Ok carbon snobs, lets have it out...
Discussion
Bike to work scheme
2009 Boardman Team Carbon
2500 miles ish
Started out 18.5 stone fatty
Now 15 stone and in the normal ish range for 6.2
Daily commute 7 miles total, 5 days, rarely take it out on the weekends. Rode all seasons. Kept in bedroom (Seacroft!)
Leeds commuting with awful roads - i take care but have hit the odd 4inch pothole, mounting kerbs etc.
Had 2 "offs" first with clipless pedals. Slid on a hill at standstill whilst chatting to a mate. Landed ontop of the bike, handlebar took the brunt. 2nd, moved into new flats, the august leaves covering the drains, front wheel sank into the grate, i went over the handle bars. Also has the odd knock, bangs etc etc.
Wash it once properly once a week and give it a polish (with furniture polish, oh yes) every month.
The frame and forks are in really good nick, the only visible damage so far are where the rear wheel goes into the frame. Due to a bent rear mech and my ham fistedness, i forced the rear wheel in and i have some 1mm scratches near the rear hanger and the metal insert came loose. After sticking the metal insert on with some super glue it's not budged.
Have seen some comments when people have asked advice about £800-£1k road bikes - "i would take a £800 alu bike over a cheap eastern carbon job... etc etc" Please do tell any horror stories!
Admittedly its been easy for me to splash out a grand on a carbon (ctw scheme) and someone who has scrimped and saved and is paying cash might not want a big question mark over longetivity, but does carbon deserve its reputation?
I know little about cycles in the grand scheme of things, but my bike is light, comfy, strong and stiff where it matters.
Carbon haters flame away!
2009 Boardman Team Carbon
2500 miles ish
Started out 18.5 stone fatty
Now 15 stone and in the normal ish range for 6.2
Daily commute 7 miles total, 5 days, rarely take it out on the weekends. Rode all seasons. Kept in bedroom (Seacroft!)
Leeds commuting with awful roads - i take care but have hit the odd 4inch pothole, mounting kerbs etc.
Had 2 "offs" first with clipless pedals. Slid on a hill at standstill whilst chatting to a mate. Landed ontop of the bike, handlebar took the brunt. 2nd, moved into new flats, the august leaves covering the drains, front wheel sank into the grate, i went over the handle bars. Also has the odd knock, bangs etc etc.
Wash it once properly once a week and give it a polish (with furniture polish, oh yes) every month.
The frame and forks are in really good nick, the only visible damage so far are where the rear wheel goes into the frame. Due to a bent rear mech and my ham fistedness, i forced the rear wheel in and i have some 1mm scratches near the rear hanger and the metal insert came loose. After sticking the metal insert on with some super glue it's not budged.
Have seen some comments when people have asked advice about £800-£1k road bikes - "i would take a £800 alu bike over a cheap eastern carbon job... etc etc" Please do tell any horror stories!
Admittedly its been easy for me to splash out a grand on a carbon (ctw scheme) and someone who has scrimped and saved and is paying cash might not want a big question mark over longetivity, but does carbon deserve its reputation?
I know little about cycles in the grand scheme of things, but my bike is light, comfy, strong and stiff where it matters.
Carbon haters flame away!
Well done, nothing wrong with the Boardman machine, why don't you use it at the weekends as well, go on different routes instead of the same roads of commuting ?
As far as carbon longevity, my 2008 Dolan is still going strong, does about 9-10,000 miles / year, I inspect the fork unit ocassionaly for cracks etc.
I also have a Dolan aluminium framed winter bike, no where near as nice to ride as the carbon Dolan. Just my opinion.
As far as carbon longevity, my 2008 Dolan is still going strong, does about 9-10,000 miles / year, I inspect the fork unit ocassionaly for cracks etc.
I also have a Dolan aluminium framed winter bike, no where near as nice to ride as the carbon Dolan. Just my opinion.
I have a Kuota carbon road bike. Had it for 5 years - ridden every day to work in London even during the snow a couple of weeks ago on a 12 mile each way commute.
Had two offs - once on a group ride another on the first day of ice when I hadn't got round to change to my winter tyres!
Never really wash it - haven't changed any components a part from brake pads.
It is light, stiff and I am happy when I ride it. What is there not to like?
Had two offs - once on a group ride another on the first day of ice when I hadn't got round to change to my winter tyres!
Never really wash it - haven't changed any components a part from brake pads.
It is light, stiff and I am happy when I ride it. What is there not to like?
okgo said:
On the flipside I crashed my 6 month old carbon bike and snapped the frame. Alu would have been fine I should think given none of the other 5 people that went down broke their frames.
Not that I care, I'll buy another carbon bike soon I imagine.
Yeah your probably right, however ally frames feel dead compared to carbon, especially if your racing like I know you do, only thing is, the variations in type of carbon, think it's something to do with the weave (or so Dolan's told me) I train on a sort of medium spec one and race on a top level spec one, can't honestly tell that much difference, maybe the top spec is a little lighter and stiffer, but it's mainly due to the components where the difference really is, especially wheels / tyres.Not that I care, I'll buy another carbon bike soon I imagine.
Depend what you class as dead...arguably the magic carpet ride some carbon frames give you is far more dead that the ride my alu bike gives, which is stiff and bumpy! But on a smooth road or track they're much for much.
It's not about the bike as they say, the only reason I will get another carbon one is because on poor surfaces which most are in the uk I think
It's possible to go faster with carbon as
You glide along as opposed to being bounced about.
It's not about the bike as they say, the only reason I will get another carbon one is because on poor surfaces which most are in the uk I think
It's possible to go faster with carbon as
You glide along as opposed to being bounced about.
racerbob said:
Well done, nothing wrong with the Boardman machine, why don't you use it at the weekends as well, go on different routes instead of the same roads of commuting ?
As far as carbon longevity, my 2008 Dolan is still going strong, does about 9-10,000 miles / year, I inspect the fork unit ocassionaly for cracks etc.
I also have a Dolan aluminium framed winter bike, no where near as nice to ride as the carbon Dolan. Just my opinion.
My brain sort of sees the road bike as an enjoyable way of getting to work atm, the mountain bike being used for recreation at weekends. Ill try spending more time on road when the weather picks up, see if it cliks. Good to here some positives, so far the worst aspect of these frames for me is internet fed carbon paranoia!As far as carbon longevity, my 2008 Dolan is still going strong, does about 9-10,000 miles / year, I inspect the fork unit ocassionaly for cracks etc.
I also have a Dolan aluminium framed winter bike, no where near as nice to ride as the carbon Dolan. Just my opinion.
Gotta say so far the Continental sport contacts i struggled to fit a few weeks ago are bloody brilliant
Edit, sod it i'm off for a ride it's lovely out!
Edited by exgtt on Sunday 19th February 10:18
okgo said:
Depend what you class as dead...arguably the magic carpet ride some carbon frames give you is far more dead that the ride my alu bike gives, which is stiff and bumpy! But on a smooth road or track they're much for much.
It's not about the bike as they say, the only reason I will get another carbon one is because on poor surfaces which most are in the uk I think
It's possible to go faster with carbon as
You glide along as opposed to being bounced about.
To be honest I'd rather ride a good quality steel frame than any ally one I've owned, I wouldn't even think about racing on anything but carbon (haven't tried titanium !)It's not about the bike as they say, the only reason I will get another carbon one is because on poor surfaces which most are in the uk I think
It's possible to go faster with carbon as
You glide along as opposed to being bounced about.
Nothing wrong with the Boardman frame TBH. If it were my money I would invest in some decent wheels instead of a frame. Ksyrium SL's or something with some Ultremo tyres will give your bike a bit of extra zip then back to stock wheels (Ritchey?) for the commute. Dont get too caught up in the carbon hype. My old Allez is a far more forgiving ride than the Izoard, especially with stiffer wheels on the Wilier.
But if you really want one go for it...its all about being happy!
But if you really want one go for it...its all about being happy!
racerbob said:
To be honest I'd rather ride a good quality steel frame than any ally one I've owned, I wouldn't even think about racing on anything but carbon (haven't tried titanium !)
My Genesis Flyer single-speed is steel and the ride is sublime! So smooth and in a different league to the aluminum frame I had before. Meanwhile, £3k carbon bike is so bloody stiff that on rutted roads I'm sure I get whiplash on my wrists! Yeah, it's lovely on smooth tarmac and very rapid up hills but it really is a hassle on poor surfaces. Wouldn't swap it though.I've had Ali (Klein), steel (various, incl tripple butted Reynolds) and Carbon (Look).
They were all specialist bikes made for different types of riding, however the Look (KG76 frame) was an utter delight. Responsive and comfy and wonderfully light. I never crashed, so the frame never took any knocks.
As far as I know it's still going strong (sold it to a good friend a decade ago!)
Cheers,
C
They were all specialist bikes made for different types of riding, however the Look (KG76 frame) was an utter delight. Responsive and comfy and wonderfully light. I never crashed, so the frame never took any knocks.
As far as I know it's still going strong (sold it to a good friend a decade ago!)
Cheers,
C
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