Frame material is certainly a big deal, but let's not ignore the core question: how much does that material's inherent stiffness and responsiveness really affect your ride compared to the components you slap on it? Sure, swapping out parts can enhance performance, but does it mask the weaknesses of a less-than-stellar frame?
If carbon fiber is supposedly king, how do we reconcile the fact that high-end aluminum frames are pushing the same stiffness thresholds at a fraction of the cost? Are we just buying into the hype that carbon fiber's ride quality is leagues ahead, or is there data to back that up?
And what about the long-term implications? If you're shelling out for a fancy carbon frame but end up with a cracked frame after a season, what’s the point? Could it be that we’re overvaluing carbon's supposed benefits while overlooking aluminum's reliability and cost-effectiveness? What’s the balance here?
If carbon fiber is supposedly king, how do we reconcile the fact that high-end aluminum frames are pushing the same stiffness thresholds at a fraction of the cost? Are we just buying into the hype that carbon fiber's ride quality is leagues ahead, or is there data to back that up?
And what about the long-term implications? If you're shelling out for a fancy carbon frame but end up with a cracked frame after a season, what’s the point? Could it be that we’re overvaluing carbon's supposed benefits while overlooking aluminum's reliability and cost-effectiveness? What’s the balance here?
