so i think i made a mistake.....
 

so i not just two weeks ago i bought a 2011 725 frame. up in until then i had a cheap steel dawes frame(one of the ones that comes complete for like 200 bucks on ebay) and truth be told, i'm finding my new frame rather uncomfortable. i've been in denial of course because the frame looks awesome, but i can't help the facts: i don't think i like riding aluminum. so what should i do? try buying a steel fork or just buy a whole new frameset(yes, i am determined to have a new frame for this summer)

By "uncomfortable" do you mean it doesn't fit you or do you just dislike the ride quality? If it's ride quality, your wheels/tires play a big role.

What fork are you using now? If it's aluminum, it must suck. Go carbon.

lower your tire pressure a bit.

Some wheels are very stiff. Like my mavic krysiums sl's They are very uncomfortable.

If you are having a rough ride, Tire's sizes and pressures help.

The frame should'nt be too uncomfortable,

If you're riding an aluminum track frame on the street, get a carbon fork (if you can spend the cash), and definitely go up to bigger tires. I used to ride 19mm tires at max pressure but now I ride 28s at my weight-recommended pressure. Even on my old 735tr or all aluminum GT Edge the bigger tires made more of a difference than frame material.

+1^ to that

But with a transfer build, same tire size, aluminum is the harsher frame material out of the 2.

um.

@ op:

"steel is real" must apply somewhere in this situation..

+1 carbon fork if you don't have one already
+1 larger tires (25-28c) if you dont have those already.
Also might try a set back seatpost to give you a similar position over the cranks like you're used to.

Certainly more details, bike specs (size, components) and what the specs were on the old bike if you want a proper "Internet Diagnosis";)

as others have said bigger tires...might want to think about a different bar/stem combo.

i ride 25c on eight inch amelias. the fork is aluminum and considering i'm not sure if i still want to keep this frame i'm not about to spend more money putting a carbon fork on it. i do have a set of 28c's but i already run a low gear ratio for the hills in my area and i don't feel like upping my rolling resistance. my bar/stem set up is aluminum origin8 80mm stem and on one mary bars wrapped in cork. to be honest i've already begun the replacement method development. i guess i'm just not fond of aluminum and this was a really expensive way of finding out.

evangeline, just remember, different task, different hammer. Steel is a lot more compliant. That Aluminum frame will be stiffer, but a hell of a lot more responsive, with a lot less accelleration flex. This means a faster sprint break, for example, on a velodrome. Unfortunately, it also means a beat you up ride on the streets.

As an alternative to a CF fork, you might look into some CF handlebars to transmit less of that road buzz to your hands. Either way will be around the same price, but the bars will be an easier change than the whole fork setup. ;) Just watch the torque when you tighten up the stem.

thanks for the suggestions but based on the type of abuse my bike receives on a daily basis i'm trying to steer away from carbon fiber. and although a valid point with the sprint break on the velodrome, my bike will never see the velodrome so anything regarding that aspect of cycling is pretty much irrelevant to my bike. i appreciate all the advice guys, thanks.

+1 for carbon fork.

:notamused:

I would lower the seatpost and level off the saddle and it looks like it it should be further back on the post. Those wheels are super stiff so if you have an extra set of non deep dish wheels, or swap with a buddy and try that. 100mm stem on a 49cm frame sounds a little long, so all your height is over the front end of the bike. Did you measure this bike up to the cockpit of the old bike for comparison, that can help if your build is off in relation to the old bike.

I just want to throw out there, if "steel was real" then why don't people use steel rims? I mean I know some people still do but all the steel is real crew still has alloy rims... just saying...

That is a big part of your problem there.

I too felt this way for a long time. I am 250lbs and have carbon forks on 2 of my bikes. One is a carbon fork that i was scared to hit a crack in the road with at first. Then i realized that if beasts like Chris Hoy are rocking it Im gonna be ok. Despite what you may hear carbon is very far from weak. Hell when I can swing it, I will likely try one of those carbon chainrings. I live in Portland, (I know its not like super close but) if you wanna try out my carbon fork (only going steel for a front rack) or some of my other parts (that are not origin8 Amelias) you are welcome to. Also City Bikes has a couple of hardly used Trek carbon forks for like $60 right now. Just saying, that being someone who went aluminum too and was hurting for the first bit I understand.

thanks, as it so happens we live pretty close together(asuuming you mean portland OR not portland, maine) i think i may just work on upgrading some of my parts before replacing my frame, perhaps even dropping the cash on a carbon fork. now that i think of it my first roadie was aluminum with a carbon fork and i don't recall this problem. do you think cxp-22s would be a more comfy ride? cause those are what i was looking at for a new wheelset. oh and, nwbikeman, i don't know where you got 49cm from but my bike is 58cm. it's that leader with the uber ugly crankset that needs to be replaced.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=195208

Too bad it's too big, I'd make you an offer if you were willing to part with it asap

You're best bet then is to sell the leader frame and buy a quality road frame with appropriate geometry..Not to be rude, but you bought a very stiff, low quality alumium frame that won't be a fun bike to ride off a track. Cheap steel SS frames tend to have much better ride quality than cheap AL track frames.

again, pressure? your weight? at ~175lbs, my 25s are ~100psi...sometimes less.

CF fork will do little for shock absorption (which is different than vibration damping, which carbon does well).

What kind of riding do you do on a brakeless aluminum track bike that is too much for carbon fiber? This is an honest question. Unless you are seriously thrashing your bike, i.e. making it hit things, properly-designed cf isn't any less safe than properly-designed aluminum.

I also still don't have a good grasp on your idea of "uncomfortable." If the ride is just rattly, then adjusting your tire pressure or swapping your fork can make a good bit of difference, at a better price. If it's causing you actual physical pain, then i'd agree that steel is probably your best option.

A cheaper alternative to a cf fork would be a cf seatpost. It won't help lower vibrations on your hands, but depending on where the "uncomfortable" part of this frame is centralized it could be a big help

wow, brutally honest and tempting. i'm trying to tell myself buying two frames just weeks apart is stupid, although i do enjoy it....

You still haven't said just what about your bike is "uncomfortable".

sorry mr. scrod sir. it hurts my elbows and back. all the exact same pieces were on my last bike(minus that POS crankset) and it just felt was smoother.

Portland, OR. Though I am from Portland, ME LOL... Anyway If you want I can help you fit your bike better. I have lots of extra parts from when I toy around with frame fit and or build bikes for people. We could see what works. Also I would go look at the Trek carbon forks at City Bikes and see if they will work. I want one for my road bike, they have like 3.