So I have been slowly updated everything on my bike and now it’s time for the frame. The current setup is an aluminium frame and I want to try a carbon one. Doing a bit of research I see two basic paths. The first is buying a second hand frame. This makes me a bit nervous as it is unlikely that I’d be able to see it before I buy, and secondly I probably wouldn’t really know what to look for.

The second option is getting one of the Chinese frame from one of the usual suspects. There’s a bit of risk here as well, but I’m not sure if it’s any riskier than the second hand option. Besides, you can buy two Chinese ones for the price of a second hand big name brand.

Me, I’m 6’1”, 220 and ride 60-100 miles a week averaging around 16 mph and I have a goal of doing my first century this year. I’m not chasing the lightest setup in the world as I think I would probably break it and I really have no idea about the advantages of different frame geometries. The budget I have in mind is sub 1k, anything over this and I’d probably just bite the bullet and get a complete bike.

So, what are people opinions / experiences with these options or is there another path that I haven’t yet found?