describe what its like to ride a lightweight carbon roadbike

MungoMan

I cycle around on a 20 year old reynolds 501 roadbike which I keep in absolutely perfect condition, as I am a good amateur bike mechanic.
My bike weighs 13.4kg, very heavy.
I do around 150km a week. My bike cost 120 euros secondhand, and I spent about 50 euros getting it into like new condition. Small money.


Can someone describe what its like to ride a lightweight carbon bike, I never had the priviledge of riding one. Is comparing my bike with a nice carbon bike like comparing a Ford Fiesta with a Porsche ?

Redjeep!

No, in honesty it's not as big a difference as a Fiesta to Porsche, (and yes I have driven both ).

However you will notice a big difference though. Faster, more responsive and better handling.

High Nellie

A lot will depend on what kind of carbon frame. For example, your Reynolds will be far more comfortable than a carbon racing frame which will give a 'hard' ride.

07Lapierre

Better than sex!

ucd.1985

07Lapierre wrote: »

Better than sex!

Then you're doing it wrong.

Keep_Her_Lit

MungoMan wrote: »

Is comparing my bike with a nice carbon bike like comparing a Ford Fiesta with a Porsche ?

It's an appealing analogy but somewhat flawed. When you change to another bicycle, you get to take the "engine" with you.

So the real question is, when you put the boot down in your new "Porsche", will it be powered by a Fiesta engine or a 911 engine? Of course, the chassis counts for a hell of a lot but arguably, the engine has an even greater influence.

If you're fit, there's no doubt that you'll really appreciate riding a tight, highly spec'd bike which weighs in several kilos below your current rig. But the leap might not be as enormous as you had hoped or imagined.

gman2k

What I find is the instant power transfer in a lightweight bike. Once you put the power on, it will jump ahead on the road.
But there's the nagging feeling that the carbon bike is 'temporary' and that I'll always retain the steel machine.

Roger Hassenforder

MungoMan wrote: »

I cycle around on a 20 year old reynolds 501 roadbike which I keep in absolutely perfect condition, as I am a good amateur bike mechanic.
My bike weighs 13.4kg, very heavy.
I do around 150km a week. My bike cost 120 euros secondhand, and I spent about 50 euros getting it into like new condition. Small money.


Can someone describe what its like to ride a lightweight carbon bike, I never had the priviledge of riding one. Is comparing my bike with a nice carbon bike like comparing a Ford Fiesta with a Porsche ?

Riding a carbon bike for the first time is like making love to a beautiful woman...first, you eye up her lines, closely inspecting the frame for previous careless riding. Breathing softly and gently, you scrutinise the components, wondering if Italian is too finicky. Then you lift her up, thinking she could be a bit lighter, and finally you throw a leg over, straddle her and grasp her by the hoods, roll her back and forth appreciating the admiring nods from your friends, and then hand over all your money....

I’ll get me coat

ednwireland

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

Riding a carbon bike for the first time is like making love to a beautiful woman...first, you eye up her lines, closely inspecting the frame for previous careless riding. Breathing softly and gently, you scrutinise the components, wondering if Italian is too finicky. Then you lift her up, thinking she could be a bit lighter, and finally you throw a leg over, straddle her and grasp her by the hoods, roll her back and forth appreciating the admiring nods from your friends, and then hand over all your money....

I’ll get me coat

this you ?

Bigus

I'll put my wheels from my new carbon bike onto my old Dawes and tell you what the difference feels like. My new bike weighs 8kg . Give me a week to do the experiment .

I reckon the carbon frame is more forgiving as I've spent over five hours on it over 120 km. I think a well designed carbon frame allows for massive lateral stiffness yet can be compliant over bumps . This can't be achieved with metal.

I think there s less resonance through the frame too on stone chippings.

The analogy should maybe be ford Capri to new toybaru gt 86. I know which I'd prefer.

dave2pvd

High Nellie wrote: »

your Reynolds will be far more comfortable than a carbon racing frame which will give a 'hard' ride.

Totally disagree.

I've ridden and raced on 501, 531 and 531c. Each of the 3 Specialized frames I recently owned ride more comfortably (SL Pro, S-Works, SL4).

What amazes me the most is how quality CF frames are in corners. They tend to track very well up front, with the rear providing lots of feedback. Cornering speeds are quite a bit higher than the ol' lugged steel triangles.

dave2pvd

To add: I find sprinting on stiff CF frames more difficult. The rear wheel jumps around. This is probably a function of how lumpy my sprinting technique is.

piston

The biggest performance difference would probably be in the wheels rather than the frame.

MungoMan

Bigus wrote: »

I'll put my wheels from my new carbon bike onto my old Dawes and tell you what the difference feels like. My new bike weighs 8kg . Give me a week to do the experiment .

Looking forward to hearing your findings.

colm_gti

MungoMan wrote: »

Can someone describe what its like to ride a lightweight carbon bike, I never had the priviledge of riding one.

Like warm apple pie....

wanderer 22

colm_gti wrote: »

Like warm apple pie....

sure how would you know Colm

colm_gti

colm18 wrote: »

sure how would you know Colm

Rumor has it....

High Nellie

07Lapierre wrote: »

Better than sex!

That bike of yours could be worth an awful lot of money. Or else you're not doing the other thing right

High Nellie

dave2pvd wrote: »

Totally disagree.

I've ridden and raced on 501, 531 and 531c. Each of the 3 Specialized frames I recently owned ride more comfortably (SL Pro, S-Works, SL4).

What amazes me the most is how quality CF frames are in corners. They tend to track very well up front, with the rear providing lots of feedback. Cornering speeds are quite a bit higher than the ol' lugged steel triangles.

Yea, I wouldn't disagree with you - my initial reply is much too blunt. I think a lot depends on what type of riding it is for, and what type of carbon/reynolds frame will match it.
For example, you mentioned 'quality CF frames' above, and the quality will make a lot of difference. There will also be a big difference between whether he wants if for performance/racing or largely for 'leisure'.
I have an old Roberts 'audax' frame that I use sometimes in the winter and its a very easy ride when on bad roads doing just steady speed - i.e. not looking for 'performance'.
So, for example, the point I was trying to make was that if he is primarily a 'leisure rider', his reynolds frame (again depending on geometry) might be as comfortable as a racing geometry or cheap or middle-of-the-road carbon frame. Or the difference might not be worth the cost etc. Again, there's no doubt that a Specialized Roubaix would be more comfortable that a Reynolds frame for leisure, because the geometry is designed that way.
If it's performance - as you mentioned, cornering, tracking, stiffness etc - then there's no doubt that good carbon wins hands down.