Frame types Aluminium vs Carbon Fibre

[iendicott]

Being looking at seriously splashing out on a road bike through work lately. I have about £1K to spend and I can afford either a Carbon Fibre or Aluminium frame.

I have been reading a few horror stories where people seem to say you can not repair CF and that it is brittle but I always thought CF was a very strong material. I have also seen that some aluminium cycles are a few grams lighter than a carbon fibre cycle.

In the interest of getting a wide opinion on both frame materials which would you go for and why ? Exclusivity is not an issue, just good pratical advise on the benefits of both or either please.

Thinking about running doing to amateur road racing and weekends out covering 50-60 miles.

Thanks Ivan

 

[accountantpete]

Is the £1k just for the frame/forks or the whole bike?

 

[iendicott]

Is the £1k just for the frame/forks or the whole bike?

Whole bike I am afraid. I have seen A focus clicky clicky which I have read good review on but there are a bigger range of Ali framed bikes at that price, I understand for £1K it's not going to get me much but is Carbon Fibre worth it ?

Thanks

 

[Will1985]

Top end aluminium should be better than low end carbon.

I hold the same fears about carbon and will only consider a carbon TT frame at the moment....it's not me I'm worried about, just other riders crashing into me!

 

[iendicott]

Top end aluminium should be better than low end carbon.

I hold the same fears about carbon and will only consider a carbon TT frame at the moment....it's not me I'm worried about, just other riders crashing into me!

Good point. As I have mentioned as well some of the Aluminium cycles can be as light or even lighter than Carbon Fibre cycles. I suspect to get a decent frame you would need to be spending around £1.5k - £2k at least maybe ?

Thanks

 

[accountantpete]

Whole bike I am afraid. I have seen A focus clicky clicky which I have read good review on but there are a bigger range of Ali framed bikes at that price, I understand for £1K it's not going to get me much but is Carbon Fibre worth it ?

Thanks

Don't know the bike Ivan, but from experience it's the design and quality of build that you pay for not the material.

Put it this way if you get into competing in a big way you are going to want to upgrade everything except the 105 groupset. I'd have a look at eBay and see if anyone has gone carbon and is selling a top-end aluminium bike. These are not as comfy but will get the job done.

 

[simon_brooke]

Top end aluminium should be better than low end carbon.

I hold the same fears about carbon and will only consider a carbon TT frame at the moment....it's not me I'm worried about, just other riders crashing into me!

You're mad. Carbon is just better on every measure. Until I had seriously crashed a carbon bike I had the same worries you do - yes, I thought, it's stronger, and lighter and more comfortable than aluminium, but what happens if you crash it at 46 mph into a lump of solid rock?

Having done this, I know the answer: you break your back but the carbon bike is undamaged. And no, I don't mean that it looks undamaged. I mean it's been back to its manufacturers for checking, and it's been x-rayed. It is undamaged. I replaced the forks and handlebars on the precautionary principal, but the showed no detectable damage either.

Obviously if there is a significantly better groupset on the aluminium bike that needs to be factored into the account, but I don't think carbon is even that expensive any longer. It's just better.

 

[iendicott]

Put it this way if you get into competing in a big way you are going to want to upgrade everything except the 105 groupset. I'd have a look at eBay and see if anyone has gone carbon and is selling a top-end aluminium bike. These are not as comfy but will get the job done.

Yes I would love to do a bit of serious road racing so maybe I need to start of with a cheaper bike and if I feel I am doing well maybe upgrade it a little bit here and there.

 

[accountantpete]

Yes I would love to do a bit of serious road racing so maybe I need to start of with a cheaper bike and if I feel I am doing well maybe upgrade it a little bit here and there.

That's the best way IMHO - although if you want a bit of a head start I would go for second-hand rather than an equivalent priced new bike.

 

[kyuss]

You're mad. Carbon is just better on every measure.

Really? That's funny because my aluminium frame is miles better than the carbon one it replaced. You can't judge a bike simply on what it's built from. Why do a large number of people think that if it's made of carbon it's going to be brilliant? I've ridden some awful carbon frames. It's not some kind of wonder material that automatically makes a great bike.

Unless you're spending upwards of £1000 on frame and fork alone I'd reckon aluminium is just as good if not better than carbon at the same price point. I know if I had, say, £400-£500 to spend on a frame, I'd buy a high quality alu one rather than basic quality carbon.

 

[kyuss]

To the OP, at £1000 I'd be seriously considering a Cannondale CAAD9. For around £1000 you should be able to get one with 105, which is a very decent groupset, and you'll get one of the best aluminium frames around.

 

[Will1985]

You're mad.

That's harsh. Carbon is not the be all and end all - marketing bods have done a good job making people think that though.
Skil-Shimano even used aluminium/scandium frames for many of the Tour stages...unusual in today's carbon rigged peloton.

You are giving evidence from one accident where the bike didn't break - you have no idea what an aluminium or steel frame would have done in the same circumstances.
Of the accidents I have had, involving a head-on impact, I doubt any frame would have survived - Rachel Atherton's crash with her Cervelo involved similar circumstances and speeds....the frame broke into many pieces.

 

[MacB]

folks, I think the other thread established we're comparing metal v plastic, cheap plastic is a no. no in my experience

 

[gutbucket]

I have £1k just now to spend on a roadie. Am thinking the Williers Laverdo looks best for me. Thinking that good ally does the job & avoids Halfords.

 

[SimonC]

Holy thread regurgitation Batman!