New bike. steel,alu or carbon frame?

Hunterbiker

Hi. I would appreciate opinions on this one. Looking to get my first road bike through the bike to work scheme. I will be adding a bit on so total bike budget would be about e1500.
I'm weighing in at 110kgs at the moment and I'm wondering if steel would bring a smoother ride over the other marerials and would it stand up to a daily slog better too?
Or is all about the the bike being the lighter the better so ignore steel and look at Aluminium or carbon?

kuro_man

There will be more choice with Alu or carbon fibre. I would probably aim for CF at your budget.

Either way, doesn't matter. Put on 25mm tyres if you want a plusher ride.

Brian?

Buy this :

http://planetxireland.com/products-page/road/pro-carbon-ultegra-pre-order/

Spend €200 left over on some warm winter gear.

Seaneh

If I'd you budgets and was buying right now and wanted something comfortable, I'd go steel.

Something like this, steel frame and fork, 105 groupset, even comes with mudguards. €1121

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/charge/juicer-hi-2013-road-bike-ec042794#select

Or this, steel frame and fork, 105 groupset, DT Swiss rims, 105 hubs.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/genesis/equilibrium-20-2013-road-bike-ec043734#features


That said, at 110kg you'll be grand on alu or carbon, the ride won't be as nice as steel but if you can get 25mm tyres on it and run them at a lower psi that will do a lot to help, maybe a carbon seat post and some good geltape too.

Lumen

Forget about frame material, think about what you want from the bike and see what matches your requirements.

Hunterbiker

Lumen wrote: »

Forget about frame material, think about what you want from the bike and see what matches your requirements.

Well as for that it will be for an average 30k commute (in total) with longer weekend spins with the desire to join a club once Im happy with my speed / ability to maintain pace over distance. I'm planning on doing the Ring of Kerry and such like in order to have a training target but can't see me going down the more competitive side of things ( famous last words...)

Thanks for the replies. I had stumbled across charge bikes and my current bike is a genesis so will have to have a closer look at them.

Seaneh

Hunterbiker wrote: »

Well as for that it will be for an average 30k commute (in total) with longer weekend spins with the desire to join a club once Im happy with my speed / ability to maintain pace over distance. I'm planning on doing the Ring of Kerry and such like in order to have a training target but can't see me going down the more competitive side of things ( famous last words...)

Thanks for the replies. I had stumbled across charge bikes and my current bike is a genesis so will have to have a closer look at them.

If you're planning on joining a club and looking towards racing, go with the planet x ultegra. It's a race ready bike and the best value for money on the market in your budget. It's a no brainer.

Use your current bike for commuting and use the planet-x for the longer spins.

ghogie91

Good carbon frame for that money

Darkglasses

Normally I'd go for carbon at that price but since you're commuting on it I'd be inclined towards aluminium. Can't explain why but I'd feel wrong commuting on carbon.

I assume your place of work has somewhere very secure to leave your bike, so we can pick something a bit showy?

This high quality aluminium frame, full Ultegra groupset, Mavic Aksiums, and a few bob left over.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3193#tab-reiter2

Brian?

Seaneh wrote: »

If you're planning on joining a club and looking towards racing, go with the planet x ultegra. It's a race ready bike and the best value for money on the market in your budget. It's a no brainer.

Use your current bike for commuting and use the planet-x for the longer spins.

I concur. 15km each way won't make use of a decent bike. Use the old bike and buy the carbon Planet X for fun times.

krissovo

I am a similar weight and wanted something similar and looked at a lot of bikes. Have a look at the specilized secteur elite, super comfy and if want carbon then the specilized roubauix is the same frame geometry.

Invincible

Darkglasses wrote: »

Normally I'd go for carbon at that price but since you're commuting on it I'd be inclined towards aluminium. Can't explain why but I'd feel wrong commuting on carbon.

I assume your place of work has somewhere very secure to leave your bike, so we can pick something a bit showy?

This high quality aluminium frame, full Ultegra groupset, Mavic Aksiums, and a few bob left over.

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=3193#tab-reiter2

That is one nice bike for the money

Darkglasses

Invincible wrote: »

That is one nice bike for the money

Just noticed it includes a torque wrench too.

Jesus, I want one now

Bigus

If you don't go carbon now , you'll want to upgrade in no time.

My Planet X took 110 kg with no probs, but it only has to carry 100 now

happytramp

That Charge Juicer is one handsome looking bike.

AltAccount

Jesus, we have pretty secure bike parking at work (probably more secure than locking it in my house all day) but I still wouldn't decide to commute on a €1500 bike.

Use the B2W for a nice weekend bike, get some sort of beater for work.

Zillah

I dunno about you guys, but if I had a good bike and a crappy bike, I'd be frustrated all the time on the crappy bike. Mine is only a 500 euro Giant Escape 2, granted, but I'd much rather risk losing it and be able to use it every day than have to leave it at home. I brought my fancy camera to South America for the same reason a couple of years back.

Darkglasses

Zillah wrote: »

I dunno about you guys, but if I had a good bike and a crappy bike, I'd be frustrated all the time on the crappy bike. Mine is only a 500 euro Giant Escape 2, granted, but I'd much rather risk losing it and be able to use it every day than have to leave it at home. I brought my fancy camera to South America for the same reason a couple of years back.

It is a bit different when it's a grand plus bike. Not least because the little things that make it better than say a 400-600 euro bike would mostly not be noticed on a 30km commute.

Zillah

Out of curiosity, aside from the weight bonus, what kind of things are we talking here that you get for 1K+?

AltAccount

I love my good bike(s) too much to countenance some scobe wandering off wit it, either because of relative value or sentimental reasons.

A well maintained, well set up beater (but not a BSO, you can go too far) can be as enjoyable to ride, if a little heavier than a good bike.

For commuting anyway...

Darkglasses

Zillah wrote: »

Out of curiosity, aside from the weight bonus, what kind of things are we talking here that you get for 1K+?

Not much really, it's mainly weight and faster wheels really

Shifting would be faster, lighter, more precise and more reliable. Assuming it's kept reasonably well maintained of course, badly tuned Dura Ace won't shift as well as perfectly tuned Sora. Same with brakes.

Possibly a bit more comfort with higher quality frame, high end saddle, bars and such. But possibly not.

Invincible

Darkglasses wrote: »

Just noticed it includes a torque wrench too.

Jesus, I want one now

Thought you'd only get a torque wrench with a carbon frame!

Darkglasses

Invincible wrote: »

Thought you'd only get a torque wrench with a carbon frame!

Well there is the carbon fork, and it's just generally a nice tool to have!

New2bike

I am in the same boat now myself new job and they do bike to work so looking at all the options I have already been on to the lads at Planet X and that bike seems like a great deal also the Canyon mentioned above looks great but One Big question with all these bikes is where in Gods name did ye guys learn to maintain them to such a good standard like Darkglasses was saying about poor tuning??
Most posts you read on here the bikes are like going through a conveyor belt at a chop shop; nobody seems to have any original parts left where do you learn or is it a case of trial and error??

Darkglasses

New2bike wrote: »

I am in the same boat now myself new job and they do bike to work so looking at all the option have already been on to the lads at Planet X and that bike seems like a great deal also the Canyon mentioned above looks great but One Big question with all these bikes is where in Gods name did all ye guys learn to maintain them to such a good standard like Darkglasses was saying about poor tuning??
M

Youtube, Sheldonbrown.com, Parktools website, this forum, and the occasional book!

New2bike

Darkglasses wrote: »

Youtube, Sheldonbrown.com, Parktools website, this forum, and the occasional book!

What?? You read an occasional book!!
Ah ha it must be this one!

Seaneh

I learned pretty nuch everything about maintenance I know from youtube.
These lads show most of the stuff you need to know to keep your bike going.

https://www.youtube.com/user/globalcyclingnetwork?feature=watch

New2bike

Seaneh wrote: »

I learned pretty nuch everything about maintenance I know from youtube.
These lads show most of the stuff you need to know to keep your bike going.

Yes I have watched a few of their vids very informative anybody know if any good book that I can give the wife the old nudge and wink for xmas

Brian?

New2bike wrote: »

Seaneh wrote: »

I learned pretty nuch everything about maintenance I know from youtube.
These lads show most of the stuff you need to know to keep your bike going.

Yes I have watched a few of their vids very informative anybody know if any good book that I can give the wife the old nudge and wink for xmas

I wouldn't bother with a book. Actually watching someone doing it on a video is a far better way to learn.

Darkglasses

Brian? wrote: »

New2bike wrote: »

I wouldn't bother with a book. Actually watching someone doing it on a video is a far better way to learn.

I just find it's more convenient than having a laptop by the bike in the garage or whatever, and no need to rewind or whatever. Also I can touch it with grubby hands with a bit less worry.

Brian?

Zillah wrote: »

Out of curiosity, aside from the weight bonus, what kind of things are we talking here that you get for 1K+?

The main thing for me is the group set. Ultegra is smoother shifting and longer lasting than 2300/sora etc. . The build quality is superior, the machining of the components is more precise. People sometime go about feel, well tuned Ultegra is lovely. You will notice the difference between well tuned Ultegra and a lesser groupset.

Ideally is like Dura Ace because it's better again but I can't afford it.