Carbon or Aluminium?

pompy

I want to upgrade to a decent (geared) road bike and am currently looking at the Rose Pro RS and the Carbon SL and RS models.

There is about £400 difference in the overall bike price between the Alu RS and the Carbon RS but I don't know if paying the extra is worth it. I know that carbon frames are generally more compliant and not as harsh as alu ones, I have ridden a Claud Butler alu frame and did quite it quite firm but then this is a pretty low budget frame. I have also heard that heavier more powerful riders may suit alu over carbon and I think I might fall into that catergory (13.5 stone).

Can anyone point me in the right direction? :?:

Gazzaputt

Hmm strange one.

I have carbon Canyon and alu one.

The alu is more forgiving than the carbon! I think this really depends on the manufacturer.

denzzz28

pompy wrote:

I have also heard that heavier more powerful riders may suit alu over carbon and I think I might fall into that catergory (13.5 stone).

Can anyone point me in the right direction? :?:

thats contrary from what i have read the other day. most hard core riders prefer steel so carbon frames is the lighter version of steel frames in term of stiffness, one member even said "aluminum dont have soul". i dont really know what that means.

but to answer your question id rather go for the carbon, i think the extra £££ is worth it.

fizz

pompy wrote:

ICan anyone point me in the right direction? :?:

Its such a difficult question to answer.

Just to give you a bit of background.

I had an Alu frame and now I have a carbon one. There was nothing wrong with the Alu frame until I got knocked off it and it was damaged. It felt fast, it was responsive and it did have a good leve of comfort. I was very happy with it.

I also have a steel framed fixie.

I'd pick the Carbon frame every time over the other two. Its faster and more responsive than the Alu, its more comfortable than the Alu and the steel as well. The carbon frame just seems to glide over the surface, it damps out road buzz / vibes through the bars in the way neither of the other two frames do. Its just also in general much nicer to ride, but this might be the placebo effect because its new.

If I were you if you can get a back to back test ride on both frames and see how they feel to you to ride as thats the most important thing. But in your shoes if I could afford the extra money I would be going for the carbon frame.

dcj

this has been said before: its not so much about the material per se. its what the builder does with it that defines the characteristics of the frame and generalisations and peoples personal experiences of a frame can tell you little about the frame material itself

however in your specific case hopefully someone who knows both of the rose frames well can be specific on what to expect. sorry i don't know but anything else is guesswork. ideally get a ride before you buy, somehow. good luck.

Essex Man

Gazzaputt wrote:

Hmm strange one.

I have carbon Canyon and alu one.

The alu is more forgiving than the carbon! I think this really depends on the manufacturer.

As a matter of interest, how do you rate the Alu Canyon (ultimate Al?) for comfort compared to other bikies, alu or carbon?

Monty Dog

Generally, put more of your money into the frame and wheels rather than the components. You can always upgrade components progressively, particularly as they wear out.