CF fork&stay VS full CF frame?
11-14-07, 11:40 PM
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CF fork&stay VS full CF frame?
Will there be a noticeable difference in feel and performance between a aluminum frame with CF fork and CF stay to a full CF frame?
I currently own a 07 Specialized Allez Elite. It's an aluminium frame with CF fork, CF stay, CF seat post. I'm considering selling the Allez and upgrading to a full CF bike next summer. Will I notice a big difference in performance, weight, and comfort? I planning to spend around $1000 more after selling my Allez for a full CF bike. What do you think?
I currently own a 07 Specialized Allez Elite. It's an aluminium frame with CF fork, CF stay, CF seat post. I'm considering selling the Allez and upgrading to a full CF bike next summer. Will I notice a big difference in performance, weight, and comfort? I planning to spend around $1000 more after selling my Allez for a full CF bike. What do you think?
11-15-07, 08:45 AM
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The short answer is "no, probably not". The longer answer is "you might, but it's probably mostly in your mind". Your Specialized is already a decent bike. There's no magic in going from what you've got to another bike with a full carbon frame. If you were coming from a stupidly heavy, rigid, or otherwise uncomfortable bike then you might notice a difference. But you're not, so you won't be losing vast amounts of weight (not enough to really notice, I'd suspect), or swapping a horribly uncomfortable frame for a vastly more compilant one.
If you want the carbon frame, then definitely go for it. Just don't expect a "night and day" difference between it, and what you've already got.
If you want the carbon frame, then definitely go for it. Just don't expect a "night and day" difference between it, and what you've already got.
11-15-07, 04:05 PM
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The "feel" of a bike is a result of the rider's position and "fit" on the bike, wheelbase length, chainstay length, width of the tires, and the design of the frame and fork tubes. The material used for the frame and fork doesn't make the top twenty on factors impacting the feel of a bike.
Then why do the bikes of 1987, with steel frames and steel forks "feel" so much nicer than the carbon frame and fork bikes of 2007...in 1987 designers knew how to design for comfort, using rider's position and "fit on the bike, wheelbase length, chainstay length, the width of the tires, and the design of the fame and fork tubes.
Twenty years ago, designers used each of those factors to increase rider comfort. Today, even the cheapest bike is designed to look like a racing bike, so comfort is no longer relevant to bike designers...style sells, comfort does not.
Yes, Specialized is trying to sell "comfort" with the Roubaix, and Trek is trying to sell comfort with the "Pilot" series. Selling properly designed road bikes is a brave, but uphill battle in an industry where even the entry level riders come into shops asking for a pretend race bike that "looks just like the bike Lance rides".
Then why do the bikes of 1987, with steel frames and steel forks "feel" so much nicer than the carbon frame and fork bikes of 2007...in 1987 designers knew how to design for comfort, using rider's position and "fit on the bike, wheelbase length, chainstay length, the width of the tires, and the design of the fame and fork tubes.
Twenty years ago, designers used each of those factors to increase rider comfort. Today, even the cheapest bike is designed to look like a racing bike, so comfort is no longer relevant to bike designers...style sells, comfort does not.
Yes, Specialized is trying to sell "comfort" with the Roubaix, and Trek is trying to sell comfort with the "Pilot" series. Selling properly designed road bikes is a brave, but uphill battle in an industry where even the entry level riders come into shops asking for a pretend race bike that "looks just like the bike Lance rides".
Last edited by alanbikehouston; 11-19-07 at 04:48 PM.
11-15-07, 04:29 PM
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The "feel" of a bike is a result of the rider's position and "fit" on the bike, wheelbase length, chainstay length, width of the tires, and the design of the frame and fork tubes. The material used for the frame and fork doesn't make the top twenty on factors impacting the feel of a bike.
Then why do the bikes of 1987, with steel frames and steel forks "feel" so much nicer than the carbon frame and fork bikes of 2007...rider's position and "fit on the bike, wheelbase length, chainstay length, the width of the tires, and the design of the fame and fork tubes.
Twenty years ago, designers used each of those factors to increase rider comfort. Today, even the cheapest bike is designed to look like a racing bike, so comfort is no longer relevant to bike designers...style sells, comfort does not.
Then why do the bikes of 1987, with steel frames and steel forks "feel" so much nicer than the carbon frame and fork bikes of 2007...rider's position and "fit on the bike, wheelbase length, chainstay length, the width of the tires, and the design of the fame and fork tubes.
Twenty years ago, designers used each of those factors to increase rider comfort. Today, even the cheapest bike is designed to look like a racing bike, so comfort is no longer relevant to bike designers...style sells, comfort does not.
ABH creating some controversy....
Gonna be some disagreement with this...
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11-15-07, 04:33 PM
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uh.. yeah. That's why the Specialized Roubaix sells so poorly... oh wait, no it doesn't...
11-15-07, 04:35 PM
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11-15-07, 08:00 PM
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11-15-07, 08:15 PM
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Specialized Roubaix is the bike I'm planning to upgrade to. Does anyone here have a Allez and Roubaix? Do you think its worth the $ to switch?
11-16-07, 01:22 AM
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yes, i have an Allez (Sport 05) and a Roubaix (Elite 06). contrary to what others may say, i have noticed a difference between the two. the Roubaix has a more subdued ride (i.e. not so harsh ride) and the more upright position makes it comfy for long rides. the longer wheelbase on the Roubaix makes it track straight and also corners wells. the Allez is now permanently attached to a trainer.
