Originally Posted by
Frankfast
When the guy on the mountainbike passed me I should have just laughed at myself. As I said I'm new to the world of cycling but have become interested enough to start building a carbon frame. Although I really enjoy riding, building and tinkering maybe where my interest really lies.
When I finish this build and he passes me again, then I'll really be pissed.
IMHO, "an amateur on carbon frame" is kind of an oxymoron. I'd advise against CF and all the fancy stuff. They're for racers. For us amateurs a decent lightweight frame is okay. Both my touring and mountain bikes are Reynolds 531 and it is more than what I need. Let it take 10% more time to arrive there. Put another way, let your records be 10% lesser. So what? If you enjoy it, then 10% (even 25%) is nothing. If you don't, then CF won't buy that anyway. When you start comparing grams and millimeters, the joy will gradually give way to fruitless dry obsession (not to say fetish). There are some people I know who are more delighted gazing and inpecting their bikes than actually riding it.
An amateur either -unsuccessfully- races or -successfully- enjoys it. Only racers seem to both race and enjoy it at the same time - don't know how they do it, though.
(Disclaimer: This is a personal opinion and may not be in accordance with majority.)