Why do CF bikes feel heavier than my Alu?
10-13-11, 02:13 PM
#26
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Yes, it is heavier.
https://www.totalcycling.com/index.ph...t-weights.html
Red GXP BB 1926gms
Red BB30 1796gms
DuraAce 7900 is 2045gms.
DI2 is 2037gms
10-13-11, 02:23 PM
#28
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Carbon fiber gets heavier when it's getting ready to asplode, so watch out.
10-13-11, 05:36 PM
#30
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10-13-11, 05:47 PM
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26.5 lbs for our full carbon bike . . . heavy??? . . Ah, but then it's a tandem!
Carbon, in our experience/opinion, rides much smoother/less harsh than aluminum.
Have owned/ridden steel alloys, alu, ti, bamboo and carbon fiber.Our butts are on c/f!
Agree . . . a good scale is more accurate than just 'hefting'!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
Carbon, in our experience/opinion, rides much smoother/less harsh than aluminum.
Have owned/ridden steel alloys, alu, ti, bamboo and carbon fiber.Our butts are on c/f!
Agree . . . a good scale is more accurate than just 'hefting'!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
10-13-11, 06:38 PM
#32
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Off the top of my head:
Specialized S-Works 55cm frame
Syntace F99 120mm stem
Seat post was from ProCyclingDiscount on Ebay - very light. Have a pic of it on a scale somewhere
Campy Record Utlra-Torque 10spd carbon crank
Rival shifters
Rival rear derailer
Ultegra front derailer
105 cassette
Wheels - Kinlin rims laced to Formula hubs (not pictured)
Tires - Schwalbe Ultremo
tubes - Lunar lights from Performance
Brakes - Planet X
Saddle - Toupe Pro. I have a bare carbon saddle that is even lighter but I sometimes commute on this and like the extra platform when carrying a backpack
Bars - Stella Azzura carbon
skewers - KCNC
Pedals - Speed Play Zeros
Specialized S-Works 55cm frame
Syntace F99 120mm stem
Seat post was from ProCyclingDiscount on Ebay - very light. Have a pic of it on a scale somewhere
Campy Record Utlra-Torque 10spd carbon crank
Rival shifters
Rival rear derailer
Ultegra front derailer
105 cassette
Wheels - Kinlin rims laced to Formula hubs (not pictured)
Tires - Schwalbe Ultremo
tubes - Lunar lights from Performance
Brakes - Planet X
Saddle - Toupe Pro. I have a bare carbon saddle that is even lighter but I sometimes commute on this and like the extra platform when carrying a backpack
Bars - Stella Azzura carbon
skewers - KCNC
Pedals - Speed Play Zeros
10-13-11, 07:06 PM
#34
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I ride a 58cm Specialized Allez Elite. W/ carbon fork, Dura Ace crank, Ultegra derailleurs and pedals, 105 shifters, Mavic Open Pro wheelset, San Marco saddle. My wife's full carbon 54 cm Giant with almost the same groupo can't compete in weight. I am amazed at how light this frame is. I work in a bike shop and get to touch a lot of bikes. Some steel bikes are lighter than our most expensive CF's.
10-13-11, 07:23 PM
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26.5 lbs for our full carbon bike . . . heavy??? . . Ah, but then it's a tandem!
Carbon, in our experience/opinion, rides much smoother/less harsh than aluminum.
Have owned/ridden steel alloys, alu, ti, bamboo and carbon fiber.Our butts are on c/f!
Agree . . . a good scale is more accurate than just 'hefting'!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
Carbon, in our experience/opinion, rides much smoother/less harsh than aluminum.
Have owned/ridden steel alloys, alu, ti, bamboo and carbon fiber.Our butts are on c/f!
Agree . . . a good scale is more accurate than just 'hefting'!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem
10-13-11, 07:43 PM
#36
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I ride a 58cm Specialized Allez Elite. W/ carbon fork, Dura Ace crank, Ultegra derailleurs and pedals, 105 shifters, Mavic Open Pro wheelset, San Marco saddle. My wife's full carbon 54 cm Giant with almost the same groupo can't compete in weight. I am amazed at how light this frame is. I work in a bike shop and get to touch a lot of bikes. Some steel bikes are lighter than our most expensive CF's.
10-13-11, 08:00 PM
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The final frame weight is nothing to do with material and everything to do with design. A great big heavy piece of carbon could be designed to be incredibly flexible and break easily if you wanted or a light piece could be made incredibly strong and stiff - both using the same material.
Design costs money - light carbon also requires more accurate design data, ie loads - and testing to ensure it performs as intended - very expensive. More data means needless factors of safety can be removed with confidence too.
Companies cannot afford for any carbon frames to break because people will brand all their cabon as "weak". therefore the real benefits of carbon only come in at a high price point. Weight is just one of those benefits.
Low price carbon has less design, more factors of safety and cheaper manufacturing processes than top end carbon which results in a frame with few of the true benefits of the material - but they sell well
Alloy on the other hand has equal strength in all directions and is easy to design and manufacture and push to the limit - therefore cheap light frames
Design costs money - light carbon also requires more accurate design data, ie loads - and testing to ensure it performs as intended - very expensive. More data means needless factors of safety can be removed with confidence too.
Companies cannot afford for any carbon frames to break because people will brand all their cabon as "weak". therefore the real benefits of carbon only come in at a high price point. Weight is just one of those benefits.
Low price carbon has less design, more factors of safety and cheaper manufacturing processes than top end carbon which results in a frame with few of the true benefits of the material - but they sell well
Alloy on the other hand has equal strength in all directions and is easy to design and manufacture and push to the limit - therefore cheap light frames
10-14-11, 08:33 AM
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Carbon frames ARE lighter than Alu frames. But a fully assembled Carbon bike isn't NECESSARILY lighter than a fully aseembled Alu bike. If you put the heaviest gear onto a carbon bike, and the lightest gear on an Alu bike, considering there is usually only a pound or two difference between frame weight, what do you think you will feel?
10-14-11, 01:13 PM
#39
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I know this was not a very technical question. I really liked all the responses, both humorous and serious. That's why I love checking these forums daily. It's unfortunate that nobody in the bike club brings a scale with them so I can do a proper comparison. I'll just take pride in the fact that I have no performance issues having an ALU bike in a group with mostly CFs. Heck, I wind up pulling a lot of the time!
Happy trails to all and keep the rubber side down!
Trob
I'll just take pride in the fact that I have no performance issues having an ALU bike in a group with mostly CFs. Heck, I wind up pulling a lot of the time!Happy trails to all and keep the rubber side down!
Trob
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