Carbon frames: are they all that?

golfergmc

I have a cube streamer and its a aluminum frame but I was considering a change to a carbon frame, are carbon frames so much better or would I be better with a really good aluminum frame say a cannondale. My cube has a ultegra groupset but for the money I can afford the best groupset I could get would be 105, or would I really notice the difference over my streamer.

Dancing Bear

Yep!

peter101cycle

golfergmc wrote:

I have a cube streamer and its a aluminum frame but I was considering a change to a carbon frame, are carbon frames so much better or would I be better with a really good aluminum frame say a cannondale. My cube has a ultegra groupset but for the money I can afford the best groupset I could get would be 105, or would I really notice the difference over my streamer.

Depends what your budget is. You could save money and get a better frame by cannibalising the best bits off the Cube.

Would you notice a difference with a good carbon frame yes. Have a look at Dolan frames amongst others.

Squillinossett

They look nice if that helps.

To be honest, I still love riding my 2009 Trek 1.5 (Alu) as much as my Carbon (Boardman, soon to be PX Nano light) Best thing to do is to try one out. I dont think, unless your spending a few K on a frame, there is a world of difference. Like a few people will say, a CAAD10 is better than alot of carbon frames (not just the cheap ones either)

JesseD

A good alu frame will be better than a cheap carbon frame.

I personally would go for something like a CAAD10 or CAAD9 (if you can find one) over a cheap carbon frame. it will be stiffer, more responsive and a better ride than a cheap noodle of a carbon frame.

However, the PX nanolight seems like a good deal at the moment at £500 as long as the geometry fits you (I personally would still go for a CAAD10).

golfergmc

The CAAD10 is what I was thinking off but have been looking at the Ribble Special Editions, are the Ribble as good a frame as the big names.

joeyhalloran

I would say its more how you make it rather than what material you make it with, the Cervelo s1 has one more pro tour races than many carbon bikes when CSC used it (I believe).

amaferanga

Planet X Nanolight High Mod frame/fork is only £499 at the moment in the P-X sale. An absolute bargain at that price IMO.

northpole

Is frame carbon frame better than aluminium? What criteria are you basing your assessment on? When my back went pop on me my priority was comfort - riding position and reduced impact. I changed from a then basic Condor aluminium bike to a Spesh Roubaix Pro. There was a world of difference - major improvements on the two targets I was trying to achieve.

Conversely, the Condor was an awful lot more fun to ride - so much more alive. Trouble being, my back couldn't take it at the time.

You just need to be careful and make sure you know what you are trying to improve. Sorry if this comes across the wrong way as you have probably given this alot of thought.

Peter

Anonymous

First and foremost fit makes the highest difference between frames. I'd take a perfectly fitting half decent frame over a compromised high end one any day. And spend the extra money on pornography and the ivory trade.

MrChuck

Dancing Bear wrote:

Yep!

Or, no- depending on many other things than just carbon vs. aluminum. Or at least you might not notice a real improvement- you'd probably be able to tell that you were on a different frame, but carbon doesn't automagically make for a better bike than aluminium.

And I say that as the proud owner of a carbon bike

Edit: that was my 1111 post, should've done something more with that!

unixnerd

I have a Cannondale CAAD5 and love it, attention to details and workmanship is superb. I think wheels are more important than the frame. I recently went from 2kg wheels to 1500g (for under 200 quid) and I think that made a far bigger difference than any frame ever could.

Folk get all excited about carbon bikes and don't bother to look at the rest of the components.

That said, if anyone wants to donate a Cannondale carbon frame.......

peter101cycle

unixnerd wrote:

I have a Cannondale CAAD5 and love it, attention to details and workmanship is superb. I think wheels are more important than the frame. I recently went from 2kg wheels to 1500g (for under 200 quid) and I think that made a far bigger difference than any frame ever could.

Folk get all excited about carbon bikes and don't bother to look at the rest of the components.

That said, if anyone wants to donate a Cannondale carbon frame.......

You can have mine if you like?

unixnerd

You can have mine if you like?

I wish! Sadly the "goodies" budget has just been spent on new cross country skis.

gavintc

NapoleonD wrote:

And spend the extra money on pornography

Thankfully, the internet supplies most of this for free. So, you can justify your carbon frame.

chrishd883

JesseD "I personally would go for something like a CAAD10 or CAAD9 (if you can find one) over a cheap carbon frame. it will be stiffer, more responsive and a better ride than a cheap noodle of a carbon frame."

+1 or even an average carbon frame!

Bought an Cannondale R800 (CAAD 8) back in 2004, and then a Synapse in 2008 (both 105 spec)

Yes the Synapse is more comfortable over rough road, but it makes little difference over a 100k ride!

More importantly I prefer riding the CAAD 8, in preference to its "successor"!!

So def +1 for a CAAD 9 / CAAD 10 frame.