Thoughts on carbon fiber bikes
04-07-14, 06:55 AM
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I was thinking about getting a trek domaine in one of their carbon fiber versions I was wondering what everyone thinks about carbon fiber. How does it ride etc. from what the sales person told me as long as you don't over tighten parts everything is good. The test ride was really good but it can be hard to tell from riding a bike for ten minutes
Unless you are going to race or want to get something with high performance characteristics, you will have a lot of carbon choices.
04-07-14, 07:48 AM
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Nobody here is questioning the durability of CF.
Of course, the Santa Cruz V-10 downhill racing mtb is still NOT quite 100% CF, come to think of it...
04-07-14, 09:01 AM
#28
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Not to mention the Spring Classics
So, ... It's another material to choose , horses for courses ...
Hopefully someday CF will be tough enough that it can be used for cross and MTB's.
04-12-14, 05:10 PM
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If your in good physical shape- a carbon bike would be for you. If your 5'9 and 280 lbs- stay with alloy frames. I just jumped into the carbon fray last October. You can average about 2 miles an hour over similar alloy bikes. You can feel the lightness when riding. They are very quiet and smooth. The carbon absorbs bumps very well compared to aluminum. I have a carbon hybrid and I am now keeping up with the roadies on the rail trails. I am not sure about other brands, but Giant offers a full carbon road bike for around $1,600. I do notice that I have to be extra careful when transporting the bike on my car as not to scratch or overtighten the frame. There are a few nuisances owning a carbon bike: be sure to carry a multi tool when riding; there are no quick release on carbon seatposts- you must use a 4 mm allen wrench and be sure not to overtighten the seatpost. If you use a trunk mount for transporting on your car- you must buy a top tube adaptor that connects from your stem to seatpost. Carbon bikes are lighter and faster which means extra breaking power when stopping. Also make sure there is a carbon paste coating on your carbon seatpost (you can buy a small package of paste for only $1). Your always worrying about bumping or crashing your carbon bike. Other than that- the pros definitely outweigh the cons in owning a CF bike. I had mine for 6 months and I do not suffer buyers remorse. I am glad I made the purchase and I think it would be hard to go back to aluminum frame bikes after owning one.
04-12-14, 06:28 PM
#30
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The Domane is a nice bike. Carbon fiber tends to be comfortable. I was going to buy a Reno years ago, my physical therapist talked me into the carbon fiber version. He says older folk should have as much carbon between them and the road as possible.
Just a few caveats. Don't leave them out in the rain or they will melt, and if you leave them out in the sun they will asplode. In the winter the frame will crack. Other than that, they are pretty reliable
Just a few caveats. Don't leave them out in the rain or they will melt, and if you leave them out in the sun they will asplode. In the winter the frame will crack. Other than that, they are pretty reliable
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04-12-14, 06:31 PM
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Carbon is a fine material. I've owned several but I've never really liked them enough to keep them. I tend to like more versatile bikes like one other posted stated. I didn't want to have to go to a cross bike to do this.
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04-12-14, 07:37 PM
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This is quite an enormous generalization. Lighter alloy frames are often within 2 - 3 ounces of carbon frames. The performance advantage is negligible based on weight. With identical geometry, components and wheels, the performance advantage of a carbon frame will be very difficult to measure.
Bikes with carbon frames usually sell at a higher price point, meaning the wheels will be lighter, as will the components. It's not unusual for these bikes to be several pounds lighter, but 90-99% of the weight difference will be due to everything BUT the frame.
Where are you getting your date from btw?
Bikes with carbon frames usually sell at a higher price point, meaning the wheels will be lighter, as will the components. It's not unusual for these bikes to be several pounds lighter, but 90-99% of the weight difference will be due to everything BUT the frame.
Where are you getting your date from btw?
Last edited by ps249; 04-12-14 at 07:40 PM.
04-12-14, 09:51 PM
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I was thinking about getting a trek domaine in one of their carbon fiber versions I was wondering what everyone thinks about carbon fiber. How does it ride etc. from what the sales person told me as long as you don't over tighten parts everything is good. The test ride was really good but it can be hard to tell from riding a bike for ten minutes
Less farcically it's fine, good enough for airplanes like the Boeing 787, and good enough for bicycles.
Personally I'd pass on a paint job in favor of clear coat since contrasting material beneath paint chips can look bad within a few years riding in all weather conditions.
Titanium and stainless steel are awesome because they don't need paint and carbon fiber is the same.
04-13-14, 12:06 AM
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I wish it were so.
04-13-14, 07:01 AM
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It is hard to dispute the fact that a CF frame is more delicate than metal frame bikes. The big difference between a professional rider and a private rider, is the fact that when any flaw appears on a professional team CF bike they are thrown away. Pro teams have a budget for this. With a private owner the same flaw is a big bite in the wallet.
04-13-14, 08:30 AM
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It is hard to dispute the fact that a CF frame is more delicate than metal frame bikes. The big difference between a professional rider and a private rider, is the fact that when any flaw appears on a professional team CF bike they are thrown away. Pro teams have a budget for this. With a private owner the same flaw is a big bite in the wallet.
BB
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04-13-14, 12:06 PM
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It is hard to dispute the fact that a CF frame is more delicate than metal frame bikes. The big difference between a professional rider and a private rider, is the fact that when any flaw appears on a professional team CF bike they are thrown away. Pro teams have a budget for this. With a private owner the same flaw is a big bite in the wallet.
Crash a steel, or an aluminum bike, and a slight dent or scratch won't worry you that much. Can't really say that about a CF bike!
04-13-14, 12:57 PM
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Try this little trick - take an empty AL soda can, place it on the floor standing up. Put your foot on it and put some weight on it. Not enough to crush it, but a decent amount of weight. Carefully bend over and flick the side of the can with your finger, just barely hard enough to put a small dent in it.
Watch the can collapse instantly.
AL tubes don't like dents - at all.
04-13-14, 01:06 PM
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It is hard to dispute the fact that a CF frame is more delicate than metal frame bikes. The big difference between a professional rider and a private rider, is the fact that when any flaw appears on a professional team CF bike they are thrown away. Pro teams have a budget for this. With a private owner the same flaw is a big bite in the wallet.
CF not delicate at all. It just is light and many uninformed individuals equate light with delicate.
There I disputed that very easily.
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04-13-14, 02:01 PM
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I am averaging 2 miles an hour more on a CF as compared to my old aluminum.
Last edited by Barrettscv; 04-13-14 at 05:12 PM. Reason: clean up applied
04-13-14, 02:08 PM
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I have Training Peaks data comparing the same race from one year to the next when I was on a CF bike (Bianchi 928) to an alloy bike (Cervelo Soloist) to a CF bike (Ridley Excalibur). I am afraid my data does not support the statement that CF is worth 2-3 mph.
Edit: This is probably a better comparison: Mt. Diablo Challenge. It's an uphill time trial so the effects of drafting are minimized.
2009 (Carbon bike (Trek 5200)): [TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[TD="width: 20%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 15%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[TD="width: 10%"]
[TD="width: 8%"]
[TD="width: 8%"]
[TD="width: 8%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 8%"]
[TD="width: 7%"]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
2010 (Al bike (Cervelo Soloist)):
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[TD="width: 25%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[TD="width: 15%"]
[TD="width: 10%"]
[TD="width: 10%"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
In this case, all things being equal, one might conclude that aluminum was worth .9 mph over an hour. Of course, all things weren't equal. In 2010 I got serious about training (lots of long FTP-raising intervals) and diet (no soda, no cookies, no crap of any kind). That's the difference between those two rides.
Edit: This is probably a better comparison: Mt. Diablo Challenge. It's an uphill time trial so the effects of drafting are minimized.
2009 (Carbon bike (Trek 5200)): [TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
243
[/TD][TD="width: 20%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 15%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]
390
[/TD][TD="width: 5%"]
42
[/TD][TD="width: 10%"]
125/344 M 40-49
[/TD][TD="width: 8%"]
1:04:30.9
[/TD][TD="width: 8%"]
1:04:30.9
[/TD][TD="width: 8%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 8%"]
17:20.1
[/TD][TD="width: 7%"]
10.0MPH
[/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]
2010 (Al bike (Cervelo Soloist)):
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
[TR="bgcolor: #ffffff"]
[TD="width: 5%"]
145
[/TD][TD="width: 25%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 20%"][/TD]
[TD="width: 5%"]
155
[/TD][TD="width: 5%"]
43
[/TD][TD="width: 5%"]
M
[/TD][TD="width: 15%"]
68/305 40-49
[/TD][TD="width: 10%"]
59:24.5
[/TD][TD="width: 10%"]
10.9MPH
[/TD][TD="width: 5%"]
12:44.4
[/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]
In this case, all things being equal, one might conclude that aluminum was worth .9 mph over an hour. Of course, all things weren't equal. In 2010 I got serious about training (lots of long FTP-raising intervals) and diet (no soda, no cookies, no crap of any kind). That's the difference between those two rides.
Last edited by caloso; 04-13-14 at 02:27 PM. Reason: more data
04-13-14, 02:49 PM
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Why don't you go over to the Road forum (Road Cycling), AKA "the 41", and start a thread stating that your CF bike makes you 2 mph faster then you'd be on a similar AL or steel bike.
I'll get the popcorn.
04-13-14, 04:05 PM
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It is hard to dispute the fact that a CF frame is more delicate than metal frame bikes. The big difference between a professional rider and a private rider, is the fact that when any flaw appears on a professional team CF bike they are thrown away. Pro teams have a budget for this. With a private owner the same flaw is a big bite in the wallet.
1. Carbon fiber frames are cheaper and easier to repair than other materials in many cases.
2. If you are 2 mph faster on your carbon bike, it is not because of the frame. You could be in a more aero position, have better fitness, or like the bike better, thus push yourself more. ...
Ps. I do not own a carbon frame, but would have no hesitation to own one.
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Last edited by Barrettscv; 04-13-14 at 05:25 PM. Reason: clean up quote
04-13-14, 05:10 PM
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04-13-14, 05:24 PM
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Time for a lock.
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