I just wanted to pop in and say hey. A little back ground I am currently a triathlete and I ride a Giant TCR TT composite T-mobile team edition basically the same time trial bike that Jan Ullrich rides. The problem is I feel over the next few years I really need to turn my cycling around. I want to get another road bike since I sold mine about 6 months ago.
Here are my goals. I want to ride my TT about 2 days a week. Then ride a road bike 3 days a week. I will be putting in about 150-200 mile rides on the road bike I will be doing group rides and then doing crits once a week for my speed workout. Here is the delema do I get a full carbon bike like my TT or do I go aluminum? I want something comfertable for those 200 mile rides but I want something that isnt going to break if I crash in a crit race. Any advice would be great thanks a bunch the site looks awesome! I will more than likely get another Giant eigther TCR composite or TCR alum.
Here are my goals. I want to ride my TT about 2 days a week. Then ride a road bike 3 days a week. I will be putting in about 150-200 mile rides on the road bike I will be doing group rides and then doing crits once a week for my speed workout. Here is the delema do I get a full carbon bike like my TT or do I go aluminum? I want something comfertable for those 200 mile rides but I want something that isnt going to break if I crash in a crit race.
'Comfort' and race bike is just mental masturbation, and it isn't just about aluminum or CF. What won't break if you crash it hard enough? A Cdale caad 4,5 or 6 is about as racy as anyone but a top pro needs and can be had cheap enough from GVH bikes to be considered almost disposable.
Thanks for your reply. Do you have any opinions on carbon or alum? I have a full carbon bike now and im just wondering if it is worth going to alum. or not. Just want some other opinions.
I hate to burst your bubble, but I doubt that the bike Ulrich rides is the same as is being sold in the shops...🙂
I wouldn't get a carbon bike unless I could afford something really good like a Look KG486, or a Time VXR, so, I'd go aluminum because you'll be getting much more bang for your buck.
In other words, the best alu frame you can get is mostly likely gunna be heaps cheaper than the top carbons.
I hate to burst your bubble, but I doubt that the bike Ulrich rides is the same as is being sold in the shops...🙂
I wouldn't get a carbon bike unless I could afford something really good like a Look KG486, or a Time VXR, so, I'd go aluminum because you'll be getting much more bang for your buck.
In other words, the best alu frame you can get is mostly likely gunna be heaps cheaper than the top carbons.
I know my bike is not the same as ullrich rides. For instance his is t800 carbon fiber, his front brake mounts behind the front fork...... yada yada I could go on for days. Im not worried about the money so your saying go carbon if you got the money right? Thanks
I'm obviously biased, but I think the TCR Composite is fabulous! (...own a TCR C Zero). I think it's an incredible frame at an unbelievable price. Nice TT ride you've got there. I'd really like to try one of those TCR Advanced TT bikes, but they don't make one big enough for me.
I ride an out of production carbon beam frame. A couple of my riding partners have Al frames. One has a conventional diamond style CF frame. Not much difference. They're all similar in performance.
Frame material makes for an interesting discussion, but ultimately there are other factors that play a more signifigant role out on the road. I'd suggest you look into frame geometry first. In century plus distances, you can run out of butt or back before you run out of legs, especially if the bike frame is not the optimal for distance riding.
