Mixing Carbon with Vintage SLX (Bianchi)
08-22-08, 11:15 PM
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Mixing Carbon with Vintage SLX (Bianchi)
I've been trying out all carbon new road bikes to replace my 1992 Bianchi Columbus SLX. I'm pretty impressed with the new bikes but cannot justify the cost. Which brings me to the question of whether I can upgrade my SLX with carbon (fork, stem, bars) and get some of what I want - lightness, a little more smoothness. Are people doing this or is it simply against the grain in terms of any performance or ride gains.
08-22-08, 11:34 PM
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You can lose a pound or more by replacing the steel fork with an all carbon one. Lighten up the stem, too. Smoothness? Not sure there's a big difference here. I've done it with one bike and I like it.
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72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
08-23-08, 12:21 AM
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Is there a carbon fork that looks good with and can accommodate full fenders?
08-23-08, 06:14 AM
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I really don't think you will be getting your monies worth with these replacements. While my only real complaint about carbon forks is that they are ugly, others question their durability, especially in light of Cervelo's recent recall. I think carbon stems and bars ar just a bad idea. The weight savings is minimal and the price is ridiculous. I know several people who have had their carbon bars break. I don't have either of these on my carbon bike. In fact, I even replaced the carbon seat post with a Thomson Elite.
These items are probably a good way to improve the ride of an aluminum frame, but they won't do much to improve the ride of an SLX frame, which is about as good as it is going to get.
08-23-08, 06:35 AM
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No.
I really don't think you will be getting your monies worth with these replacements. While my only real complaint about carbon forks is that they are ugly, others question their durability, especially in light of Cervelo's recent recall. I think carbon stems and bars ar just a bad idea. The weight savings is minimal and the price is ridiculous. I know several people who have had their carbon bars break. I don't have either of these on my carbon bike. In fact, I even replaced the carbon seat post with a Thomson Elite.
These items are probably a good way to improve the ride of an aluminum frame, but they won't do much to improve the ride of an SLX frame, which is about as good as it is going to get.
I really don't think you will be getting your monies worth with these replacements. While my only real complaint about carbon forks is that they are ugly, others question their durability, especially in light of Cervelo's recent recall. I think carbon stems and bars ar just a bad idea. The weight savings is minimal and the price is ridiculous. I know several people who have had their carbon bars break. I don't have either of these on my carbon bike. In fact, I even replaced the carbon seat post with a Thomson Elite.
These items are probably a good way to improve the ride of an aluminum frame, but they won't do much to improve the ride of an SLX frame, which is about as good as it is going to get.
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72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
72 Frejus (for sale), Holdsworth Record (for sale), special CNC & Gitane Interclub / 74 Italvega NR (for sale) / c80 French / 82 Raleigh Intl MkII f&f (for sale)/ 83 Trek 620 (for sale)/ 84 Bruce Gordon Chinook (for sale)/ 85 Ron Cooper / 87 Centurion IM MV (for sale) / 03 Casati Dardo / 08 BF IRO / 09 Dogma FPX / 09 Giant TCX0 / 10 Vassago Fisticuff
