Dilemma: Aluminum again, or carbon?
01-26-15, 11:04 AM
#76
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01-26-15, 11:21 AM
#77
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I've had a 2012 CAAD 10 -5 and now have a 2014 Tarmac SL4 Comp.
I'll get flamed here, but the CAAD is not the perfect aluminum bike. I never was really comfortable on mine. I also had a 2014 Secteur Comp disk. The Secteur was way more comfortable comfortable on the road, (in fact it was more comfortable than my Tarmac) handles just as well as the CAAD, but does not accelerate like the CAAD. Probably because it's heavier. Sold the Secteur when I purchased the Thresher.
The Tarmac is an amazing ride. Stiff, corners like it's on rails, climbs well and is a rocket downhill. It's harsh but you don't get the vibration you don't even know you're getting from your CAAD. Take a long test ride on one of your normal routes and I think you'll be impressed.
On the other hand, I also just purchased a 2014 Foundry Thresher (couldn't pass it up for the price) and can tell you it a dream to ride. Softer than the Tarmac, handles and accelerates pretty darn good too. I bring this up because there are some "bargains" out there to be had if you look around. Ride a TON of stuff. Don't just look at what's "popular" in your area. Try and find the one that is the perfect fit for you.
I'll get flamed here, but the CAAD is not the perfect aluminum bike. I never was really comfortable on mine. I also had a 2014 Secteur Comp disk. The Secteur was way more comfortable comfortable on the road, (in fact it was more comfortable than my Tarmac) handles just as well as the CAAD, but does not accelerate like the CAAD. Probably because it's heavier. Sold the Secteur when I purchased the Thresher.
The Tarmac is an amazing ride. Stiff, corners like it's on rails, climbs well and is a rocket downhill. It's harsh but you don't get the vibration you don't even know you're getting from your CAAD. Take a long test ride on one of your normal routes and I think you'll be impressed.
On the other hand, I also just purchased a 2014 Foundry Thresher (couldn't pass it up for the price) and can tell you it a dream to ride. Softer than the Tarmac, handles and accelerates pretty darn good too. I bring this up because there are some "bargains" out there to be had if you look around. Ride a TON of stuff. Don't just look at what's "popular" in your area. Try and find the one that is the perfect fit for you.
I'm looking for some helpful buying decisions for my next bike. As a footnote, my wife and I will be buying a home and potentially starting a family soon, so this could be the last bike for a long, long time. For that reason, I've got to think long-term before I drop any coin, and that's where my dilemma is.
I have a '12 CAAD10-3 that I have some buyers lined up for. I've considered a new CAAD10-3, as I genuinely like how the bike rides (granted, I've never ridden anything else), the new stealth color scheme, the slightly lighter and more durable anodized finish, the 11-speed group, and the Hollowgram cranks. With the low cost of the CAAD, I could afford to put the Spidering on it, carbon bars, stem, and a different carbon post to give it a real nice, smooth ride and free up some weight. It's also cheap enough of a frame that I could possibly sell it off to upgrade in a few years.
But, like everyone else, I can't help but think if I'm going to buy something new and long-term, I should go carbon. I've considered a few options, with the new Tarmac Expert really standing out. I can get one for around $3,500, but that would mostly tap my budget out, so it'd just stay stock. While carbon is attractive, I'll admit I'm somewhat leery of riding a $3,000 frame I could break in one spill, because honestly, I couldn't afford to replace it in that situation.
These two options (and some other carbon bikes) are close enough in price/value that I'm having a hard time drawing any final conclusion. Cheaper aluminum with great aftermarket parts, or more of a stock carbon bike? (I already have wheels, so that doesn't play a part at all).
I have a '12 CAAD10-3 that I have some buyers lined up for. I've considered a new CAAD10-3, as I genuinely like how the bike rides (granted, I've never ridden anything else), the new stealth color scheme, the slightly lighter and more durable anodized finish, the 11-speed group, and the Hollowgram cranks. With the low cost of the CAAD, I could afford to put the Spidering on it, carbon bars, stem, and a different carbon post to give it a real nice, smooth ride and free up some weight. It's also cheap enough of a frame that I could possibly sell it off to upgrade in a few years.
But, like everyone else, I can't help but think if I'm going to buy something new and long-term, I should go carbon. I've considered a few options, with the new Tarmac Expert really standing out. I can get one for around $3,500, but that would mostly tap my budget out, so it'd just stay stock. While carbon is attractive, I'll admit I'm somewhat leery of riding a $3,000 frame I could break in one spill, because honestly, I couldn't afford to replace it in that situation.
These two options (and some other carbon bikes) are close enough in price/value that I'm having a hard time drawing any final conclusion. Cheaper aluminum with great aftermarket parts, or more of a stock carbon bike? (I already have wheels, so that doesn't play a part at all).
01-26-15, 11:32 AM
#78
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01-26-15, 11:33 AM
#79
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Garry Klein really knew what he was doing. My Quantum is still a favorite to ride though I must admit 11 speed will quickly spoil you, that's the only place it comes up short.
Ultimately, I think everyone needs to find out for themselves, by having the experience of riding different bikes. You can't really even tell on a test ride- you have to live with a bike for a while. That is why I bou8ght my (used) Venge- I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about "good carbon bikes". I had never bought into all the hype; never even pictured myself owning a carbon bike; but I just had to try it. And while I like my CF bike well-enough, I can't say that it offers any advantage in performance or comfort over the old Klein. Ifr I had paid new-bike price for it, I would have been very disappointed. Even at less than half of new-price, I keep thinking that it seems like a lot for something that is no better than an 18 year-old AL bike. But I guess it depends on how good your old bike is; and how curious you are. For me, it was a worthwhile experiment, to satisfy my curiosity and enable me to have 2 good bikes. Best thing about it? The style and looks....and an excuse to get rid of my old Bikesdirect bike.
01-26-15, 11:38 AM
#80
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my reaction after a few first rides with my carbon bike :
"it rides like a bike"
any and all thoughts of the feel relative to other bikes in my stable had to do with slight variance in geometry, componentry.
"it rides like a bike"
any and all thoughts of the feel relative to other bikes in my stable had to do with slight variance in geometry, componentry.
01-26-15, 11:56 AM
#81
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Aluminum is great because every group ride I go to provides automatic motivation to keep dropping everyone with a $5k+ carbon bike.
01-26-15, 12:29 PM
#82
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Ultimately, I think everyone needs to find out for themselves, by having the experience of riding different bikes. You can't really even tell on a test ride- you have to live with a bike for a while. That is why I bou8ght my (used) Venge- I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about "good carbon bikes". I had never bought into all the hype; never even pictured myself owning a carbon bike; but I just had to try it. And while I like my CF bike well-enough, I can't say that it offers any advantage in performance or comfort over the old Klein. Ifr I had paid new-bike price for it, I would have been very disappointed. Even at less than half of new-price, I keep thinking that it seems like a lot for something that is no better than an 18 year-old AL bike. But I guess it depends on how good your old bike is; and how curious you are. For me, it was a worthwhile experiment, to satisfy my curiosity and enable me to have 2 good bikes. Best thing about it? The style and looks....and an excuse to get rid of my old Bikesdirect bike.
01-26-15, 01:50 PM
#84
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01-26-15, 02:09 PM
#85
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I remember when one guy posted that his new carbon bike instantly took an hour off his century ride time. Truly a miracle material haha
01-26-15, 02:57 PM
#86
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IMHO, I'd rather ride a high end, technologically modern Al frame than a low or mid-level carbon frame if components and wheels are the same. The best bang for the buck in Al frames, as far as I am concerned is either the Racelight Aithein or Bowman Palace frame. I've got an Aithein built up with SRAM Force and Mavic R-SYS Red wheels that has a ride quality almost identical to my Colnago Extreme Power, a stiff carbon frame. The obvious difference is the Aithein costs between $750 and about $900, depending on where you find it and what deal you can make. The Bowman Palace is similar in price to the Aithein and, although I've never ridden one, it has received very strong reviews from road.cc, a Brit website whose evaluations seem very accurate and dependable. I bought my Aithein based on a road.cc review. If budget is not an issue, I'd go high end carbon. Otherwise, It's hard to go wrong with good Al.
