New roadie, advice for a heavy rider

[love2fly]

Ive also ridden alu and steel and there is nothing more compliant yet stiff than carbon....

If you hit a cateye hard enough to break a fork, your rim and probably wrists will break first.

[love2fly]

Carbon generally breaks long before it has a chance to fatigue.

Now that's baloney...

 

I quote"The steel shaft gave out at around 1376 newton meters while the carbon fiber shaft held until 4728 newton meters. That's a huge chunk of difference. Strands of expensive fiber dominates metal more than three times over."

Source: http://sploid.gizmodo.com/heres-how-much-stronger-carbon-fiber-is-compared-to-st-1521751435

[Butterbean]

Just how many alu frames do you see in the pro tour....or even MTB pro series....

Just how many 80kg plus riders do you see in those same races?? What is good for the world's best, won't be the best for a 130kg rider.

 

Heavy riders are 9/10 times needing to spend as much time on a bike as possible, with as little worry as possible. While carbon may be compliant, any carbon that is as comfortable as steel will be noodly everywhere else. Then you're still sacrificing strength and reliability in almost every aspect - normal riding, as well as shocks, bumps, and dings.

 

Sorry, but it's simply not the right material for a heavy rider.

[Pah Bear]

Just how many alu frames do you see in the pro tour....or even MTB pro series....

I'm not arguing that Alu is better than the other. I was questioning the point made re "Alu is taking a giant step back". It's not that simple.

 

We not discussing pro cyclists. If you someone that spend your pennies buying Pro equal goods, then top gun sir. The point made about no riders in the peleton being 130k? Should actually have said 75k plus.

[Pah Bear]

Now that's baloney...

 

I quote"The steel shaft gave out at around 1376 newton meters while the carbon fiber shaft held until 4728 newton meters. That's a huge chunk of difference. Strands of expensive fiber dominates metal more than three times over."

Source: http://sploid.gizmodo.com/heres-how-much-stronger-carbon-fiber-is-compared-to-st-1521751435

Is that bicycle carbon tubing? If not then it does not prove anything anyway.

[love2fly]

Also, carbon is known to have more torsional strength....check it out if you don't know this already....us heavier riders have to push more torque through the cranks and a carbon bottom end does that very well.

I speak from personal experience, not conjecture.

I also have 2 family members who traded their Cannondale tandem for a Carbon one, dropped around 3-4kg in bike weight and are much, much faster. Much less flex and fishtailing viewed from behind when they have the hammer down.

[love2fly]

I mailed them in China. Said their warehouse is running low and not making more. On my mobile so do not jave the e mail at hand

 

 

Actually, where did you hear this?? I see them still punting new models everywhere, and can't find any official announcement anywhere either.

[quintonb]

Sorry I need to correct you on longevity. Fact is that aluminium and steel fatigue, carbon does not (well not in our riding lifetimes anyway)

Fact is that I have seen more carbon frames crack than aluminium, and I have been around racing bicycles for more than 30 years.

Steel is in another category all on its own, it is in fact probably the best material to build a frame with. Yes I know its heavy and all that, but it has the ability to bend and return with very little or any long-term stress to the frame. 

I have nothing against carbon at all, but I do know that somewhere along the line a crack will develop, that is why I said make sure its a brand that is very well supported in this country.

 

I would love to see vintage carbon frames is 40 or 50 years time like we seeing now days with old steel frames. Personally I don't see that happening with carbon in its current form. Maybe with technology and over time, but not current frames. Just my opinion.

[love2fly]

Fact is that I have seen more carbon frames crack than aluminium, and I have been around racing bicycles for more than 30 years.

Steel is in another category all on its own, it is in fact probably the best material to build a frame with. Yes I know its heavy and all that, but it has the ability to bend and return with very little or any long-term stress to the frame. 

I have nothing against carbon at all, but I do know that somewhere along the line a crack will develop, that is why I said make sure its a brand that is very well supported in this country.

 

I would love to see vintage carbon frames is 40 or 50 years time like we seeing now days with old steel frames. Personally I don't see that happening with carbon in its current form. Maybe with technology and over time, but not current frames. Just my opinion.

......and I have been around bikes for even longer than that but it doesn't make me an expert, and neither does it for you......Fact is I started riding a carbon bike in 2000, the second generation Trek and I loved it!,Through circumstance I had to sell that when I started my own business and rode two alu Trek bikes for a year or so after and went back to Carbon....I have never had an issue with carbon and hope like hell I don't ever have to contemplate riding ANY bike or technology that is 40 or 50 years old, just as God forbid, should I fall ill or be injured, I pray that they do not use Blood-letting as a part of my treatment....

I've said my piece so good luck further....

[Rocket-Boy]

Sup buddy. Yeah we did meet at the airport, hope you been well? Hope your buddy got some good miles out of that road bike.

Ahh cool, yeah he did enjoy it. He moved to Norway though so got himself a decent long travel mtb with all the awesome trails they have there.