TT bike aluminium or carbon.

Amprodude · 07-09-2015 06:22PM #1

Is there any advantage of having a carbon TT bike over an aluminium one? Especially for pretty flat TTs. Would it be a worthy upgrade? TT is my strong point. I have an aluminium TT bike and have always TT well with it. It also has ultegra components also is there any advantage going dura ace down the line?

In other words is it worth upgrading? Any advantages?

Thanks,

Amprodude.

Quigs Snr · 07-09-2015 06:59PM

In theory, the carbon can be more easily molded into more aero shapes. In reality the difference, if any is negligible and although I didn't TT this year, the few private tests I did showed me consistently the same if not slightly faster over 16k on a cheap Ridley Cheetah Aluminium with Ultegra and standard box section rims than on my Dura Ace Di2 powered Shiv TT with rear disc and front trispoke.

Position is everything. The rest is mostly marketing. (This coming from one of the biggest carbon whores in Ireland !) So assuming your current bike fits you.. don't expect any big differences. Of course if you have your eyes on some exotic steed that makes you feel all funny in your trousers then I think that is a perfectly legitimate reason..

BarryAlfaro · 08-09-2015 05:16AM

carbon bike for sure,Its very light but stability is bit of a problem.

Borderfox · 08-09-2015 06:28AM

As above position makes a big difference, have a look at a skinsuit and aero helmet for the biggest gains too

Subcomandante Marcos · 08-09-2015 06:56AM

As with any bike the biggest gains are made when you adjust the engine. A proper bike fit to find a good position or losing a few KG of rider weight will do more than changing the bike.

TT bike aluminium or carbon.

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