Jun
10
Aluminum frame vs. Carbon frame road bikes?
I am looking to upgrade from my aluminum frame road bike to a carbon frame road bike. I would like to know the advantages and disadvantages to a carbon frame, other than the fact that it costs more. Also, should I consider one bike maker or brand over another, and why. Do any of the manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty on their carbon frames? Thanks.
Wow, a lot of disinformation being posted as fact.
Let me say this first: There is ‘need’ and there is ‘want’. Unless you are in the top 1% or above in cycling fitness for your age group, buying a carbon fiber frame will not make you any faster. Training will.
That being said, carbon fiber has taken over the high-end bike frame market and is making huge inroads to the mid-range market too. All for good reason. Carbon fiber can be tuned for each portion of the frame. Without question the lightest and stiffest frames are carbon fiber.
I am a competitive cyclist who rides over 5000 miles a year and ride a seven year old Look brand (obsolete by today’s standards) carbon-tubed bike. My bike weighs a little over 19 lbs with pedals so it is far from the lightest. The frame is aluminum lug with carbon fiber tube construction joined together with an adhisive. I am also 6’4″ tall, 195 lbs and can generate well over 1000 watts for a short burst. I have crashed this frame heavily without any damage.
Carbon fiber is very, very tough. Don’t believe all the carbon-haters. The price is coming down every year so if you can’t afford one this year, you may be able too next year.
My new carbon road bike, Canyon Ultimate
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2010 ORBEA DIVA DAMA Women’s 650c Road Bike Frameset Full Carbon 46cm BB30 NIB $1,749.97 |
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EXUSTAR E-SR232 Men’s Road Cycling Shoes Carbon 40 NEW $59.97 |
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Full Carbon Fiber Road Bike with Full SRAM Force. BRAND NEW!!!! $1.00 |
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Giant TCR C2 w/ SRAM Rival! Carbon Road Bike! $1,000.00 |
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Easton EC70 Carbon Fiber Ergo Road Handlebar Handlebars 40cm BRAND NEW $95.00 |
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Sidi Genius 5 Pro Carbon Mega Road Shoes – Size 47 (12 US) $120.00 |
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2010 ORBEA ONIX TRV USA 48cm Road Bike Carbon Fiber Sram Rival Complete NEW $1,599.97 |
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2008 ORBEA OPAL 60cm Road Tri Bike Bicycle Frameset Full Carbon W/Fork Blue NEW $799.97 |
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EXUSTAR E-SR232 Men’s Road Cycling Shoes Carbon 46 NEW $59.97 |
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NEW 2012 Trek Madone 6.5 Project One Frame Set // 56 CM Carbon Road Bike TT BB90 $1,999.99 |
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88G Exustar E-PR200CKTi Road Clipless Pedals Carbon OEM PACKAGE $299.94 |
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Louis Garneau Titan Carbon Cycling Helmet // MED 56-59 White/Silver Road Bike $19.99 |
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Blackburn Carbon frame pump – small (430 – 470 mm) MTB Cycle Road Touring $67.92 |
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2007 TREK 1600 57 CM WOMENS ROAD SHIMANO ULTEGRA 105 BONTRAGER CARBON NO RESERVE $1.00 |
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- BONTRAGER XXX Stem CARBON 100mm Road Bike 31.8, LIGHT – 116 grams! $0.99 |
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Full Carbon Fiber Road Bike with Full SRAM Force. BRAND NEW!!!! $1.00 |
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ORBEA FCM SL Full Carbon Road Bike Fork 1 1/8″ 30cm NEW $99.97 |
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2011 Zipp 808 Firecrest Wheel Set // 700c Road Bike Shimano Carbon Tubular Tri $0.99 |
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ORBEA OPAL 2010 Red White Road Triathlon Bike Frame W/ Fork Carbon 51cm NEW $1,199.99 |
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2009 ORBEA DIVA DAMA Women’s 650c 650 Road Bike Frameset Full Carbon 46cm NIB $1,199.97 |
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2010 SELLE ITALIA SLR Kit FLOW CARBONIO Road Bike Seat Saddle Carbon Fiber NEW $179.97 |
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FSA SL-K 172.5mm Road Carbon Crankset Tandem 10S Rear Megaexo 30/39/52t NEW $199.97 |
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CARBON SEATPOST EASTON EC90 ZERO Road 31.6mm 300mm new in box $149.90 |
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USED Mavic Zxellium Road Bike Shoes Ergo Fit3D Carbon Sole 42.5 US 9 PLEASE READ $149.99 |
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USED Mavic Zxellium Road Bike Shoes Ergo Ride Carbon Sole 42.5 US 9 PLEASE READ $149.99 |
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CARBON SEATPOST EASTON EC90 ZERO Road 31.6mm 400mm new in box $149.90 |
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EXUSTAR E-SR232 Men’s Road Cycling Shoes Carbon 41 NEW $59.97 |
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Sram S900 GXP Carbon Crank Arms 172.5mm Power Meter Road Bike Quarq $49.99 |
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Sram S900 GXP Carbon Crank Arm Left Non Drive 172.5mm Power Meter Road Bike $19.99 |
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NEW Giro Trans HV Carbon Road Shoes // 43 9.5 Black Clipless SPD-SL Bike Bicycle $169.99 |
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NEW FSA Spacer Kit // 1 1/8″ Carbon 2cm 1cm Aluminum Road Bike Mtb Mountain CX $0.99 |
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SRAM RED BB30 170mm 34/50t Road Bike 10S Crankset Carbon Fiber POWERGLIDE NEW $345.00 |
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SRAM RED BB30 172.5mm 39/53t Road Bike 10S Crankset Carbon Fiber POWERGLIDE NEW $345.00 |
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SHIMANO WH-RS80 700c Road Bike Carbon Ultegra Wheelset Clincher RS Eighty NEW $508.97 |
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NEW ABR ALLOY + CARBON STEM ROAD MTB BIKE 31.8mm x 90mm / 1 1/8″ STEERER / White $27.00 |
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Bontrager Race XXX Lite Carbon Fiber 90mm Road Stem $9.99 |
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FSA Superlight Carbon Right Drive Side Crank Arm 175mm 53/39t Octalink Road $39.99 |
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2009 ORBEA ONIX 54cm Road Bike Frameset Full Carbon W/Fork Blue NEW $699.97 |
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FSA K-FORCE LIGHT 170mm Road Carbon Crankset 2 x 10 Speed Megaexo 39/53t NEW $349.97 |
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EXUSTAR E-SR221 Road Cycling Shoe Carbon 46 12.5 US NEW $49.97 |
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ZIPP 808 700c Tubular Wheel Carbon Fiber Front Road Bike F Tubular NEW $699.97 |
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2008 ORBEA DIVA 53cm Women’s Road Bike Frameset Full Carbon W/ Fork Pink NEW $1,199.97 |
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Hed Bontrager Aeolus 5.0 Carbon Wheelset-50mm Aero Wheels-Road Bike Wheel-2009 $499.99 |
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NEW Shimano SH-R220 Road Shoes // 47 11.8 Carbon White Clipless SPD-SL Cycling $104.99 |
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Specialized Ruby SL Carbon Handelbars // Womens 31.8mm 38cm Road Bike Bicycle $99.99 |
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Felt 3.2 Carbon Saddle // 130mm Road Triathlon Time Trial Bike Race Seat Black $14.99 |
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Carbon Water Bottle Road Bike Bicycle Cage Holder New $5.97 |
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EXUSTAR E-SR232 Men’s Road Cycling Shoes Carbon 39 NEW $59.97 |
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FSA K-FORCE New Ergo 31.8mm 40cm 400mm Monocoque Carbon Road Handlebar Bars NEW $159.97 |
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HED C 9 / 6 Carbon Fiber Road Wheelset Wheels $0.99 |
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MOST black handlebar carbon bike road mtb -black $49.94 |
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56cm Trek Y Foil 66 Carbon Fiber Road Frame & Easton EC90 Full Carbon Fork $0.99 |
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Advanced Pro Mitho Light Carbon Road Bike Frameset $599.99 |
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ZEUS CAT III 3 Carbon Fiber Road Bike Stem 130mm 31.8mm Threadless NEW $69.97 |
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Shimano Dura Ace 7900 10-speed Flight Deck Carbon Road Bike Shifters $259.99 |
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Specialized Dolce Elite Womens Road Bike Carbon Fork 2005 WSD Ultegra $650.00 |
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FSA Carbon 32.4 mm Seatpost 32.4mm Post SS Road,Tri,TT,Single Speed Triathlon $34.99 |
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Karbona Comp Elite Alloy Carbon Ergo Road Handlebar 40 $149.00 |
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Reynolds Pro Round Carbon Road Bicycle Handlebar 44cm C-C $74.99 |
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Seven Alaris Titanium Road Bicycle Frame Set 5E Carbon Fork Size 58cm $999.99 |
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ZEUS CAT III 3 Carbon Fiber Road Bike Stem 120mm 31.8mm Threadless NEW $69.97 |
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Selle San Marco Concor Carbon Fx Black Saddle Road Seat Lightweight $189.50 |
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Masi – 105 Shimano Carbon Road Bike (New) $1,569.99 |
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Profile Design Volna 42 Cm Full Integrated Carbon Aerobar Road Tri Tt $1,105.84 |
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Profile Design Carbon Stryke Aerobar Road Tri Tt $268.55 |
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Spinner “Carbon Steel” Road Bicycle Fork Chrome 135mm Steerer 1″ D 800g $9.99 |
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Profile Design T2+ Cobra Carbon White Aerobar Road Tri Tt $284.35 |
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TOKEN TK9141 3K Carbon SeatPost 31.6MM x 350MM ROAD BIKE $89.95 |
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Ritchey Superlogic II Carbon Road Bike Handlebar 31.8 x 42cm $289.95 |
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YAMAHA FZR YZF 600 R1 R6 R6S FZ1 ROAD ROYAL VSTAR V X MAX BAR END MIRRORS carbon $14.99 |
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2012 Scott CR1 Pro Carbon Fiber Road Bike Frame 54cm New!! $102.50 |
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Shimano Dura-Ace 10 Speed Road Carbon Wheel set WH-7900-C35 Tubular 700c/35mm $1,795.00 |
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Jamis Xenith SL Carbon Road Bike Frame Colavita Sutter Home Cycling Team $1,099.99 |
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HED S5 S6 Stinger Tubular Carbon Road Bike Wheelset Wheels Triathlon Time Trial $1,999.99 |
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HED Stinger S6 S5 Tubular Carbon Road Bike Wheelset Wheels Triathlon Time Trial $1,999.99 |
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New Trigon FULL carbon saddle CARBON RAIL 118G ROAD $149.99 |
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2006 Cannondale Synapse 3 56cm 27 speed Road Bicycle Street Bike Shimano Carbon $0.99 |
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DMT Road cycling Shoes Titanium SPD SL Look Carbon Glass sole Size 41 UK 7 $47.38 |
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DMT Road cycling Shoes Titanium SPD SL Look Carbon Glass sole Size 41 UK 7 $1.56 |
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Vintage Time Sport Carbon Road Bicycle Shoe – Size 43 – Men’s 9.5 $13.25 |
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Vitus Zenium Road Bike Frame Frameset NOS Aluminum 6061 Carbon Fork Extras 54cm $175.00 |
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Sidi Genius 5 Carbon Road Bicycle Italian Cycling Shoes 41.0 $1.00 |
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Easton EC90 Aero Carbon 1″ Road Bike Fork 700c $549.00 |
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DMT Road cycling Shoes Black SPD SL Look Carbon Glass sole Size 41 UK 7 $39.48 |
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Chris K Carbon Fiber Road Bike Fork 700c $80.00 |
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NEW Deda Dedacciai Black Magic Carbon Road fork 700C $139.99 |
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Orbea Orca Gold Road Bike Frame 48cm Carbon Fiber $600.00 |
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bike stand carbon fiber 15 grams foldable for road bikes mountain bikes office $39.00 |
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Cannondale Synapse All-Carbon Road Bike w/Extras “Like New” $2,399.00 |
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2010 Windsor Kennet Road bike frame 53c Pearl White Carbon fiber Kinesis fork $250.00 |
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Topeak Carbon Cycling Road Mountain Bike Water Bottle Cages $9.99 |
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Selle San Marco Concor Carbon FX Road Bike Saddle $125.00 |
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EXUSTAR E-PR70CK Road Bike Look Delta Carbon Pedals NEW $41.97 |
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EXUSTAR E-SR232 Men’s Road Cycling Shoes Carbon 45 NEW $71.97 |
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3K CARBON SILVER16* IDIO 34.9MM X 350MM BLACK BIKE MTB ROAD SEATPOST $78.00 |
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