Upgrading from Alu to Carbon

[sputnik-f1]

And lets not forget steel...

I would rather ride one of these for the rest of my life than a Taiwanese plastic jobbie

 

Colnago Master X Lite

[sputnik-f1]

Edman, you are on the money, better to invest in yourself than frame material. It's not what the bike is made of, but what you are made of.

Anyway, some more steel loveliness

[Skaap]

maybe it is all in the mind bit my times improved a lot when i went from alu to carbon...

[MariusL]

Edman, you are on the money, better to invest in yourself than frame material. It's not what the bike is made of, but what you are made of.

Anyway, some more steel loveliness

 

That is just beautiful...

[Chris_M]

I'm with you MTB_Roadie... my CAAD9 looks the business (IMO better than a lot of full carbin bikes), weighs under 7kg's... at probably half the price of a carbon bike... who needs carbon???

 

I agree with you MariusL – I think that I own the same CAAD9 frame as you (If you are who I think you are we rode together on the WCE route prior to the race - yours is black with red letters/sram force) I can confirm that my CAAD9 rides better than my full carbon Cannondale. For me it has a better "feel" and response on the road. My carbon bike is slightly lighter than the aluminium CAAD9 but for me it still can't match the ride.

[Tiny K]

Touche!

 

+1 - if I had the cash and needed to get a new ride, I'd rather get a light alu bike and spend the difference on tech gadgets like a garmin 800 or something similar.

 

I guess you only learn once you make the mistake or not take heed from others.

 

Enjoy the bike though, and as my dad says, it not how light the bike is but how strong the legs are to get you there.

[Tiny K]

maybe it is all in the mind bit my times improved a lot when i went from alu to carbon...

 

Nah, it was your legs....unless your brakes were set too tight on the Alu bike and they were actually keeping you back

[mudda]

"Upgrading from Alu to Carbon"

 

I have both. Cycling in the bunch, sucking a wheel - Alu or Carbon makes no real difference, since you are conserving energy.

 

Big difference is up the hills. You will be faster on a lighter bike. Sprinting will also be faster on a lighter bike (power to weight ratios apply)

 

The truth is, if your fitness is not up to scrath, carbon may only make you look better (marginally)

 

I think a better question would be "what part of a bike will make me faster ?"

 

The reality is a lighter bike will because of:

 

1) Power to weight ratio (Sprints are quicker)

2) Less energy required to propel you forward (same energy = higher average speed going to a lighter bike)

 

I have heard the chaps talk about the stiffness of a frame affecting performance, but to be honest, I have no idea how such measurements can be made without scientific measurement devices. On my bikes alu and carbon, I can tell no difference in stiffness. One is just lighter than the other.

[danman]

Charlv, I'm sittin in the exact same boat as you Mate. Went from a 10kg 2003 Raleigh RC2000 (Sora) to a 9kg Carbon Merida Scultura 904 (Shimano 105, Alex Rims). I can feel no difference in ride comfort or stiffness. In fact I was quite disappointed with the weight of the Merida. I thought carbon was suppose to be lighter?! Although I believe the alloy alex rims (spelt Alexims ) has a lot to do with it.

 

If I may ask, what is the weight of your Merida 906 and what wheels you using?

[gummibear]

Charlv, I'm sittin in the exact same boat as you Mate. Went from a 10kg 2003 Raleigh RC2000 (Sora) to a 9kg Carbon Merida Scultura 904 (Shimano 105, Alex Rims). I can feel no difference in ride comfort or stiffness. In fact I was quite disappointed with the weight of the Merida. I thought carbon was suppose to be lighter?! Although I believe the alloy alex rims (spelt Alexims ) has a lot to do with it.

 

If I may ask, what is the weight of your Merida 906 and what wheels you using?

 

If you had gone from 10kg to 7.5kg you would have felt a huge difference,but 1 kg isn't much.

The lighter the wheels the less effort is needed on the hills and that's also only true if you are a skiny beeny like Andy Schleck.

[MTB_Roadie]

1kg drop? my alum Scott Speedster with 5700 105 Groupie with normal Alu fork is 9kg's...lol!

 

Seriously think you have to change those wheels, I run Alex 320, weight about 1.8kg....

 

a carbon bike shuld atleast weigh 8kg's, that what most carbon bikes with 105 weigh

[MariusL]

I agree with you MariusL – I think that I own the same CAAD9 frame as you (If you are who I think you are we rode together on the WCE route prior to the race - yours is black with red letters/sram force) I can confirm that my CAAD9 rides better than my full carbon Cannondale. For me it has a better "feel" and response on the road. My carbon bike is slightly lighter than the aluminium CAAD9 but for me it still can't match the ride.

 

You had the blue 'Dale - I remember you yes

 

A mate of mine has a SuperSix and says the ride is very harsh (he previously had a CAAD9), and also prefers the alu CAAD9...

[Harry Potter]

Going from Alu to carbon with 1kg difference, you will not feel it in weight; however the carbon bike should be more responsive, Ride the carbon for a couple of months and then get on the Alu bike again. You will feel the difference. I’m getting my carbon in December, can’t wait, we will see you on the road.

[MariusL]

"Upgrading from Alu to Carbon"

 

 

The reality is a lighter bike will because of:

 

1) Power to weight ratio (Sprints are quicker)

2) Less energy required to propel you forward (same energy = higher average speed going to a lighter bike)

 

I have heard the chaps talk about the stiffness of a frame affecting performance, but to be honest, I have no idea how such measurements can be made without scientific measurement devices. On my bikes alu and carbon, I can tell no difference in stiffness. One is just lighter than the other.

 

Frame stiffness is key, doesn't help you have a super lightweight frame that flexes all over the show... then a lot of your power is being lost in the flex of the frame before it get's to the wheels... it's like trying to play pool with a piece of rope (same type of analogy)... in saying that you want your frame to have a small amount of flex to give you some comfort or else you just end up feeling every little bump in the road... but also has a lot to do with the wheel you use...

 

I remember a guy at the Worcester ride who had a mean looking set of wheels, and him being a slightly larger rider his wheels were flexing all over the show everytime he got out of the saddle (you could see and sometimes even hear his wheels rubbing his brake blocks)... pretty pointless having light wheels if they flex, same as your frame...

 

I know the BMC pro's this year weren't keen on the top of the range frame they received, that's why many of them were using the frame just under the top end one as it had less flex...

Edited November 19, 2010 by MariusL

[MariusL]

Going from Alu to carbon with 1kg difference, you will not feel it in weight; however the carbon bike should be more responsive, Ride the carbon for a couple of months and then get on the Alu bike again. You will feel the difference. I’m getting my carbon in December, can’t wait, we will see you on the road.

 

How can you make that statement if you haven't been riding a carbon frame for a few months (assuming you currently riding an alu frame and getting your carbon upgrade in December)... just a question?

[splat]

I didn't need carbon I just wanted it so I bought it.

 

 

Ditto

 

There is a big difference between need and want.