those who are new to carbon, but not road cycling
Discussion
i'm looking to buy a new bike very soon (it's my birthday this weekend). i have an old steel bike i'll use to commute through the winter 12 miles each way which i stripped and rebuilt, its heavy by todays standards, but very smooth to ride. my other bike is a giant ocr with record groupset and shamal rims. it feels quite quick, and i've racked up about 1.5k miles on it. i do like it as it's my first nice bike, but it's buzzy and not that comfy to ride.
i went to a local bikeshop in the week, and had a look at a second hand tcr 0 with di2 ultegra for a good price. i wanted it, and was so up for putting down a deposit, but when i rode it (only around a carpark admittedly) it just felt numb. i'm intrigued by di2, but i don't covet it, i think this was part of the disconnected feeling for me, but the frame? the bike? is carbon really worth it?
most people rave about it but it felt flat to me, bloody stiff mind you.
so is this frame just not right for me, or will i get the hang of carbon if i buy one and give it time?
how have those of you felt who have picked up a carbon bike in the last couple of years? or should i look a at another option?
my budget is £1500 with zero room for creep, so, over to you lot.
i went to a local bikeshop in the week, and had a look at a second hand tcr 0 with di2 ultegra for a good price. i wanted it, and was so up for putting down a deposit, but when i rode it (only around a carpark admittedly) it just felt numb. i'm intrigued by di2, but i don't covet it, i think this was part of the disconnected feeling for me, but the frame? the bike? is carbon really worth it?
most people rave about it but it felt flat to me, bloody stiff mind you.
so is this frame just not right for me, or will i get the hang of carbon if i buy one and give it time?
how have those of you felt who have picked up a carbon bike in the last couple of years? or should i look a at another option?
my budget is £1500 with zero room for creep, so, over to you lot.
...wheels, tyres, tyre pressures, saddle, bar tape, riding position, geometry, hood design...umpteen number of variables beyond frame material that all play just as big a role in how a bike "feels".
If it felt like s
t and you didn't like it, there're plenty of other bikes out there. Just don't go getting single-minded about crabon...
If it felt like s
t and you didn't like it, there're plenty of other bikes out there. Just don't go getting single-minded about crabon...I did some test riding of carbon bikes last year (before buying a Ti one), my observation is that not all carbon is made equal!
In my very limited experience carbon bikes are all very different; the Felt F5 was very fast but felt 'dead'; GIANT TCR advanced was quick but brutally stiff, had pinpoint handling but would knock the crap out of you after more than a couple of hours in the saddle - it is an out and out racer; Kuota Kharma was no quicker than my Alu bike and was very flexy - noticeably so on climbs and left me feeling 'drained' after a couple of hours.
I now have a Colnago CX-1 Evo, it is brutally stiff which helps make it a good climber, it is very fast, has exceptionally good handling and comfy enough to spend hours on end in the saddle without feeling too fatigued. Suits me but a friend rode it for a few miles and found it too harsh! Despite all of the above it does not feel anywhere near as 'alive' as my Ti bike.
Before you part with any hard earned cash I would suggest you take an assortment of bikes for a ride. Also, it is worth considering what your budget will buy you - for £1,500 you are looking at a lower end carbon jobbie, or a decent Alu bike like a CAAD10 with Ultegra groupo. Personally I cannot not get too hung up on electric groupsets, but then I don't get too excited about the latest smartphone, tablet or laptops - so when it comes to technology advances you should probably ignore my opinion!!
In my very limited experience carbon bikes are all very different; the Felt F5 was very fast but felt 'dead'; GIANT TCR advanced was quick but brutally stiff, had pinpoint handling but would knock the crap out of you after more than a couple of hours in the saddle - it is an out and out racer; Kuota Kharma was no quicker than my Alu bike and was very flexy - noticeably so on climbs and left me feeling 'drained' after a couple of hours.
I now have a Colnago CX-1 Evo, it is brutally stiff which helps make it a good climber, it is very fast, has exceptionally good handling and comfy enough to spend hours on end in the saddle without feeling too fatigued. Suits me but a friend rode it for a few miles and found it too harsh! Despite all of the above it does not feel anywhere near as 'alive' as my Ti bike.
Before you part with any hard earned cash I would suggest you take an assortment of bikes for a ride. Also, it is worth considering what your budget will buy you - for £1,500 you are looking at a lower end carbon jobbie, or a decent Alu bike like a CAAD10 with Ultegra groupo. Personally I cannot not get too hung up on electric groupsets, but then I don't get too excited about the latest smartphone, tablet or laptops - so when it comes to technology advances you should probably ignore my opinion!!
I only have 2 bikes to compare.. Gt gtr1 - a high end alloy frame, and focus cayo evo 6, a low groupset on a uci approved full carbon light thingie.
The gt is lighter, by a few hundred grams - some heavy finishing kit on the focus. The wheels on the gt are better.
However, the focus is just sooooooo stiff in the back end, climbing out the saddle is electric compared to the gtr.
On the flat, it's slightly more complient than the gt, the "road buzz" is less. So overall, it's stiffer, but comfier than aluminium.
Caveat - other experiences may vary, as i said my experiences are limited
The gt is lighter, by a few hundred grams - some heavy finishing kit on the focus. The wheels on the gt are better.
However, the focus is just sooooooo stiff in the back end, climbing out the saddle is electric compared to the gtr.
On the flat, it's slightly more complient than the gt, the "road buzz" is less. So overall, it's stiffer, but comfier than aluminium.
Caveat - other experiences may vary, as i said my experiences are limited
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