Carbon vs Alu. (old question?)

Paul057

Hi All,
Apologies for asking a question that i'm sure has been asked on here many times, but as a newbie i'm having to ask again; is a carbon bike worth the extra money?

I'm a complete newbie to cycling, and i've just bought a second hand Carrera to get me started and make sure that i actually enjoy cycling (and that it doesn't irritate an old knee injury) before spending £1000 on a bike using the cycle to work scheme.

My question is, do i shell out £1000 on a carbon frame bike with mediocre components, or do i spend £600/£700 on a Alu. bike and upgrade to some top quality (or at least a bit better) components? I'd be willing to up my budget to £1100 for the right bike.

In the carbon range i'm looking at the Focus Cayo, Ribble Sportive, and the Felt F75.
I haven't really looked at (drooled over) Alu. too much as i've managed to convince myself i need a carbon frame. Am i wrong?

Any help appreciated

rodgers73

Pick up a copy of Cycling Active this month - they have a good article on Alu bikes for around a grand and makes some interesting comments on whether or not carbon is worth the expense.

HamishD

For £1100 or so I would buy aluminium.

Cannondale CAAD10, Canyon or Rose would do it for me. All cracking bikes for the money.

Not sure how the latter two would work with CTW though . . .

Paul057

rodgers73 wrote:

Pick up a copy of Cycling Active this month - they have a good article on Alu bikes for around a grand and makes some interesting comments on whether or not carbon is worth the expense.

It's that article that sparked my question. The Focus Cayo came out with top marks and that's what i'm leaning towards, but i was just wondering if anybody had anything from the other side of the argument

cougie

You need to ride the bikes concerned really and decide on what you think ?

I like my carbon frame, but I also like my Alu frame. I'd struggle to have a favourite.

Barrzy257

Ribble sportive Bianco, spent £1125 on mine and love it! google it and read a few reviews on it

Paul057

Thanks for all the advice

MattC59

Save up a but extra and get titanium.
Van Nicholas Mistral, 105, £1377.

http://www.leisurelakesbikes.com/product/vannicholasmistralroadracingbike2011.aspx?&id=15431
I've got Aluminium at the moment, but I'm going Ti next

unixnerd

The weight thing is a non issue. My old Cannondale CAAD5 alloy frame (with headset) is about 1140g, I'd struggle to get rid of 100g if I went carbon unless I spent silly money. The wheel and groupset weight is the real thing that determines overall bike weight.

Herbsman

Paul057 wrote:

My question is, do i shell out £1000 on a carbon frame bike with mediocre components, or do i spend £600/£700 on a Alu. bike and upgrade to some top quality (or at least a bit better) components?

I don't get why you'd spend £1000 on a carbon bike but you wouldn't spend that much on an aluminium bike. Why not spend £1000 on an aluminium bike?

unixnerd

You know the wheels make a far bigger difference to how quick the bike is than whether it's alloy or carbon. Most bikes in the 1k price range have wheelsets around 1900g. Put on a set of 1500g wheels (there's more than one option under two hundred quid) and it'll be a rocket in comparison.

Even some pretty expensive carbon bikes come with cheapo wheels, rip off. Look at the whole package not just the frame.

Paul057

Herbsman wrote:

Paul057 wrote:

My question is, do i shell out £1000 on a carbon frame bike with mediocre components, or do i spend £600/£700 on a Alu. bike and upgrade to some top quality (or at least a bit better) components?

I don't get why you'd spend £1000 on a carbon bike but you wouldn't spend that much on an aluminium bike. Why not spend £1000 on an aluminium bike?

I'm planning on spending the full £1000 on whatever i get, but it seems to me (in my extremely limited experience) that for that price you either get a carbon frame with average components, or an Alu. frame with slightly better components; i'm just wondering what people think is the best option?

silverpigeon

I'm planning on spending the full £1000 on whatever i get, but it seems to me (in my extremely limited experience) that for that price you either get a carbon frame with average components, or an Alu. frame with slightly better components; i'm just wondering what people think is the best option?

Or could you get a comparatively 'better' Alu frame with average components? If you know what I mean

FWIW I bought a Focus Cayo 105 last year, put RS80s on it and it's a nice enough bike.

I much prefer my Principia though and that's got the old Focus wheels on. The Focus just feels dead by comparison.

EDIT - What was the upshot of the cycling active article by the way?

unixnerd

FWIW I bought a Focus Cayo 105 last year, put RS80s on it and it's a nice enough bike.

Exactly my point, you need to spend extra for nice wheels.

I wonder what kind of used bike you could get for 1k? Something pretty decent I'd imagine. Expensive bike depreciate quickly.

Paul057

Ahh, i see what you mean. I suppose i've just been caught up in the whole carbon thing. When i think about it, all i want is the best bike with the best components possible for the money (but then i suppose that's what everyone is after eh?)

The upshot of the article was basically that while the Focus is the "Mondeo of the bike world", it was still the best on offer in that price range.

Zoomer37

Buy whatever bike you think looks sexy and if it is heavier than others and your worried about it just lose that weight difference off your gut.

kingrollo

The frame imo is more important than the groupset. The high end groupsets look nicer and weigh less - but the functionaily is IMO much the same.

I would get the best frame you can - and personally I would go far carbon. Perhaps the only reason not to is you want something ultra stiff like the cannondale caad 9 or 10 - but these bikes aren't for everyone - I think a £1000 sportive carbon - with triagra \ veloce \ Rival would be you best bet.

kerz

i had a cannondale alu frame for my first road bike and it was and still is a great bike to ride , but for the last 3 years i`ve had a look carbon with sram rival groupset which cost me 1450 in a sale and it rides unbelievably well in comparison to my cannondale - its lighter , faster , better on climbs and more comfortable on long rides.
in my opinion a carbon bike is the best bet and rival is a brilliant groupset - a little maintenance and it`ll always work smoothly.
the only upgrade is the wheels , i put on some ksyriums instead of aksiums and you do notice a big difference.