To Carbon or not to Carbon?..

shansey

In the market for new road bike..

Think I've come across a good deal but need to know if its worth going carbon.

looking at two Cubes.

1. Cube peleton, full 105 and fulcrum wheels
2. Cube Agree.. as above but full carbon frame.. little bit lighter. bout €350 more.

€350 doesn't grow on trees and I have a good TT that I do a lot of training on. the road is mainly for going out in groups or long hilly spins.

Suggestions?

Saw Boardman team carbon too.. bit ugly though

stantheman8

I've been looking at the same 2 bikes shansey - among others.

After much deliberation, I decided to stretch the extra budget to get the carbon Agree GTC Pro (€1299) - but now the bike shop is telling me that Cube don't have any stock of these and no more to be produced (of this year's model).

Having convinced myself of the merits of going carbon, I'm now reluctant to go 'back' to aluminium.
So I'm back to square 1 in my search!

Any other suggestions on a good value for money carbon with a min 105 groupset?

xxyyzz

Have a look on here http://www.rosebikes.com

jinkypolly

stantheman8 wrote: »

I've been looking at the same 2 bikes shansey - among others.

After much deliberation, I decided to stretch the extra budget to get the carbon Agree GTC Pro (€1299) - but now the bike shop is telling me that Cube don't have any stock of these and no more to be produced (of this year's model).

Having convinced myself of the merits of going carbon, I'm now reluctant to go 'back' to aluminium.
So I'm back to square 1 in my search!

Any other suggestions on a good value for money carbon with a min 105 groupset?

If you ride a size 56 frame, this may be of interest to you. A club mate of mine only put it up a few days ago;
http://www.donedeal.ie/bicycles-for-sale/cube-agree-gtc-sl/9430095

Cube Agree GTC SL, Ultegra 6800 for €1400

terrydel

Personally at that price Id buy the cheaper one and save the 350 for something else, like a holiday.
You wont notice the difference in the bikes, or at least one wont make you any better than the other.
Decent alu is as good as cheap carbon imho.

C3PO

Buy the carbon .... you will always wish you had if you don't!!

ford2600

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.ie/2009/08/dynamic-ride-comfort-measuring.html?m=1

On comfort a nice wide tyre fitted to wide rims will probably make more difference than frame material. I ride an aluminium frame bike and have no comfort issues even on really long rides.

I've hired cubes in aluminium and carbon and they are decent.

There is so much marketing and horsesh1t out there it is hard to make an informed decision.

Buy the bike that fits you best, feel right and the one you like to look at

Brian?

Planetx pro carbon?

furiousox

Obligatory mention of www.canyon.com

stantheman8

ford2600 wrote: »

http://cozybeehive.blogspot.ie/2009/08/dynamic-ride-comfort-measuring.html?m=1

On comfort a nice wide tyre fitted to wide rims will probably make more difference than frame material. I ride an aluminium frame bike and have no comfort issues even on really long rides.

I've hired cubes in aluminium and carbon and they are decent.

There is so much marketing and horsesh1t out there it is hard to make an informed decision.

Buy the bike that fits you best, feel right and the one you like to look at

That's some serious science there ford.
Some of these dampener technologies remind me of the reebok basketball boots that you could pump up the tongue to get better fit and performance! :-)

+1 on the marketing & horseh1t ...makes decision making very difficult.
You tend to get not very long to get a feel for the bike - hence I've been relying on comparing specs, how the bike looks & boardsie recommendations!

stantheman8

jinkypolly wrote: »

If you ride a size 56 frame, this may be of interest to you. A club mate of mine only put it up a few days ago;
http://www.donedeal.ie/bicycles-for-sale/cube-agree-gtc-sl/9430095

Cube Agree GTC SL, Ultegra 6800 for €1400

I'm on a BTW scheme Jinky (sorry - probably should have mentioned that) but am also a 58/60 so wouldn't have suited anyway.

onthefringe

as said above.. the material isnt as important as you may think..
geometry and running gear are far more important in my view..
a highend alu frame ( cannondale caad 10,caynon al ,colnago strada for example) beats the **** out of entry level carbon...
then get some good wheels and your laughing..

im slowly retreating from carbon back to steel...via alu last year...and i can say honestly im enjoying my cycling no less..

magicbastarder

shansey wrote: »

little bit lighter. bout €350 more.

define 'a little bit lighter'; are we talking about a half full water bottle lighter?

how much difference does 1KG in bike weight make, when the rider could weigh 100 times this?

shansey

magicbastarder wrote: »

define 'a little bit lighter'; are we talking about a half full water bottle lighter?

how much difference does 1KG in bike weight make, when the rider could weigh 100 times this?

I'm definitely from the school of "its the engine not the bike".

it's def gonna be the alu now as I have to replace my old commuter after it was stolen..