"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Poll: Race Frame Materials and Do you Race Your Fancy Carbon Bikes?

In light of the Pinarello tragedy, I thought this would be interesting....

I race whatever I have now but I always go back and forth with what I would do if I had an awesome bike I wouldnt want to see damaged.

Sorry here it is:

Run what ya brung. While we make emotional attachments to our rigs because we take pride in them its still just a bicycle.

I have an alu frame with carbon fork and an all-carbon... I race the all-carbon. Why not? The bike is the LEAST of my worries.

i race steel but only because thats all ive ever had.

I race on aluminum. My race bike is also 2 pounds lighter than my carbon bike, feels more "crisp" and and feels "faster".

I like both bikes equally for different reasons.

Fuji Team SL and Team Pro. Race both of them. I was offered a carbon frame this year but turned it down for those very reasons.

Yes, see sig...

Even after the Pinarello tragedy, I'm going to get it fixed and keep right on racing it as soon as it comes back from the repair shop.

Even after the Pinarello tragedy, I'm going to get it fixed and keep right on racing it as soon as it comes back from the repair shop.

:beer:

Yeah, good for you, Pete. Keep on trucking.

I ride a cheapo-bike, and I race said cheapo bike. I wouldn't buy a bike I couldn't afford to replace.

i race steel but only because thats all ive ever had.

+1

Currently I race on a CAAD8 al frame, soon I will be adding a very high end carbon frame to the stable.

Currently I race on a CAAD8 al frame, soon I will be adding a very high end carbon frame to the stable.

details?

Where's the mid range carbon option for those of us who have Giants/Treks/Orbeas/Specialized/Cannondales... ?

I race my orca in everything but time trials.

I race on an R3 with Zipp 303s, train on the R3 but use my campy scirrocos or velomax orion IIs. I say race your good stuff. If you cant afford to replace it, IMO, financial common sense says you shouldnt own it anyway.

Where's the mid range carbon option for those of us who have Giants/Treks/Orbeas/Specialized/Cannondales... ?

Let's deem that to be expensive and cheap is the BikesDirect kind of stuff....

I race on an R3 with Zipp 303s, train on the R3 but use my campy scirrocos or velomax orion IIs. I say race your good stuff. If you cant afford to replace it, IMO, financial common sense says you shouldnt own it anyway.

its not always that you cant afford to replace rather then not wanting to you know? I guess affording can me different things too.

I am racing a Moots Compact TI frame this year.

im pretty sure if i had a nicer bike i would race it simply because im too lazy to switch bikes.

In light of the Pinarello tragedy....

oh, the humanity...

http://flatrock.org.nz/topics/flying/assets/hindenburg.jpg

Currently I race on a CAAD8 al frame, soon I will be adding a very high end carbon frame to the stable.

OOOooo..intriguing.

Where's the mid range carbon option for those of us who have Giants/Treks/Orbeas/Specialized/Cannondales... ?



Let's deem that to be expensive and cheap is the BikesDirect kind of stuff....

I was going to ask the same.

No point in buying more than you're willing to crash, whether you race or not.

I raced my old Klein (all Al) and now I'll be racing my new Felt (Al with carbon fork and seat stays). If I had a full carbon bike I'd probable race it in everything. I agree with the thinking of "if you can't afford to replace it, you can't afford to race it."

Scott

I race a steel. But if I had a high buck carbon, I'd race it too.

+1


+1 (I only have a steel bike)

race crits on a 2005 caad 7 with velomax circuits - dont mid crashing it (again) and its stiff and aggressive. this is also my bike with the heavy powertap wheel. I will use it for fast training rides where power is more useful than HR alone.

road races or climbing circuits on a 2003 trek carbon 5500 w/bonty race X lites that I acquired in a trade which is lighter and more comfy for long RR's where climbing and not crashing are likely.

Either way, it's nice to have two very raceable, sub 19 lb. road bikes in the stable. crash one: use the other until repairs are rendered.