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| *Vultures Knob>>>Road Bike |
Aluminum frame vs. Carbon frame road bikes? |
I am looking to upgrade from my aluminum frame road bike to a carbon frame road bike. I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages to a carbon frame, other than the fact that it costs more. Also, should I consider one bike maker or brand over another, and why. Do any of the manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on their carbon frames? Thanks. Wow, a lot of disinformation being posted as fact. Let me say this first: There is 'need' and there is 'want'. Unless you are in the top 1% or above in cycling fitness for your age group, buying a carbon fiber frame will not make you any faster. Training will. That being said, carbon fiber has taken over the high-end bike frame market and is making huge inroads to the mid-range market too. All for good reason. Carbon fiber can be tuned for each portion of the frame. Without question the lightest and stiffest frames are carbon fiber. I am a competitive cyclist who rides over 5000 miles a year and ride a seven year old Look brand (obsolete by today's standards) carbon-tubed bike. My bike weighs a little over 19 lbs with pedals so it is far from the lightest. The frame is aluminum lug with carbon fiber tube construction joined together with an adhisive. I am also 6'4" tall, 195 lbs and can generate well over 1000 watts for a short burst. I have crashed this frame heavily without any damage. Carbon fiber is very, very tough. Don't believe all the carbon-haters. The price is coming down every year so if you can't afford one this year, you may be able too next year. i know trek has a lifetime warranty over all the carbon pieces they make so that could be a good thing to look into cervelo also makes amazing bicycles at a slightly higher price for some carbon lighter stiffer no flex more power into the pedals carbon owns to bad i cant afford it yet yet I would personally recommend Titanium frame and fork. Since its light as aluminum and its so tough it is bullet proof. Worth the money for the technology. Opinion the wight of carbon is smaller so you can gain more speed, but carbon is more breakable and not flexible at all, the best companies are specialized and giant for road bikes well geez... carbon is more likely to break, and doesn't handle heavy people as well. if it breaks, it cannot be repaired, you have to replace it. if you wreck, there's a good chance it will need replacing. it is more forgiving and absorbs bumps better, transfers energy about equally and is lighter overall. everyone makes good ones, Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Specialized, Cervelo, they are all good... BUT only 2 or 3 companies actually make their own frames. tthe rest sub them out to specs. i would find which companies (Giant) actaully make their own bikes as they have better 1. knowledge and 2. quality control, to find out which bike to buy. here are some other names in carbon, all of which have been in one of the grand tours, so anyone is race capable... Jamis, Orbea, Felt, Time, Pinarello, Titus, Bianchi... pick one, or check out several... see what looks good, see what feels good and ride. one note, most all of them have lifetime warranties, some won't warrant heavy (over 200 lbs) riders though, so check out their warranty first, and don't just trust your dealer, most are selling premium bikes to heavies and don't know, actually read the warranty prior to purchase. the max is about a year or two, you will have to pay for it if you want to make it lifetime |
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