will i get better riding aluminum?
02-22-12, 05:05 PM
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will i get better riding aluminum?
if i ride my aluminum framed bike, when i eventually switch to carbon, will i be that much better? or should i just try to get a carbon bike asap? especially for hill climbing and sprinting, is there some incentive for me to stay on the aluminum?
02-22-12, 05:08 PM
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ka maté ka maté ka ora
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no. you will get better by riding.
02-22-12, 05:09 PM
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Yes.
Frame material doesn't make you better; riding makes you better. If you want hill climbing and sprinting, do hill repeats and sprintervals.
Frame material doesn't make you better; riding makes you better. If you want hill climbing and sprinting, do hill repeats and sprintervals.
02-22-12, 05:11 PM
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I think it's only by riding that you get better. Frame material is not all that important for improving as a cyclist. Miles and miles make the difference.
As far as "bike" performance goes geometry is more important than material. Proper fit is more important than geometry.
As far as "bike" performance goes geometry is more important than material. Proper fit is more important than geometry.
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02-22-12, 05:12 PM
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No but you may get a fraction of a minute faster. Of course you could save money and just ride more to get faster.......
02-22-12, 05:15 PM
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Go ahead and get the carbon bike......You are allowed to have more than one bike.
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02-22-12, 05:17 PM
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yeah for sure, i'm down for riding duh. but if two identical people rode a carbon bike and an aluminum bike the same amount, would the person riding aluminum be any stronger since he or she was 'carrying' more weight?
02-22-12, 05:18 PM
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No.
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02-22-12, 05:18 PM
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(tags: asplode, it's not about the bike, troll, crash, [and once again] asplode)
Last edited by 2ndGen; 02-22-12 at 05:23 PM.
02-22-12, 05:19 PM
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02-22-12, 05:26 PM
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This one deserves something better than the typical BF eating popcorn emoticon.
OP has asked a question never before asked regarding carbon vs aluminum
without asking which is better! Well done!
OP, this is not in anyway mocking you, but this is going to be a thread of epic proportions!
(and, imo, it is about the bike...carbon better for longer rides)
OP has asked a question never before asked regarding carbon vs aluminum
without asking which is better! Well done!
OP, this is not in anyway mocking you, but this is going to be a thread of epic proportions!
(and, imo, it is about the bike...carbon better for longer rides)
Last edited by 2ndGen; 02-22-12 at 05:30 PM.
02-22-12, 05:33 PM
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Real men ride steel 
Get something that weighs 30+ pounds and you'll have to get new jeans just to fit your quads.
Really though, it's not what your ride as much as how hard you ride and how well designed your training program is. Try high intensity intervals if you want to gain climbing and sprinting power and speed.
Get something that weighs 30+ pounds and you'll have to get new jeans just to fit your quads.Really though, it's not what your ride as much as how hard you ride and how well designed your training program is. Try high intensity intervals if you want to gain climbing and sprinting power and speed.
Last edited by Myosmith; 02-22-12 at 05:37 PM.
02-22-12, 05:36 PM
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Buy a recumbent!
02-22-12, 05:41 PM
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I have a aluminum frame hybrid and a carbon road bike. I am noticeably faster on the carbon which is definitely lighter than the aluminum and the geometry is better on the carbon for climbing hills. The aluminum is simply dreadful on the hills around here, but when I have to ride crappy roads - I like taking the aluminum because it has beefier wheels, wider tires and I don't care if I ding it up. Whereas with the carbon bike - I tend to treat it with a bit more kindness and care.
02-22-12, 05:46 PM
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Funny you should ask. I have a 2007 Aluminum BMC road racer. It has been through hell and back and in between I've had, and have numerous carbon bikes and one Titanium bike. Carbon bikes and aluminum bikes are easily damaged and scratched. Titanium bikes not as much, and scratches are easily buffed out. Bottom line, forget Aluminum and carbon and go Ti. They are as fast as you, or 95% of the Fredlies here will ever need, and much more durable and easy to update with new decals and components.....Anyone who says otherwise, is LYING....
02-22-12, 05:47 PM
#17
Portland Fred
The weight difference is too small to make a significant difference. BTW, weighing yourself down enough to make a difference won't make you stronger either (but it will slow you down). You need to spend a lot of time using effective training methods if you want to get stronger. If you're still building your base, simply riding more will help.
02-22-12, 05:47 PM
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This one deserves something better than the typical BF eating popcorn emoticon.
OP has asked a question never before asked regarding carbon vs aluminum
without asking which is better! Well done!
OP, this is not in anyway mocking you, but this is going to be a thread of epic proportions!
(and, imo, it is about the bike...carbon better for longer rides)
OP has asked a question never before asked regarding carbon vs aluminum
without asking which is better! Well done!
OP, this is not in anyway mocking you, but this is going to be a thread of epic proportions!
(and, imo, it is about the bike...carbon better for longer rides)
i had my first outdoor ride today, it was great. I ran into 2 sponsored cyclists in full gear. they didn't say much just looked at my bike- fair. but now i'm just curious if i should care about going carbon right now (financially feasible, but not wise) because I have this weird thing where I want to ride faster and climb better than everyone i see.
edit: first outdoor ride this season. been riding for about 2 years.
Last edited by UMassAm; 02-22-12 at 05:50 PM.
02-22-12, 05:49 PM
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Nope.
The weight difference is too small to make a significant difference. BTW, weighing yourself down enough to make a difference won't make you stronger either (but it will slow you down). You need to spend a lot of time using effective training methods if you want to get stronger. If you're still building your base, simply riding more will help.
The weight difference is too small to make a significant difference. BTW, weighing yourself down enough to make a difference won't make you stronger either (but it will slow you down). You need to spend a lot of time using effective training methods if you want to get stronger. If you're still building your base, simply riding more will help.
02-22-12, 05:52 PM
#20
Portland Fred
i appreciate the positivity.
i had my first outdoor ride today, it was great. I ran into 2 sponsored cyclists in full gear. they didn't say much just looked at my bike- fair. but now i'm just curious if i should care about going carbon right now (financially feasible, but not wise) because I have this weird thing where I want to ride faster and climb better than everyone i see.
i had my first outdoor ride today, it was great. I ran into 2 sponsored cyclists in full gear. they didn't say much just looked at my bike- fair. but now i'm just curious if i should care about going carbon right now (financially feasible, but not wise) because I have this weird thing where I want to ride faster and climb better than everyone i see.
The frame material on your bike is not holding you back. Improve your conditioning and you can feel smug about dropping guys on better bikes. Then buy the carbon. It still won't make you much faster but you'll already be dropping people so you can imagine that it's the bike that's making the difference.
02-22-12, 05:53 PM
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If that's what you want, definitely wait before getting the carbon. My guess is that if you got a carbon bike now in the hopes of being faster, you might get depressed when women and guys 20 years older than you drop you like a rock.
The frame material on your bike is not holding you back. Improve your conditioning and you can feel smug about dropping guys on better bikes. Then buy the carbon. It still won't make you much faster but you'll already be dropping people so you can imagine that it's the bike that's making the difference.
The frame material on your bike is not holding you back. Improve your conditioning and you can feel smug about dropping guys on better bikes. Then buy the carbon. It still won't make you much faster but you'll already be dropping people so you can imagine that it's the bike that's making the difference.
02-22-12, 05:57 PM
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i appreciate the positivity.
i had my first outdoor ride today, it was great. I ran into 2 sponsored cyclists in full gear. they didn't say much just looked at my bike- fair. but now i'm just curious if i should care about going carbon right now (financially feasible, but not wise) because I have this weird thing where I want to ride faster and climb better than everyone i see.
edit: first outdoor ride this season. been riding for about 2 years.
i had my first outdoor ride today, it was great. I ran into 2 sponsored cyclists in full gear. they didn't say much just looked at my bike- fair. but now i'm just curious if i should care about going carbon right now (financially feasible, but not wise) because I have this weird thing where I want to ride faster and climb better than everyone i see.
edit: first outdoor ride this season. been riding for about 2 years.
A wise man once said "Don't upgrade your bike, ride your bike up grades." Can I get an a merckx?
02-22-12, 05:59 PM
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The difference in weight a carbon bike can get you might save 3 seconds on a 40 km course, if it's all up hill. If you want to be the fastest person going up hills on a bike ... do hill repeats. Seriously. Most cyclists say "yeah, riding more makes you stronger, I get it, now show me that aero skin suit" and skip the hill repeats; the few people who actually ride up lots of hills clean their clocks, time and again.
A wise man once said "Don't upgrade your bike, ride your bike up grades." Can I get an a merckx?
A wise man once said "Don't upgrade your bike, ride your bike up grades." Can I get an a merckx?
