carbon frames

an56

I've been cycling for some years on an aluminium road bike and looking to buy a carbon frame - but have no clue of the difference between cheaper and more expensive frames. On what basis do I decide? (I'm looking at up to £2000 for the frame & fork)

Anonymous

Looks.

TarmacExpert

There are lots of ways in which frames can be different:

Weight
Stiffness
Ride quality
Aesthetics
Aerodynamics
Price
Seat tube size
Integrated or external headset
Quality of manufacture - durability, incidence of frames failing
Replaceable rear mech attachment point?
Lifetime warranty?
If it does have a lifetime warranty, does the manufacturer readily honour it, or do they tend to claim the frame has failed for a reason that isn't their problem?

Not all of these things are easy to establish for a given frame - you need to search around on forums for relevant feedback from people.

an56

Thanks. Aside from weight is more expensive necessarily better? Any suggestions for which ones to try and test out (for frequent rides but not competing, i.e. comfort over cutting seconds) as a guide or is it mostly personal preference?

rogerthecat

@ an56

Same boat m8, looking at the Cervelo S2 or R3

Chip \'oyler

an56 wrote:

Thanks. Aside from weight is more expensive necessarily better? Any suggestions for which ones to try and test out (for frequent rides but not competing, i.e. comfort over cutting seconds) as a guide or is it mostly personal preference?

Usually.

For under 2k you can get a carbon frame made to measure from Viner

http://www.vinerbikes.com/bikes/road-bi ... -2265.html

There's a 5 star review here
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/gear/cate ... a-08-32013