4000 CF frame...

Heres a test, build bikes using the exact same design out of diffrent materials and test which one is best to ride.

tigradekat said:

As stated over and over and over again on numerous forums and sites, ride quality is NOT in the material, but in the DESIGN of the frame. Of course, people conveniently forget that piece of common knowledge when trying to justify their $4000 CF frame...

My new full monocoque carbon frame rides so smooth (no vibration or hum) over rough asphalt and takes the clunk out of pavement changes and makes them dull thuds. My new wheelset added quite a bit of ride quality so sure its more than just the frame!!! But for $2200-I am extremely happy. A custom Ti, AL or steel frame designed to be as good all around (and as light) as my CF bike would easily be a $4k+ bike!!

Glad I asked the question, did not expect such a good response. Thanks to all of you. I'm tempted to go all the way now and find the extra cash for a full carbon frame. I should point out - I am in my seventies and comfort is what my old bones cry out for.
Cheers. 🙂

gfp1931 said:

Glad I asked the question, did not expect such a good response. Thanks to all of you. I'm tempted to go all the way now and find the extra cash for a full carbon frame. I should point out - I am in my seventies and comfort is what my old bones cry out for.
Cheers. 🙂

Giant, Trek and Fuji all have $1700 full carbon bikes with Shimano 105 and ULtegra grouppos that ride very nicely and Giant (OCR) at Trek (Pilot) have frames with a higher headtubes for added cmfort on a road racing style bike. Sorry if some of my facts are off just a touch.

Trust me on this-a steel or alumnum bike that rides as well as a CF bike will be more expensive!!