New Road Bike

Soni

I'm upgrading towards the end of next year, and although its a year away, i want to spend the time doing my homework so i can get the best bike i can within my budget.

I presently have a Trek 1.5 and the main problems i've experienced are gear problems with the Tiagra, which has been upgraded by Trek to 105, which have made things a bit better.

The other problem is comfort over bumpy ground. As i was experiencing punctures i upgraded the tires from the Race Lit that came with the bike to Bontrager HardCase, then a year on i've just upgraded to Vittoria PAVE EVO and although expensive the ride is so so much more comfortable its incredible how much a tire can make so much of a difference.

Anyway, i've been looking at Trek again, as i like their bikes, however i wanted to stick with a Aluminium frame as i'm not bothered about weight, i want a nice training bike as i won't be racing, and thought if i stick with Aluminium i can save the money on the frame and spend it on the transmission, so i can get something like Ultegra of Durace, however all the top end tranmission seems to be on the carbon frames.....

What would you guys recommend? Is it really worth going for a Carbon frame? They can break easy can't they? Also i've heard some people say that you can feel whats going on under you on a Aluminium frame but not a carbon?

Would a carbon frame be much more comfortable than an Aluminium frame?

My Budget will be around the 2K mark??

porker33

If you like Trek and want to spend £2k

consider one of these;

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec016752

The 2010 model is £2900, I believe.

I came close to buying one of these last month, just about to pull the trigger, then I tried a 1.9 aluminium with ultegra (now 2.5),,,it did everything I need for < half the price.

Soni

porker33 wrote:

If you like Trek and want to spend £2k

consider one of these;

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec016752

The 2010 model is £2900, I believe.

I came close to buying one of these last month, just about to pull the trigger, then I tried a 1.9 aluminium with ultegra (now 2.5),,,it did everything I need for < half the price.

Did you test ride the Carbon? How did it compare to the Aluminium?

As i said i'm not particularly worried about Carbon for the weight issue, however if its going to be that much more comfortable on the road then i would consider it over Aluminium.....

softlad

if you want comfort and longevity, go for titanium and spec it yourself. You could probably build up a reasonably-specced Van Nicholas Mistral or Euros for that budget...

redddraggon

You want Alloy? You want a good groupset?

Get a CAAD9

Soni

redddraggon wrote:

You want Alloy? You want a good groupset?

Get a CAAD9

Hi RedDragon, just came accross a thread you posted in regarding the comfort of carbon over Aluminium, this is your post:-

Is a carbon frame noticibly more comfortable on a rough road than aluminium?


No - it depends what on carbon frame you are comparing to what aluminium frame.

Carbon can be really stiff and unforgiving depending on how the fibres have been laid down - and the alu bike may be really comfortable.

People might say carbon is more comfortable but it isn't - if the fibres have been laid down for comfort though it probably will be.

Carbon fibre is not a wonder material.......

How would i know which carbon frame has been built for comfort and which has not? Like wise with the aluminium?

softlad

hello..? not interested in Ti then..??

Soni

softlad wrote:

hello..? not interested in Ti then..??

Sorry m8 completely missed ur post, ill take a look at prices, ti comfortable then? Like CF?

Soni

Just looked at Van Nicholas, i think the Zephyr is the better looking one, but i personally still think the Trek looks the better bike, nicer welds, but as i say its personal preference, nice price tag though and a well speced bike....

porker33

Soni wrote:

porker33 wrote:

If you like Trek and want to spend £2k

consider one of these;

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec016752

The 2010 model is £2900, I believe.

I came close to buying one of these last month, just about to pull the trigger, then I tried a 1.9 aluminium with ultegra (now 2.5),,,it did everything I need for < half the price.

Did you test ride the Carbon? How did it compare to the Aluminium?

As i said i'm not particularly worried about Carbon for the weight issue, however if its going to be that much more comfortable on the road then i would consider it over Aluminium.....

I test rode the ali bike first, was so impressed with the bike and deal, I bought it on the spot!.I didn't ride the carbon at the time.

However, the ali seemed rigid at first, now the bike and me have been broken in, it is not rough at all...I have since ridden the carbon madone and it was different, not as much as I thought, over the distance I rode it. Certainly didn't think I needed to spend the extra £££, maybe I was used to the fit, but my bike felt better for me?

Although I have limited experience, you obviously have the ride these bikes to compare,,,how long/far is enough to compare??...then other factors such as tyres/pressures can make a huge difference to the ride.

After I purchased, I thought I may have wished I owned the carbon in a few weeks time, but unless you feel you have to have the top machine, then why worry...if you are not too fussed about carbon for the sake of it..where is the need, unless a ride convinces you to spend the extra £££.

Have to agree with you on the welds on a TREK, I am very impressed with the fit, finish and spec....no disrespect to those that own them, but following the advice on these boards, I looked at PX. Boardman and Focus,,,, none of these seemed of the same quality to me.

Good luck in your search.

redddraggon

Soni wrote:

How would i know which carbon frame has been built for comfort and which has not? Like wise with the aluminium?

My Nero Corsa is way stiffer than my Alloy "winter bike", and is loads harsher (both frames Compared using Neutron Ultras + Vittoria Open Corsas), and so suffer "road buzz" more noticeably on the CFRP Nero Corsa.

Although TBH I suffer the road buzz because I prefer the stiffer frame (and will probably be getting an even stiffer and harsher CFRP frame in the next week TBC)

To answer your question specifically - The CFRP frames that will be comfortable will be marketed as Sportive/Comfort, so the obvious ones are Specialized Roubaix, Cannondale Synapse etc These tend to have longer headtubes and comfort orientated geometry too. The recent (since 07) Trek Madones have also been getting good reports over their comfort too compared to the old style.

Aluminium doesn't necessarily mean a harsh ride either. The CAAD9 frames generally get very good ride reports.

softlad

Soni wrote:

Just looked at Van Nicholas, i think the Zephyr is the better looking one, but i personally still think the Trek looks the better bike, nicer welds, but as i say its personal preference, nice price tag though and a well speced bike....

what do you mean "nicer welds"...??

Soni

softlad wrote:

Soni wrote:

Just looked at Van Nicholas, i think the Zephyr is the better looking one, but i personally still think the Trek looks the better bike, nicer welds, but as i say its personal preference, nice price tag though and a well speced bike....

what do you mean "nicer welds"...??

OK probably incorrect, what i mean is the way the tubes join each other on the Ali Treks, they look a little like a Carbon, however its obviously not the welds that do it its probably the squarish top tube....but as i say its personal preference.....

Soni

porker33 wrote:

Soni wrote:

porker33 wrote:

If you like Trek and want to spend £2k

consider one of these;

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/tre ... e-ec016752

The 2010 model is £2900, I believe.

I came close to buying one of these last month, just about to pull the trigger, then I tried a 1.9 aluminium with ultegra (now 2.5),,,it did everything I need for < half the price.

Did you test ride the Carbon? How did it compare to the Aluminium?

As i said i'm not particularly worried about Carbon for the weight issue, however if its going to be that much more comfortable on the road then i would consider it over Aluminium.....

I test rode the ali bike first, was so impressed with the bike and deal, I bought it on the spot!.I didn't ride the carbon at the time.

However, the ali seemed rigid at first, now the bike and me have been broken in, it is not rough at all...I have since ridden the carbon madone and it was different, not as much as I thought, over the distance I rode it. Certainly didn't think I needed to spend the extra £££, maybe I was used to the fit, but my bike felt better for me?

Although I have limited experience, you obviously have the ride these bikes to compare,,,how long/far is enough to compare??...then other factors such as tyres/pressures can make a huge difference to the ride.

After I purchased, I thought I may have wished I owned the carbon in a few weeks time, but unless you feel you have to have the top machine, then why worry...if you are not too fussed about carbon for the sake of it..where is the need, unless a ride convinces you to spend the extra £££.

Have to agree with you on the welds on a TREK, I am very impressed with the fit, finish and spec....no disrespect to those that own them, but following the advice on these boards, I looked at PX. Boardman and Focus,,,, none of these seemed of the same quality to me.

Good luck in your search.

Cheers mate, i feel a little apprehensive going for a Carbon, as worried about crashing it and writing it off....whereas at least an Ali can be repaired....

fungus_the_muffin_man

why are you so worried about crashing it? Have you crashed much up till now? I think to be honest if you crash it hard enough to warrant totally knackering the frame the crash will be sufficent enough to do similar damge to an aluminium frame. All though I'm no expert so I could be totally wrong.

Also If your looking at getting an alu Trek frame why spend more on another bike which has the same frame as the Trek 1.5 just to get a better groupset? As I'm sure that from the 1.5 (2009) upwards they all have the alu alpha black frame.

I also wouldn't rule out other makes. When I upgraded I hadn't even looked at Bianchi as i had disregarded it completely. I was then given one to test drive when I had my bike fitting and it was a revelation. Without doubt the best bike i'd tried and ended up getting it straight away.

Good luck with your research within the next 2/3 month you'll be chomping at the bit to buy one and yor head will be all over the place with the huge amount of choice you have around the £2000 mark. I'd had looking for bikes overload by that point.

keef66

Some kinds of damage to carbon can be satisfactorily repaired.

Safely repairing a heat-treated alloy frame is apparently pretty difficult.

If you're looking for indestructability go for Ti. If you're looking for repairability go for steel.

If it's comfort and peace of mind you want, I'd suggest a Ti sportive type frame and run 25mm tyres at 90 psi.

Soni

Fungus The Muffin Man wrote:

why are you so worried about crashing it? Have you crashed much up till now? I think to be honest if you crash it hard enough to warrant totally knackering the frame the crash will be sufficent enough to do similar damge to an aluminium frame. All though I'm no expert so I could be totally wrong.

Also If your looking at getting an alu Trek frame why spend more on another bike which has the same frame as the Trek 1.5 just to get a better groupset? As I'm sure that from the 1.5 (2009) upwards they all have the alu alpha black frame.

I also wouldn't rule out other makes. When I upgraded I hadn't even looked at Bianchi as i had disregarded it completely. I was then given one to test drive when I had my bike fitting and it was a revelation. Without doubt the best bike i'd tried and ended up getting it straight away.

Good luck with your research within the next 2/3 month you'll be chomping at the bit to buy one and yor head will be all over the place with the huge amount of choice you have around the £2000 mark. I'd had looking for bikes overload by that point.

Hi mate, i've come off a few times yeah, luckily no other vehicle involved, just lost it a few times in places....

With regard to upgrading to another ali frame, the groupset would cost me about 500-600 plus another about the same for wheels, i would be better off upgrading the whole bike....