Cult of Carbon
11-14-11, 05:18 AM
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Cult of Carbon
Since it appears almost every bike company makes an affordable CF frame, components are now offered by most companies in CF. Is it safe to say very soon everyone will be riding on CF..Costs keep dropping, quality improving. I fear that steel/Ti/Alum will become rare and very costly.......A decent steel/ti/alum frame is now in the $1,200-2,500 range. A full CF bike is starting @ $1,200.
What will our future look like?
What will our future look like?
11-14-11, 06:19 AM
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Any 3 year old in Asia can slap weave in a mold, paint it, and call it a bike. When it comes to steel, Ti, alum these require some skills to assemble.
My crystal ball tells me that cheap CF will take over the world by 2014. Then we will rebel and demand bikes that don't break when ridden hard, has a stiff BB and can take a season racing.
My crystal ball tells me that cheap CF will take over the world by 2014. Then we will rebel and demand bikes that don't break when ridden hard, has a stiff BB and can take a season racing.
11-14-11, 06:38 AM
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Any 3 year old in Asia can slap weave in a mold, paint it, and call it a bike. When it comes to steel, Ti, alum these require some skills to assemble.
My crystal ball tells me that cheap CF will take over the world by 2014. Then we will rebel and demand bikes that don't break when ridden hard, has a stiff BB and can take a season racing.
My crystal ball tells me that cheap CF will take over the world by 2014. Then we will rebel and demand bikes that don't break when ridden hard, has a stiff BB and can take a season racing.
My icyrstal tells me that carbon is already ubiquitous and since it doesn't break when ridden hard, has a stiff BB and can take many seasons of racing it will dominate until something better comes along.
Last edited by Bob Dopolina; 11-14-11 at 08:34 AM.
11-14-11, 08:17 AM
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Don't feed the troll.
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11-14-11, 08:44 AM
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I want my frame made by monkeys fed organic bananas 
11-14-11, 08:47 AM
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Quiet music, hushed voices, and flowers on your chest....
Oh, the future of BICYCLES! Heck fire, I dunno!
I would speculate (as opposed to predicting or claiming to know) that at some price point CF just doesn't work economically. There will be a point where the costs cannot be cut so deeply and still have a safe bike to ride. Like a steel or Ti frame, can't take the tubes but just so thin.
Just a speculation, not an expert on today's CF construction (my experience is with fighters in the '80's, not bikes).
Now, any predictions on the next miracle material?
Oh, the future of BICYCLES! Heck fire, I dunno!
I would speculate (as opposed to predicting or claiming to know) that at some price point CF just doesn't work economically. There will be a point where the costs cannot be cut so deeply and still have a safe bike to ride. Like a steel or Ti frame, can't take the tubes but just so thin.
Just a speculation, not an expert on today's CF construction (my experience is with fighters in the '80's, not bikes).
Now, any predictions on the next miracle material?
11-14-11, 09:10 AM
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You can now build a really lightweight (sub-15 lb.) carbon fiber bike off ebay for dirt cheap....at this point I don't know why people buy expensive bikes other then to show they have money, but its like buying a ferrari.
11-14-11, 09:13 AM
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The benefits of buying through more traditional distribution models has been well established, let's not pretend that there aren't sensible reasons for doing so.
11-14-11, 09:17 AM
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11-14-11, 09:27 AM
#12
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this is what my future looks like:
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11-14-11, 09:33 AM
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11-14-11, 09:40 AM
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Seriously though, there is a huge difference between an ebay carbon frame and a high end frame made by a reputable carbon fiber manufacturer. I've spent significant amounts of time riding the different levels of carbon frames from a major reputable manufacturer and the differences are readily discernible. Even between the most expensive models there are easily noticeable differences in ride quality.
And then if you compare one of the top end carbon frames to an entry level carbon frame, it just blows it out of the water. You don't need to ride both for more than 5 minutes to figure this out.
And then if you compare one of the top end carbon frames to an entry level carbon frame, it just blows it out of the water. You don't need to ride both for more than 5 minutes to figure this out.
11-14-11, 09:40 AM
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11-14-11, 09:40 AM
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11-14-11, 09:45 AM
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On the 1 in 100 chance this is not a troll, I do want to add a comment.
For those of us who do not fit on the bell curve and need custom geometry, carbon is not an affordable option and may not be for the time being.
I recently got a new custom-geometry bike and was under a fairly tight budget. Custom carbon frames cost $4,000 to $6,000 US for the frame/fork only....way too pricey.
I ended up with a Habenero Ti.
One of these days I would love to try a carbon fiber frame but there is no way a mass-produced "stock" frame is going to fit.
For those of us who do not fit on the bell curve and need custom geometry, carbon is not an affordable option and may not be for the time being.
I recently got a new custom-geometry bike and was under a fairly tight budget. Custom carbon frames cost $4,000 to $6,000 US for the frame/fork only....way too pricey.
I ended up with a Habenero Ti.
One of these days I would love to try a carbon fiber frame but there is no way a mass-produced "stock" frame is going to fit.
11-14-11, 09:45 AM
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Any 3 year old in Asia can slap weave in a mold, paint it, and call it a bike. When it comes to steel, Ti, alum these require some skills to assemble.
My crystal ball tells me that cheap CF will take over the world by 2014. Then we will rebel and demand bikes that don't break when ridden hard, has a stiff BB and can take a season racing.
My crystal ball tells me that cheap CF will take over the world by 2014. Then we will rebel and demand bikes that don't break when ridden hard, has a stiff BB and can take a season racing.
11-14-11, 09:54 AM
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That is because of your values and your pocketbook. Surprisingly, others have different perspectives and they're equally valid - this is a lesson that would be a good one to learn before you get out in to the real world.
11-14-11, 10:55 AM
#21
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I predict that people will continue to want different kinds of bikes for different purposes, styles, and tastes.
11-14-11, 01:03 PM
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where can I get this super cheap E-bay bike and who do you know that has one?
I'm not proud I have owned top o the line Ti frames, steel, alum and now Carbon all name brands....I'm a poor fellow so e-bay sounds good to me....Just not an ebayer so not sure of the process.
I'm not proud I have owned top o the line Ti frames, steel, alum and now Carbon all name brands....I'm a poor fellow so e-bay sounds good to me....Just not an ebayer so not sure of the process.
11-14-11, 01:04 PM
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[QUOTE=datlas;13490991]On the 1 in 100 chance this is not a troll,
I gotta confess I am not sure why the Troll tag is being tossed about.........half the stuff posted on the forum is insane. What is an example of a Non troll post..clearly I have no clue?
I gotta confess I am not sure why the Troll tag is being tossed about.........half the stuff posted on the forum is insane. What is an example of a Non troll post..clearly I have no clue?
11-14-11, 01:26 PM
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Just add groupset. I have one, raced it all last season. I'm happy with the ride quality