Tell me all about lower end carbon frames
Mike400
Posts: 226
Ok a couple of questions.
I read a comment on here in another topic which said that lower end carbon frames, such as the boardman / ribble etc are actually 20% carbon and the rest is fibreglass / other similar stuff.
Is this true? and if so what sort of lifespan would you expect from a cheaper carbon frame?
Also I know all frames are different but as a guideline what sort of weight-limit would we be looking at with a carbon frame? Im currently 15stone (at the minute - cycle commuting is shaving this down more and more every week
aiming for around 13 - 14 stone) and wouldnt want something that would break when I rode it!!
I read a comment on here in another topic which said that lower end carbon frames, such as the boardman / ribble etc are actually 20% carbon and the rest is fibreglass / other similar stuff.
Is this true? and if so what sort of lifespan would you expect from a cheaper carbon frame?
Also I know all frames are different but as a guideline what sort of weight-limit would we be looking at with a carbon frame? Im currently 15stone (at the minute - cycle commuting is shaving this down more and more every week
aiming for around 13 - 14 stone) and wouldnt want something that would break when I rode it!! twitter @fat_cyclist
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http://www.dedacciai.com/
There are some very stuck up people on here who having spent far to much on what they thought was a top frame, then proceed to knock every "cheaper" frame as censored . Visit their website and see for yourself. Don't be led by the so called experts on here.
Dave
Pretty much the whole Boardman range (road and mountain) have got great reviews.
IMHO it doesn't really matter what the frame is made out of. So as long as the frame has the characteristics you're after then Im sure you can't go far wrong. Both companies are well regarded so should have taken the necessary steps to ensure the bike is durable for its intended use.
Higher modulus fibres are not necessarily better as then the frame becomes more brittle.
The main differences between the "top end" and "low end" frames is the design and method of contruction. The more expensive frames tend to be either lighter and/or more aero too.
Still, I'd probably much rather a £500 alloy frame, than a £500 CFRP frame.
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Your'e obviously not one of those I was talking about
Dave
Yes I'd prob agree with that too. Manufacturing with carbon fiber is more expensive than manufacturing with Alu. So for a fixed amount, more can be spent on R&D on the Alu frame than the CF. So at the lower end, the Alu might be better designed?
Saying that, if you find a boardman or ribble bike that you like, then I wouldn't hesitate to buy it, what ever material it was made from.
Started off wanting to spend around £600 through C2W, (see one of my many pointless threads!!)
But you guys arent helping - you are all supporting the wee voice that says spend the whole £1k!!
And the Boardman carbon seems such good value. I was just worried low end carbon would be a waste of £ over alloy at the same price point....
Cheers guys
Probably for the majority of people a "cheap" CFRP frame will meet requirements, but I'm very specific about the geometry (and related stuff) as I normally take one of the smaller sizes. Lots of the cheap CFRP frames seem to be "Sportive" orientated - I like ~55cm top tubes with at most a 14cm headtube, but a lot of frames seem to have far long headtubes.
The small P-X can only fit one bottle cage ~ I can't see why they couldn't put the cage mounts lower down, even if you can still only fit a 500ml bottle - a 500ml bottle is better than nothing.
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Spend spend spend - you know you want to...! :twisted:
Enjoy your new Boardman!
STOP IT!! lol
Secondly, some of the bike mag reviews actually look into the guts of the frame & in some cases the only criticism is that it is not "neat & tidy" inside.
At no point would a 20/80 carbon/fibreglass frame get through the review, and no I don't think they are paid to give good reviews.
I think low end carbon frames are fine - yes there are failures - but this probably happens with the high end stuff as well. Scuro is supposed to be high end carbon - Ribble do one - but its nearly always sold out.
I would just buy the bike you like - after youve had it a couple of months - Im sure you will be pleased with it, and if youre not its more likley to be the fit or position - rather than carbon, alu, high end carbon.
I doubt if the world of publishing has changed much.
Not really corrupt - but it would be naive to assume that all magazine reviews are unbiased whether you're talking bikes, HiFi ore any other specialist subject. Magazines survive on advertising, not the cover price, so there is an obvious conflict of interest...
The most they should say is basically "Did you enjoy listening to it?"
With a one word answer...
Hifi is so subjective yet you should read some of the utter tripe spouted in the reviews. If you think laterally stiff yet vertically compliant is an overused phrase then you should hear the censored spouted about 'depth of soundstage' and 'Inky blacks' etc etc
:shock:
The hifi I own I listened to myself. I then ended up reading gushing reviews of the CD player and the Speakers I owned in a magazing called 'HI Fi choice - The Collection'.
It was confirmed, utter b0ll0cks!
No offence but I can't believe how many people are so mesmerised by the Boardman carbon bikes.
I can't see that Halford's £999 offering is any better than,say, the Focus Cayo,the Dolan Mythos,the Ribble Sportive or the Planet x sl carbon, all for similar money and usually screwed together better.
And more to the point ,even if you wanted one how the hell do you actually get your hands on a Boardman carbon?.
They've never got any in stock.Anywhere.
I would be interested to know how many people who wanted one of these bikes DIDN'T get one in the end because Halfords couldn't supply one. These forums seem to suggest the number is quite high.
That's an interesting one. I was actually thinking the same myself about Focus, Cube and Corratec bikes as they offer astounding value for money.
On Wiggle they're selling a Focus Cayo Expert with SRAM Red for £1799. That's an amazing price considering Red is an expensive group set. Compare the RRP of £2300 with the equivalent from other manufacturers and you're looking at Shimano Ultegra which is a lot cheaper. The same goes with Cube and Corratec. Well reviewed and respected bikes but crazy value for money.
I've no doubt that German bikes are top notch but am wondering how come they are so cheap. Is there some sort of catch somewhere ?
I think its the team carbon for £1499 , which is the one they are clamoring after. But as you say there are other bikes which represent better value IMO. My Kuota Kharma with ultegra sl was £1590. The reported weight of the boardman is lighter though. Planet X \Ribble look the best deals. IMO
I've seen a few Planet X's & if I could have got their website to work I might have got one.
Would use Ribble again no question, though there are lots of forum posts about poor service.