Aluminium versus Carbon; is it really worth it?

monkeypants

Looking at the Dolan website and comparing the aluminium Preffisio frame to the carbon Hercules SE frame. The weight difference is approximately 0.66kg (the frames described are different sizes), but the price difference is an even £400.

I chose frames to compare because two ready-built bicycles might have different wheels, etc and I couldn't easily compare the weights, but I intend to purchase a ready-built bike.

• Is a carbon frame really worth the money?
• Does it bring other, appreciable benefits other than weight difference?
• Would a novice notice the difference?

CptMackey

My personal feeling is that unless you are a serious racer carbon isn't worth it. It's not the bike it's the engine. I was going to go carbon for my next one but now I'm going to change the components on my Alu bike. It has carbon forks which are worth it IMO.

Other people on here might have a better idea on the issue tho.

dooverylittle

I have 4 bikes, 3 are carbon.
The 1 I race on is aluminium(Canyon Ultimate AL), A good bike is a good bike.
Some good bikes are aluminium.

DePurpereWolf

I don't think so, but it is a good idea to do some tests at the LBS

Chips Lovell

No, weight isn't the only difference. Indeed, you can get very light aluminium frames as well (i.e. non UCI legal).

The biggest difference is probably comfort. Aluminium frames tend to be stiff as hell, but you'd feel the road more with them. I've had an aluminium frame that I'd have had no problem racing, but for a 100km jaunt in the mountains I'd pick carbon any day.

Carbon is more of a flexible material when it comes to frame design, so you can have super-stiff albeit uncomfortable carbon frames. But in general, especially at entry and mid-level, they'd tend to be a nicer ride.

monkeypants

I was thinking the Dolan Hercules SL with Shimano 105. Would this be worth the price? I want to do some longer spins, so the comfort would have a value to me.

moch

Definitly go carbon, I purchased a carbon bike this year and after riding an aluminium bike with carbon fork for the last three years, there is a big difference in comfort and response. I am back on the aluminium for the winter but can't wait to get back on my carbon in the spring.
Don't know much about that Dolan but it is about normal for a carbon bike with 105. Also have a luck at self build as it usually works out to be better value and you will get better components all around.

Plastik

There is no way in he'll I would replace my PlanetX SL Pro with my alu/carbon Specialized. No way

Plastik

There is no way in hell I would replace my PlanetX SL Pro with my alu/carbon Specialized. No way

kenmc

Plastik wrote: »

There is no way in hell I would replace my PlanetX SL Pro with my alu/carbon Specialized. No way

you can say that again... oh wait :pac:

kellt

Don't touch carbon. A friend of my was out two weeks ago had am accident and hit bike off path managed to damage whole frame and needed to be replaced. IMO unless a serious racer. Was thinking carbon but not after this

banana_brain

cheap as chips

Seweryn

moch wrote: »

...there is a big difference in comfort and response.

I can't agree with you. It is a matter of which aluminium frame bike you compare with which carbon fibre bike. There are aluminium frame bikes that are nicer to ride than some of the carbon fibre bikes.

ednwireland

kellt wrote: »

Don't touch carbon. A friend of my was out two weeks ago had am accident and hit bike off path managed to damage whole frame and needed to be replaced. IMO unless a serious racer. Was thinking carbon but not after this

honestly ?

i'm a fat git and riding an entry level carbon frame for 2 years, in that time however in that time i've broken a steel frame (there you go thats another less option)

my guess is an alu frame would be trashed as well ( maybe not as obviousley but i've seen enough alu frames with paint flakes at head tube joins etc after stacks)

edit:

the steel frame broke a week after i had a spill on diesel on a roundabout

Chips Lovell

Aluminium has become indestructible now?

blorg

I have ridden aluminium and carbon from the same manufacturer (Trek) with the exact same geometry and the carbon was much more comfortable. I have some alu bikes that have been fine but on average in my experience over a lot of bikes the carbon/titanium ones have definitely been less jarring.

EDIT: IMO, yes, definitely worth it. Also even on purely weight terms 660g is significant.

Raam

I have crashed both carbon and aluminium frames multiple times. Neither broke in any impact. It just depends on the nature of the crash. Oh, my alu bars snapped on me a few weeks back. No visible signs of fatigue.

Lumen

For a race bike comfort doesn't really matter, IMO. Cheap and stiff is good.

For a non-race bike there is no such thing as too much comfort, provided that it doesn't make the ride less fun.