Carbon Vs Aluminium

[ChUkKy]

I weigh 60 and my bike is 8.9

 

Yoh... 60?

I can give you directions to Woolies to go buy some food instead of a bike shop

[Cippo]

I weigh 60 and my bike is 8.9

 

Ok, your bike is overweight. You need one of those special BlackSpade builds.

[Thomo]

If you like it, ride it.

If you can afford, buy it.

If you having difficulty justifying it, forget it.

Most of all, enjoy it.!

[HeyYou]

Not sure I've seen this anywhere else on the huB, but it's an interesting insight into you dilemma.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4MIEkIBZs

[Iron Midge]

I had almost exactly the same bike (Felt F-85) except with standard wheels. Upgraded to a Trek Madone and *voila* was instantly much quicker. Could be the bike but also could have been mental..

[Pieter1]

Hey guys.

Could not find a thread on how the ride feel differs. Am I being stupid thinking a carbon bike would “feel” different than an alu bike? Specifically mtb. Also does carbon fatigue faster? Basically is a carbon frame worth it?

[SwissVan]

Hey guys.

Could not find a thread on how the ride feel differs. Am I being stupid thinking a carbon bike would “feel” different than an alu bike? Specifically mtb. Also does carbon fatigue faster? Basically is a carbon frame worth it?

IMO based on road bikes ( never ridden a carbon mtb... YET).

Yes they feel different, if it feels better or worse is open to opinion. Carbon bike frames do not fatigue... they can get damaged from impacts etc but don’t stress (pun intended) about fatigue. They can also be repaired easier than metal frames.

 

Go for it

????

[leeubok]

I've been thinking about the caron vs alu dilemma for a while. My last two (incl current bike) were carbon bikes. The problem with the carbon, especially mtb's, is it cannot take a hit. You accidentally knock it over (happened to my Merida) or crash, and the frame is toast. I luckily had insurance which replaced it, but still. On a limited budget, if I had to buy a new bike now I would probably buy an alu frame with better components, rather than a carbon frame with crappy components. This is on the assumption that an alu frame is much cheaper than a carbon frame. If money wasn't a problem I wouldn't even stress about it, just buy carbon with the best components  

[Grease_Monkey]

So I’m pretty sure EVERYONE thinks about upgrading their steel bikes to alu and alu to carbon and carbon to more carbon haha. But my problem is I have a Felt F85 and I really love my bike ALOT and I think it looks pretty sexy as well! But I want to upgrade so badly and it consumes my every thought!! It’s actually quite bad haha! How does one cope with this problem!?! I most definitely don’t think I’m good enough to get a carbon frame, I mean I beat a lot of athletes with sick bikes but what justifies getting a new bike? Share your experiences and upgrades! Post some pictures of your beauties!

 

In all honesty, my steel bike is the bike I've had the most fun on. Not bashing carbon, but there is nothing as cool, or as fun to ride than a well built steel frame - Steel is Real! 

 

You cope with the problem by buying a new bike - and then another, and then another, and then park your car outside to make space in the garage for another.

 

You don't have to justify getting a new bike with anything more than the fact that you want it. It's as simple as that - if I bought bikes that were equal to my skill level I'd still be riding a Schwinn 7 speed from the early 90's. I buy a bike because when I ride it, it gives me joy - sure there are tons of people out there that are ALOT better than me on far "worse" bikes, but who made a rule that you have to have X amount of skill/fitness to ride Y bike? 

 

If you can afford it, and you want it, buy it.

 

As for carbon vs alu vs steel?

 

Carbon is awesome, expensive, but light, stiff, and sexy as hell - I love it. My material of choice for a dual suspension mtb. Can it take big hits - yes, but if you connect with something at the wrong angle it breaks - but that's what insurance is for - you have to get insurance with all the scum running around trying to steal our bikes anyway.

 

Alu - nothing wrong with it, but not my cup of tea.

 

Steel is awesome! It's heavy, it's retro, but it has that cool factor, rides very comfortably, and just makes for a bike that you can thrash without worries of breaking. By far my favourite material for any form of hardtail bike (I don't race, and don't care about weight - if I did then carbon would probably be my first choice).

[Pieter1]

Thanks guys. I have a steel ss and it is a lekker ride. I wanted to build a steel dually but it is going to cost more than a carbon bike with better components, can you believe.

[Grease_Monkey]

Thanks guys. I have a steel ss and it is a lekker ride. I wanted to build a steel dually but it is going to cost more than a carbon bike with better components, can you believe.

Unfortunately steel is becoming a very "exclusive market". Kinda makes me think of the craft gin trend - people that despised gin are now drinking fancy gins by the bottle because it has the work Craft on it and is infused with some rose petal.

[Pieter1]

Unfortunately steel is becoming a very "exclusive market". Kinda makes me think of the craft gin trend - people that despised gin are now drinking fancy gins by the bottle because it has the work Craft on it and is infused with some rose petal.

Ja we are dom like that... However the particular model I’m looking at costs 20K more than the Alu version. You do however get slightly better spec and 400g... Not worried about weight tho. The inly reason I’m lookng at it is the better shock, fork and rear hub.

[Thomo]

To the OP, which yes, goes back a long time: Upgrades don't need to be justified ... it just needs the budget.