Full carbon vs. Aluminium Alloy frame (road bike)

[leact]

Would you mind if I ask for some advise re the following x2bikes I can maybe consider to get (recently advertised):

 

1) SCHWINN Fastback Elite 2010 Small Frame (size in cm?) - Tiagra Flight Deck - Sora front derailer - 105 rear derailer - 10 speed rear cassette - Carbon Front Fork - Frame: Aluminium Alloy. "Bike is in excellent condition and has never been dropped" (=comments from owner + on my enquiry for reason for selling: "upgrading to Gaint/biked used to belong to his wife). ('con': bike/owner in JHB, thus I need to get it to W.Cape, should I decide to get it)-

Offered for: R5'000 ;

 

2) SCHWINN Peloton Comp with - full Ultegra - full carbon frame (weigh +-7,5kg) - 10spd - 48cm ("from centre of BB to top of frame seat"). +"..bike in very good condition & frame does not have a single scratch on.."

Bike in Kuilsriver (advertiser in W.Cape). "selling due to too many bikes in stable" (dealer/fanatic?)

Offered for: R15'500 !

 

ps: - I searched for xS/S-sizes (prefer full carbon, and realise there is a steep price-tag attached to that..is it justifiable in your opinion?). I wish to own a good bicycle for duathlon (non-drafting races) & occasional road-race/club-training rides.

 

Note: per my height of 1,56cm/5'2ft I need a road bike frame size: 48-50cm per a cycle website. I checked my other bike that I own =Gaint Alias-MTB =16inches=40cm, so I assume sizes is very different for MTB vs. R-bikes, right observation?!). Mind my ignorance/naive question, but I'm a rookie (but learing fast:)

[DaLoCo]

My LBS was offering Merida Scultura's with 105 for R16 500,00 not too long ago. That is a brand new full carbon bike. Shop around, a lot of the LBS' have 2010 stock around.

[Christie]

R15k is too much for a 2nd hand bike that does not have4 a big brand frame.

 

Buy a gruppo from chainreactioncycles.com or totalcycling.com

 

I would go for the SRAM Force, R6570 from totalcycling, l(force gruppo of totalcycling)

 

You can get some wheels from chainreaction, too. A pair of Mavic Aksiums will costs R1354 from them.

 

That leave you with R5k for a frame and R2-3 for a bar, stem and post.

 

You can get a full carbon frameset from planet-x-bikes.co.za for R6700, or and an aluminium frame for R2-3k.

 

This is for a complete new bike, in the region of R15 - R17k.

 

 

 

If the Scwinn is in very good condition, and has some expensive wheels, R9000 to R10000 max is what I would pay.

[Eugene]

R15 000 for that carbon Schwinn is too much. I would not pay more than R10-11 000 for it. There was a guy selling the newer version of that (the Paramount 8) for R12 500 on the Hub. It was a large so wouldn't fit you.

 

Whether the R10 000 difference between the 2 bikes is justified is an arguable point. I know a number of people that have sub 3 Arguses under their belt riding entry level Raleighs and plently of guys who have struggled to get 4 hours on their R60 0000 dream bikes. Personally, I'd take the carbon one, but I always say, get the bike that you want, even if it costs more. There is nothing worse than buying something and wishing you had bought something else.

 

Going back to your frame question. An aluminium frame that fits you properly is far better than a carbon frame that does not fit. A slightly smaller frame can easily be adapted to fit, but one that is too big cannot.

 

Also remember that Schwinn frames are known as compact frames (top tube slopes downwards). That means that their measurements are slightly smaller. That 48cm one, is probably a medium (although, I'm no expert on Schwinn sizing). From that website, it would appear that you need an extra small frame in standard sizing. On a compact that could be a 44 or even a 42, depending on the make. Your 16inch MTB sounds like a small frame. So I could suppose that if you are comfortable on it, you should be looking for a small/extra small road bike.

 

It is better to look for the extra small/small marking on the frame and don't worry about the actual measurement (in cm) or go to the Scwhinn website and see what their extra small/small frame measurements are. Frame size is a minefield between manufacturers, your best bet is to get yourself checked at a bike shop for your actual size.

[Eugene]

Oh ja.........forgot to mention. Check out www.obike.co.za They are the official importers of Schwinn, they sell their bikes online, but via a bike shop. They have some wicked deals on carbon Scwinns and GTs. You may even find a new bike cheaper than the second hand ones you looked at.

[splat]

Get the frame that fits you the best.