mzeffex 

Any opinions on if it makes such a difference for cross racing? For road, there's road buzz, so it makes a difference there. When it comes to being off road, I can't see how carbon would feel any softer than aluminum.

Here's my dilemma:

Working in a bike shop, I will be able to pro deal a Specialized Crux as soon as I have the money (late August for alum, later for carbon).

The aluminum one would cost about $500 less than carbon. Both are speced with SRAM Apex, not sure about the wheels or tires but I think they are the same or very similar.

Carbon bike is a little less than a pound lighter than the aluminum version.

$500 to save a pound + road vibration damping? You tell me which I should go for.

mzeffex 

Crap. I thought I was in cyclocross. Mod move please?

Dannihilator

Done.

Unagidon

Carbon. Purely for vanity.

mzeffex 

Thanks Dan.

I'd be kind of worried about carbon in a way. What if I slip on ice and slam it into the ground? Or worse on a barrier?

I'm not worried about that on my carbon road bike since I'm.. on road.. but in cross it seems more likely to break. I still think I'll go for it.

dahut

You're still carrying the beast up the hills at some point, either way. A pound difference? I cant see it would matter much.
Besides, you're gonna look and feel stupid when you eat it, no matter what you're on.

Now, CF may sell for more later on, if you get rid of it. But if its beat to hell and back, that might not be a huge difference. CX is hard on bikes.

In the end, money can't be relied upon for a win. Only Determination, tons of Training, Skill and a dose of Luck get you that.

Spend the lesser amount.

meanwhile

As a jealous non-racing observer (my doctor, girlfriend and specialist footware supplier have all forbidden me from attempting to run up hills with a bike on my back) an alu bike with an larger quiver of tyres will usually outperform the same investment in a lighter carbon frame. Ideally tubulars if you have the budget, although that means having several sets of wheels if you are to match tyres to conditions. I suppose a racer could have one set of tubular wheels set up for the most likely racing conditions and a set of easily changed clincher wheels for the others. Getting the most traction and lowest rolling resistance out of a narrow tyre are more important than saving a pound or two of weight.

flargle

Only a few years ago, a carbon road frame seemed awfully esoteric and mabye a bit risky. Nowadays you'd probably wonder why you wouldn't want a carbon frame and fork for a moderately priced road bike.

Well, cross bikes are going the same way. A year or two down the road, you might be wondering why you got the alloy frame (if you're that kind of person).

So if I were you, I'd mentally project myself a couple years in the future, and make my decision from that perspective.

fietsbob

Consider what you can get Two of,
when bike adds pounds of mud , or something stops klicking
then a helper mechanic can swap it for a clean, functioning one, on the fly ,
it's a normal part of racing Cross, and allowed.

dahut

Great point

Seattle Forrest

Supposedly, carbon fiber is great for dampening high-frequency vibrations, but not low-frequency ones, which you're a lot more likely to encounter off road.

So, I say you get the carbon bike; I'll trade you my alu one for it.

mzeffex 

Mixed answers, therefore still not sure. Carbon one looks nicer.

sabazel

haha, I"m in the exact same boat as you, work in a bike shop, trying to decide which Crux to EP. Though I'm also thinking of getting the Stinky Pink frameset and building a completely pink CX bike. I'll keep reading this thread for opinions.

jayvo86

I have a Trek XO2. Aluminium frame and carbon fork. Works great and didn't cost an arm and a leg. Hard choice.

avalnch33

i have the new crux alum with my build on it. super light(17lbs for a 54) and stiff. for 2011 i would get the aluminum one since the 2011 crux carbon frames are a tricross with a new name. there is nothing different other than removing the rack and fender mounts. wait until the 2012 carbon one comes out, it will be awesome. my crux has a 1.5 tapered headtube/fork. internal routing. the crux carbon has external routing and the 1 1/4 taper.

mzeffex 

I think I'll go for the carbon. I rode it today and it's great. The only thing is the new re-designed Phenom saddle creaks like crazy, not just the one bike but all. They did something wrong.

pretzelface

I'd go for the aluminum. Spend the money you save on entry fees. Any difference in ride quality between the two materials will be negated by the 32 mm knobbies, and you're unlikely to be doing long rides on it if you already have a road bike.

mzeffex 

Yep. The other point I was given, is what if I trip over a barricade racing and the bike gets slammed into the second one? It happens. Carbon won't fare as well as aluminum.

scary_perry

I set myself a certain weight goal and if I can hit it I will buy a carbon bike - probably the GIANT TCX Advanced SL that they just announced with some carbon tubulars and SRAM Red.

It would be cool to have a CX bike under the UCI road bike weight limit. But only if I shed a ton of fat first.

flargle

How do you know?

CrimsonKarter21

Sounds familiar

jr59

I vote for the pink one!

mzeffex 

Really? Some jerk told me that.

fietsbob

it's resolved Get Two,1 of each.

4SEVEN3

Carbon cracks.....aluminum bends. Once you have a crack in a carbon frame your looking at a possible catastrophic failure while the aluminum could be ridden if its only dented.

Plus...what kind of question is that?