Carbon Fiber
#1
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Carbon Fiber
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a all carbon fiber bike? What is the preferred frame material for most cyclists? Steel, aluminum, titanium or carbon?
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1 will not be enough.

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#4
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For What purpose do you plan to need your Bike to serve?
I like Nice hand made steel frames . myself , I have 2 that are one of a Kind. I had a hand in making..
but I get production ones as they are more affordable .
I like Nice hand made steel frames . myself , I have 2 that are one of a Kind. I had a hand in making..
but I get production ones as they are more affordable .
Last edited by fietsbob; 04-03-16 at 02:45 PM.
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Assuming US market, most bikes sold are low end dept store bikes. So the majority of bikes out there are aluminum or "gaspipe" steel. Most nice road bikes sold these days are carbon fiber. Mountain bikes are probably still more aluminum than cf, although cf is catching up. Carbon is lighter smooths out the ride. It is stronger than metal for similar weights, but is vulnerable to damage from overtightening. Steeel smooths out the ride but is heavier. Some feel it is stronger than other materials, but really light steel is very thin walled. Aluminum is relatively cheap, can be formed into virtually any shape and is fairly strong, but many feel the ride quality leaves something to be desired. Great frames can be made out of any of the above materials.
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Titanium is the fastest material.
CF asplodes in direct sunlight.
CF asplodes in direct sunlight.
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My preferred material is whatever makes the bike most comfortable for me on my long rides while giving me the biggest "grin factor" for enjoyment. So after many years I have come to realize that the best material for a bike frame is ... shoot, I don't know.
Most of my bikes are steel but I have a Ti one, a Cf one, and a couple of aluminum ones. All different but not a dog in the lot.
Most of my bikes are steel but I have a Ti one, a Cf one, and a couple of aluminum ones. All different but not a dog in the lot.
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Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
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That's just a common expression many regulars around here use to indicate carbon shatters when it fails.
Many folks are leery of carbon's durability record, while it's zealous advocates deny that and prefer to laud it's advantages. You may experience this conflict directly in this thread soon. Is your chin strap fastened?
Many folks are leery of carbon's durability record, while it's zealous advocates deny that and prefer to laud it's advantages. You may experience this conflict directly in this thread soon. Is your chin strap fastened?
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Last edited by BillyD; 04-03-16 at 12:34 PM.
#11
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Magnesium. I've never ridden one, but theyexist; there was one featured on the tandem forum recently.
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Nothing can compare to bamboo as a bike building material.
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of a all carbon fiber bike? What is the preferred frame material for most cyclists? Steel, aluminum, titanium or carbon?
My preferred material is whatever makes the bike most comfortable for me on my long rides while giving me the biggest "grin factor" for enjoyment. So after many years I have come to realize that the best material for a bike frame is ... shoot, I don't know.
Most of my bikes are steel but I have a Ti one, a Cf one, and a couple of aluminum ones. All different but not a dog in the lot.
Most of my bikes are steel but I have a Ti one, a Cf one, and a couple of aluminum ones. All different but not a dog in the lot.
For years, I rode a steel Bridgestone RB-1, costing about $650 down from about $800 as an end-of-year model when I bought it in the early 1980’s…I always wondered if the premium prices of CF, which I considered to be about $2000 was worth the presumed enhanced riding experience.
The Bridgestone was totaled in 2012 in an accident from which I was not sure I would ride again. Well I did, and decided to get a CF. My trusted mechanic said here’s the bike you want, knowing my riding style. Well the MSRP was $8000, but he got it for me at half off….
The Bridgestone was totaled in 2012 in an accident from which I was not sure I would ride again. Well I did, and decided to get a CF. My trusted mechanic said here’s the bike you want, knowing my riding style. Well the MSRP was $8000, but he got it for me at half off….
…My average speed stayed the same, but I think I was hampered by injuries from the accident, and I believe the new bike compensated at least to maintain my average speed. I did note that I was more inclined to sprint (successfully) to beat traffic lights before they turned red. I further craved the smoothness of the ride, including the shifting, making cycle-commuting more pleasurable. Of greatest benefit, while long (greater than 40 mile) rides took the same amount of time as before, I felt much less tired at the end.
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What is the preferred frame material for most cyclists? Steel, aluminum, titanium or carbon?



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