Carbon or Alu on novice bike

Sodfoster
Sodfoster Posts: 412
edited April 2013 in Road buying advice
Just wanted a general opinion,

I am thinking of buying my first dedicated road bike as I have a few sportivies coming up and dont think my CX bike is the best choice (after doing a few last year on it). I have a budjet of around £900 so I have been looking at a few of the usual budget brands that offer a bit more bang for you buck (Boardman, Mekk, B'Twin etc...).

Two bikes from Mekk have caught my eye the Mekk Pinerolo AL 1.5 Tiagra (2013) and the Mekk 2G Poggio P2.0 105 (2012). The Pinerolo is an Alu frame and comes with a full Tiagra Groupset (apart from the brake calipers which are in house). The Poggio is Carbon Frame with a 105 Rear Derailleur and Tiagra front, shifters, the calipers and crank are ICE (never heard of this brand) and look like a cheap comprimise.

There is a £200 difference in price so my question would be is it better to pay the extra for the Carbon frame or should I buy the Alu with the better crank and invest in some lighter wheels???

For comparison both bikes are in the sale on wiggle the Pinerolo is £639 the Poggio £839.

Cheers
Dawes Tamark DX (RIP)

Cube Acid 2010 (RIP)

Saracen Zen 3 (RIP)

Giant Anthem X5

CdF

The whole white bike thing was just coincedence........

Comments

  • Yes, I tink you're on the right track with your ideas and choice of bike for the budget. The 200 pound difference expressed in upgrading wheels will easily outweigh the perceived 'performance gain' of the carbon frame v.s. the aluminum one.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Yes, I tink you're on the right track with your ideas and choice of bike for the budget. The 200 pound difference expressed in upgrading wheels will easily outweigh the perceived 'performance gain' of the carbon frame v.s. the aluminum one.

    +1

    By your own words, you are a novice, and just getting into road bikes. Keep it cheap and functional. when you get a bit more serious then maybe look at a carbon frame. For all you know, you may change your mind and decide road cycling is not that big a thing for you. No need to spend lots of cash until you really know what you want.
  • Sodfoster
    Sodfoster Posts: 412
    Cheers guys,

    When I say novice I have been riding my CX bike to work and going on 50-70 mile epics. Plus I did three 70 mile plus sportivies last year. So maybe pure novice is not quite right.

    Ill definately be in it for the longer haul (its not a passing faze) hence why I was wondering if the carbon is worth having to upgrade??
    Dawes Tamark DX (RIP)

    Cube Acid 2010 (RIP)

    Saracen Zen 3 (RIP)

    Giant Anthem X5

    CdF

    The whole white bike thing was just coincedence........
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    To be honest, whether its carbon or Alu the best thing is to actually sit on it and try it out if possible. Some carbon frames are not much lighter than the best Aluminium, If you see a Cannondale CAAD10 the frame is very light for Aluminium, So is the Scott Speedster. A far better set of wheels on an alu bike would be better than a carbon frame with a load of cheap stuff cobbled to it probably making it weigh more than the alu equivalent.

    I read on here alot about people saying get the carbon and upgrade. realistically, when most people do upgrade they just get a whole new bike anyway so the upgrading thing is partially a myth. If you bought a uber light carbon frame for a few grand then sure you are gonna want to keep it and add to it, but I doubt many would do the same with a more affordable frame. Package deals are so tempting you dont really save anything by doing it that way. You could by a last season bike for a fraction of its initial cost new a year ago.

    If you feel the cheaper bike with the price difference spent on better wheels is more suitable for your needs I would go with that.