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No carbon , staying with Alu.. Reasons why
Ride2win 
| 06 Aug 03:48 |
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 Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile | Hi guys Some of you might of seen my other post with the problems of me looking for a new carbon bike, well this is a follow up post to that. I bought a Trek alu road bike a short while ago, when starting out with road riding , I also bought my doughter a road bike as it was her who wanted one first..lol.. after putting down a reasonable amout of miles I felt that I wanted somthing with a bit more performance, I had already fitted a set of good carbon forks. The other parts of the bike are rather cheap shimano 2300, and look like they wont last long, the rear mech is already showing problems... so the plan was to get a carbon bike, I was told it was the way to go!! I spent a few weeks looking and thinking where to spend my hard earnt cash, I visited loads of shops and talked with many sales men, I liked things on diff bikes. I liked Sram groupset from one bike the wheels of another so on... I did expect the carbon bikes to be lighter, most were not as expected.. the lightest I saw was the boardman carbon pro, and a giant advanced 1 . then I was out riding mith my daughter, long story short, I fell off, feet not out in time ,, well I landed on the curb and really scuffed my rear stays, I was ok tho.. This started me thinking . . . ?? good time to get a new bike as the sales will be starting soon but I would guess that we have 2 maybe 3 months of reasonable weather till it get nasty again, With all said I had a long hard thought I came to the mind set that carbon will have to wait till next year. Now I know that carbon is strong but I would have been upset if had fallen of on a new carbon bike and broke the rear stay I would prob put the bike away for winther too. I decided to refit my Alu bike with a new group set some lighter wheels and a few other bits, keeping the alu frame. I am then going to use my old group set to build my doughter a new lighter bit better bike than her Raloeigh pursuite which is Poo.. By keeping my alu bike and replacing the groupset and a few other bits , I am able to save loads of weight of the overall bike. my current wheels weigh 2150g on ther own. Tyres and tubes 420g each, crank 1400g .. but the frame is reasonable light I would have a guess and say that with some good lighter parts I could re-build this bike lighter than some of the carbon's I have seen. Meaning a good training bike for all year with out the huge price tag.. I wont have such a smooth ride as with a carbon bike and maybe not the lightest ( time will tell) But on the flip side I wont have as fragile bike, no need for both winter and summer bikes, prob less flex than a carbon. So to conclude I would rather have a good Alu bike with good groupset and components which will perform well, than a poor carbon bike with cheap group sets, and a too spongie feel.. I will do a build post , with my final weight, and parts I used.. |
| My Latest Route: Jul 2010 Strood to Gravesend Loop | |
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Ride2win
| 07 Aug 03:59 |
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Joined: 23 Jul 2010 Posts: 14 Bike: My Profile | hi All Had another off yesterday , my daughter and I were out riding , pacing along at about 20 mph, a old man walked out accross the cycle path in front of my daughter all of a sudden and with out looking. She swerved to avoid him and hit a bollard that seperates the cycle path. I then swerved to avoid crashing into her and came of myself... Three times I have been off now, in as meany weeks Now some carbon bikes would prob be ok, but it only take one bad off to break the frame.. I ordered my daughters new frame and forks from ribble. :7005 light alu frame size 41. :carbon forks. :alpinia hidden headset. total cost £170. Parts allready owned :Ritchey logic bars. :specialized comp stem 70mm. :un-branded saddle and pin. Parts From My trek :Shimano 2300 groupset. :Bontrager aero wheels wit tyres & tubes we have to wait upto 10 days for the frame set, but she is really looking forward to helping build her own bike, We will put hey current Raleigh which is so so heavy and to be blunt a bit Poo, on ebay, so all in all she should have a reasonable training bike, as parts ware out we will replace them with some better one's, and as she grows we will can simply order a new frame from ribble as the price for the frame is less than £100 and will save £££ on buying a new bike every year or so, she is only 11 so has a lot of growing to do, I think for her this is the best way to go as she will have a good fitted bike which has not broke the bank and wont have to worry too much about her out growing it.. all good I think.. For my Bike I have so far ordered :SRAM force groupset £ 500 :-)) :Braze on adaptor £ 10 I still need a set of wheels, tyres & tubes , will keep my frame, my bontrager carbon forks, bontrager bars and stem. Then latter on if I want a carbon frame I can simply buy one, at first it looks to be an expnsive way of doing things, and for sure it is if opted for low spec parts, but it works out cheaper on the higher end stuff. an example. Example giant advanced 1 cost £3330 new Build Tcr frame £1500 mavic wheel set £500 Sram force group set £500 finishing kit £200 max Total £2700 a saving of £600 Also if you bought the tcr frame as a bike on the advance 4 as it is the same frame at a cost of £1400 you save an extra £100 and you could sell the rest of the bike on ebay, wheels groupset, would get £450 easy that is another saving totaling the cost to around £2250 saving of £ 1050 :-)) I have looked at this with other bikes too and works out same as, It is my thoughts that these bikes are so over priced, least this way you can get what you want with reason and save some £££ at the same time, and enjoy building it.. |
| My Latest Route: Jul 2010 Strood to Gravesend Loop | |
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ozzie51
| 03 Mar 18:28 |
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Joined: 24 Feb 2011 Posts: 39 Bike: My Profile | Hi, Unless the aim is just to have a do it yourself build project, My resurch is it will cost alot and as some bikes I see on ebay be a Heinze variety of mismatch. I bought a Specialized 2009 Roubaix, full carbon with 105 group set for 700 pounds on Ebay,(new value 2500pounds) after riding for 5000Km I fitted a Ultegra group set complete 350 pounds. I have also upgraded the wheels for 250pounds. weight 6.5Kg I would value the bike with bikes selling for 4000pounds and should not need upgrading for some year to come. I think my point is to build a bike from individul componants is expansive but to start with a solid bike and make a couple of upgrade when ware dictates is economicl. John |
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winnersh cyclist
| 22 Sep 04:13 |
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Joined: 02 Sep 2011 Posts: 49 Bike: My Profile | I would say that whatever I would rather have a Carbon bought a Spez 2009 Roubaix for 500 twice now and upgraded and dont think total I have spent more than 1k on a superb bike where only the frame and handle is new however must admit I havent fallen off yert in three years so in your case stick to the alu. |
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BusterG
| 22 Sep 09:35 |
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 Joined: 25 Feb 2010 Posts: 372 Bike: My Profile | No carbobn for me either. All I need to convince me is on bustedcarbon.com cant find busted alu.com... Good luck all, whatever you ride. Buster |
| My Latest Route: Oct 2013 Liss | |
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