Carbon vs Aluminium

[jonrwg]

I'm curious is full carbon road bike worth extra £300? And is Ribble Sportive Bianco or Sportive Racing better than GT GTR Series 3 2010?

Bought my GT GTR Series 3 2010 model last Wednesday for £599 at Evans. Currently on a hunt for pedals and road shoes then I came across Ribble website. I never noticed about their special edition bike section as I thought it would cost £1000 and above. So I take a look at it today and click on carbon road bike, look at the weight & price, I'm thinking in my mind to refund my GT bike for this carbon. I upgrade the seatpillar to CSN Carbon S.E and Vittoria Rubino 3 Rigid Tyre. Total cost £925.95.

Or the Ribble 7005 Ultralight Race. But this is alloy version. Upgraded:

ITM Aero 2.4 Wheels Pair
ITM Triango Carbon (31.8 Handlebars)
ITM Alutech 7075 (31.8 Stem)
ITM Triango Carbon Seatpillar
Vittoria Rubino 3 Rigid Tyre

Total cost = £775.95.

With both options above is it worth it for the extra cash?

 

[buggi]

Personally i think it depends on the weight.

I took my brother to Halfrauds to have a look at the Boardmans.

Team bike (alu frame with carbon forks) v Team Carbon (full carbon frame) (IIRC the names correctly)

anyway, both bikes had same groupset, same wheels, same tyres, same EVERYTHING except for the frame.

And the weight difference was 500 grams.

In that respect. NO. DEFINITELY NOT WORTH THE £300 extra for the Carbon. That's just carbon snobbery.

i have a alu cross bike and a carbon road bike. I love both. the cross is a little harder going, but i know that's mroe to do with the tyres, coz when i whack road tyres on, i get similar times. I love my road bike for climbing hills because it's very light (sub kg frame) but then i lose on the weight on the downhill so don't gain anytime overall. i'm not sure what weight by cross bike is, i just know it's slightly heavier but i still love riding it.

my mate has a Kuota alu frame with carbon wheels. i love her bike. it's carbon weight and has a brilliant paint job.

so if i were you, i would look at the spec. If the alu frame weighs the same or similar as the carbon, i'd go for the cheaper alu with the better spec/groupset etc.

Some Tour riders still ride alu frames too.

 

[Smokin Joe]

Scandium is my material of choice. As light as most carbon frames, stiff and responsive and a lot cheaper.

 

[buggi]

Scandium is my material of choice. As light as most carbon frames, stiff and responsive and a lot cheaper.

That's what my cross bike is made of

 

[NotFabian]

Good subject op, I've been mulling this over for a week or so. £350 more for full carbon bike over alu frame bike with carbon forks and seat stays, better components on the less expensive alu bike but unsure of weight differences. I've been telling myself I could always upgrade kit in a year or two and have a good carbon bike but have been told "everyone says that but no one does". So leaning towards the alu bike now...my budget is the alu bike price.

 

[HLaB]

Scandium is my material of choice. As light as most carbon frames, stiff and responsive and a lot cheaper.

+1 I have a carbon bike and a scandium one and the latter is my choice out of the two.

 

[jonrwg]

What a great response here. Been asking around about this and most of it leaning towards alu frame. So I've been looking at Rible Ultralite Racing bike which is next lightest to full carbon frame, 1.250kg (ultralite) & 1.200kg (carbon). But I still like the looks of Gran Fondo.

I'm not very sure which groupset to go for. Shimano 105? Campag Centaur? or SRAM Rival? Any idea? And I'm using Ribble bike builder (not very good at knowing what brand is good):

• Ribble 7005 Ultralite Racing Frame 54.5cm (C to Top)
• Ribble 7005 Ultralite Racing Carbon Road Forks 1 1/8" ITS
• Ribble Headset Unbranded 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
• Shimano 105 (5700) Black 10 Spd Double Groupset
• Shimano 105 5700 BB Cups (105 10 Double/Triple) Eng
• Shimano 105 Black 5700 Brakes
• Shimano 10 Spd 105 5700 Cassette 12-25
• Shimano 10 Spd 5701 105 Chain
• Shimano 105 Black Dbl 5700 10 Chainset 170 39/53
• Shimano 105 Black (5700) 10 Dbl Fr Gear Braze-on
• Shimano 105 Black (5700) 10 Spd Rear Gear Short (SS)
• Shimano STI Levers 105 Black 5700 with cables Double
• Fulcrum Pair Wheels Racing 7 Black 8/9/10 Shim
• ITM Alutech Wing 6061 (31.8) Bars White 38cm
• ITM Alutech 6061 3D Forged Stem Black 90mm
• ITM Headset Spacer Carbon 1 1/8" 10mm
• Pro-Lite Cles Saddle Black
• Deda RS 01 Seatpillar Black 31.6 350mm
• Vittoria Rubino 3 Rigid Tyre Black/Black 700x23mm
• Vittoria Butyl Ultralite Tube 700x19/23 SV42mm
• Deda Cork Ribbon Handlebar Tape Black
• No Pedals currently selected.

The above spec will cost me extra £365 from my £599 GT bike. OR

• Ribble 7005 Ultralite Racing Frame 54.5cm (C to Top)
• Ribble 7005 Ultralite Racing Carbon Road Forks 1 1/8" ITS
• Ribble Headset Unbranded 1 1/8" Hidden (ITS) 45 x 45
• Shimano 105 (5700) Black 10 Spd Double Groupset
• Shimano 105 5700 BB Cups (105 10 Double/Triple) Eng
• Shimano 105 Black 5700 Brakes
• Shimano 10 Spd 105 5700 Cassette 12-25
• Shimano 10 Spd 5701 105 Chain
• Shimano 105 Black Dbl 5700 10 Chainset 170 39/53
• Shimano 105 Black (5700) 10 Dbl Fr Gear Braze-on
• Shimano 105 Black (5700) 10 Spd Rear Gear Short (SS)
• Shimano STI Levers 105 Black 5700 with cables Double
• ITM Pr Whls Aero 2.4 8/9/10 Shim
• ITM Triango Carbon (31.8) Bars Black 44cm
• ITM Alutech 7075 (31.8) Stem White 70mm
• Prorace Ponza Saddle Black
• ITM Alutech 7075 Carbon Seatpillar White 31.6 350mm
• Vittoria Rubino 3 Rigid Tyre Black/Black 700x23mm
• Prorace Inner Tube 700x20/23 SV42mm
• ITM Cork Embossed Handlebar Tape Black
• No Pedals currently selected.

Any comment?

 

[rb58]

The difference between aluminium and carbon is not only weight. It's also about the feel of the bike. Aluminium can be harsh in some respects. I think you should start by thinking about the kind of riding you think you'll be doing. Then consider the relative merits of frame materials - carbon, alu, steel, titanium, bamboo and so on - for that kind of ride.

 

[Smokin Joe]

The difference between aluminium and carbon is not only weight. It's also about the feel of the bike. Aluminium can be harsh in some respects. I think you should start by thinking about the kind of riding you think you'll be doing. Then consider the relative merits of frame materials - carbon, alu, steel, titanium, bamboo and so on - for that kind of ride.

I've never bought that one. I've ridden steel, all aluminium and aluminium/carbon frames and assuming correct fit the only thing I've ever found that makes a bike ride harshly are poor quality tyres and tubes and/or incorrect pressures, bearing in mind that frame geometry will also be a determining factor.

Whatever material you chose the bike is floating on a cushion of air, fit quality tyres with supple sidewalls at the correct pressures for your weight and that will allow the air in the tubes to iron out 99% of anything transmitted up from the road.

I suspect there is a lot of marketing bullshit behind the "material X gives a comfy ride and material Y doesn't" stuff that is trotted out by testers in magazines who are repeating what their advertisers feed them. Here's something from a man who didn't buy it either -

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/frame-materials.html

 

[jonrwg]

Thanks Smokin Joe for the article. Had a read on it and I think I will go for 7005 Ultralite Aluminum. I mostly use my bike for club run and sportive event or audax in the future. I also want my bike to last long, is my current bike spec (GT GTR Series 3 stock spec) good enough?