Road Cycling - Aluminium/carbon mix verses all carbon

We have had debates on the merrits of all kinds of frame materals. I would like to know, how does the Al/Carbon frames ride in compairson to the full carbon frames? I would like the opinion of some of you who have ridden both for a fair compairson.

I ride full Aluminium and don't have any particular gripes, but this may be, because I have never ridden a full carbon bike any distance. :rolleyes: Everyone gets the I need a new bike bug, it is picking at me now, and I want to know if the full carbon is worth all the extra bling bling!

WOW!
I was doing a search for this very topic and behold my unanswered question from nearly 7 years ago!:eek:

Yea, I'm still around, still ridding the same all aluminium frame that now has 24,000 miles on it. I have replaced many parts and wheel sets, but am thinking of a new bike once again.

Yet still the unanswered questions? Are the Aluminium/carbon frames just hyped up crap, or are they OK? Should I go all Aluminium again and shoot for a better componant package? :twitchy:

Well, since you didn't get an answer all those years ago, I feel obliged to give you one now, despite your non-American spelling of aluminum.


Maybe.


There, how was that? ;)

Not a lot about these days are there?

I've been on one for quite some time & have no complaints what soever. It's a C-dale six 5 w/ 105 I paid $1100 for two years ago. Been a great bike, especially at the price.

I have and ride both and there is a difference in the feel, but hard to put it into words.. My 2007 Team frame is full carbon w/carbon bars, stem and seatpost where my 2005 Prestige frame is carbon/alloy w/alloy bars, stem and seatpost. Both bikes have a great ride.

The Prestige frame is very strange (to me atleast). Other than the paint on the front of the head tube and the band on the seat tube everything thats black on the frame is carbon and the white is alloy.

http://i747.photobucket.com/albums/xx117/Bytor_Photo2112/IMG_8054.jpg

I tested an aluminium frame with carbon stays and a full aluminium frame both from the same manufacturer although with different geometry. Both test rides were on the same wheels and tyres. Both tests were over 100km. I couldn't tell the difference in comfort.

The roads here are very smooth.

So my answer is also maybe.

My full carbon bike (also from the same manufacturer) feels like butter ;)

The key word here is "DEBATE". Everyone has their preferences and you get to pick yours only if you actually ride them both.

The debate is not going to get you anywhere. The only way to get anywhere is to HTFU and just ride!

IMO there are too many factors that go into ride feel to isolate the effects of carbon and aluminum in general, especially if you're just talking about, say, "aluminum + CF fork" vs "alu + CF fork + CF seat stays."

Even if you're using the same frame material, the ride characteristics can be quite different. E.g. one full CF frame can be stiff (e.g. Tarmac, Six, Addict) and another can be compliant (Roubaix, Synapse). Same with aluminum, try test-riding a Specialized Secteur and an Allez and the difference in ride feel will be apparent. It's just a question of how the bike is designed.

FWIW I wouldn't worry too much about frame material. Figure out your budget, try to determine what kind of a ride feel you prefer or want to use, do some test rides, and then figure out which bikes fit those two criteria.

Just get a new carbon road bike. Do you really need a reason to get a full carbon bike? Any reason is as good as any.


DO IT!