Alu or Carbon frame ?

[Psyclist]

Carbon bikes from Ribble are pretty good for the money for what you pay for. But as said alu frame/carbon fork will be best, you get more for your money specification wise. If you hill climb a lot, carbon bikes are great, due to the low weight, thus making it easier on the legs. Depending on budget though, you could get a nice, light alu bike which will do the job just right.

 

[Hacienda71]

Any frame can fail. I have had an aluminium frame fail on me, friends have had both steel and titanium frames fail as well. Any material can fail. With Carbon Fibre I am pretty sure there is an element of, it is new and if you tap it it sounds fragile, but if it was likely to fail during normal use then it wouldn't be used for frame manufacture. It certainly wouldn't be used to make F1 car chassis.
Trying to answer the OP, personally I ride Steel, Alu and CF and I would try to test ride the bikes you like the look of first if at all possible and see which you prefer. Bear in mind that riding any new bike for the first time is going to feel a bit alien.
My personal observations are that my CF bike absorbs the buzz of the road far more than my Alu bike whilst being equally stiff (making it a tiny bit more comfortable over longer distances) and a bit lighter. In terms of speed I haven't noticed much of a difference between the two on the flat although I would say the CF bike is marginally quicker up the same hills that I ride day in and day out. This would tie in with a reduction in weight.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Carbon is king, its cutting edge, its more responsive and its what people want.
But! Buy a cheap carbon bike and you may be risking your life.
Aluminium was once the the new wonder material, get a mid range model and you still have a good frame.

Why would you buy something just because it's "cutting edge"? You can see why Apple have made so much money!

And what do you mean by "its (sic) what people want"?

 

[Peteaud]

Just go and buy a Giant Defy 1



£1k and bob is your aunty.

 

[jazzkat]

A few years ago I bought a top end ali framed road bike for just under a grand (end of season sale).
I've measured it up against other peoples carbon framed bikes and they certainly aren't that much lighter considering the price differential.
I'm really happy with my purchase and feel no need to get a lighter/better/carbon framed bike. If anything I'd be more tempted by a nice light custom built steel framed bike, but that would be much more expensive
N+1 rules

 

[cyberknight]

Of course if your budget stretches theres titanium .........

 

[festival]

You seriously talk a lot B.... S.....

You clearly know nothing of some of the frames available from dubious mail order outlets.

 

[black'n'yellow]

You clearly know nothing of some of the frames available from dubious mail order outlets.

we certainly won't unless you enlighten us..?

 

[festival]

why?

Because there are some unbranded frames available mail order that are of unknown construction, unknown engineering, poor quality control and little in the way of warranty. Factory seconds, QC rejects and copies of brands being passed off as OEM frames.
There are cases were unsuitable materials were found inside frames such as rolled up newspaper and voids were there should be carbon and resin etc etc etc.
If you buy cheap, you get cheap, which includes the products lifespan.

 

[mark st1]

Because there are some unbranded frames available mail order that are of unknown construction, unknown engineering, poor quality control and little in the way of warranty. Factory seconds, QC rejects and copies of brands being passed off as OEM frames.
There are cases were unsuitable materials were found inside frames such as rolled up newspaper and voids were there should be carbon and resin etc etc etc.
If you buy cheap, you get cheap, which includes the products lifespan.

Got any links im after a new frameset

 

[festival]

So £1000 Planet x carbon bike is dangerous compared to a specialized 2k jobbie?

No, the word dangerous, using your comparison would be misleading.
The likes of plant x may be cheaper but its not cheap rubbish IMO.

 

[festival]

Why would you buy something just because it's "cutting edge"? You can see why Apple have made so much money!

And what do you mean by "its (sic) what people want"?

Cutting edge, I believe means, at the forefront, at the greatest advancement and that's what many people, i.e. cyclists want because it works better.
Of course I was generalizing, using my experience of what I see and hear, in the same way people want an iphone, maybe not you or me but plenty do, regardless of if its really needed.

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

There are cases were unsuitable materials were found inside frames such as rolled up newspaper and voids were there should be carbon and resin etc etc etc.
If you buy cheap, you get cheap, which includes the products lifespan.

I do remember the fella who brought the Dogma copy mail order from china who ended up in an accident and spitting teeth due to his forks snapping, it was discovered to be stuffed with a Chinese newspaper, you can actually see it in the pictures below sticking out the top of the forks..... He got a right bargain there.

 

[festival]

I do remember the fella who brought the Dogma copy mail order from china who ended up in an accident and spitting teeth due to his forks snapping, it was discovered to be stuffed with a Chinese newspaper, you can actually see it in the pictures below sticking out the top of the forks..... He got a right bargain there.

I thank you, and good night!

 

[Hacienda71]

The failed fake Dogma frame. Always trotted out to discredit any Chinese carbon that isn't badged up under a well known name. I have done 6000 miles this year on my unbranded carbon frame. Strangley the only failure I have had was a branded Sram shifter. GBB155 has had three frames direct from China which didn't fail. Cursory search for broken carbon comes up with erm this. Mostly well known manufacturers that failed after a serious impact where you would throw an aluminium frame away as well. They may not be as good as the high end carbon exotica that can be bought from the top manufacturers normally made in Taiwan not China, but they aren't all that different than the Planet X frames and the like. It would be interesting to see where Planet X and Ribble get their frames from. I know one chap near where I am who rode a 21 minute 10 on an unbranded carbon TT bike, so they can't be all that bad.