Notto

Do any of you prefer Aluminum over carbon... even if price were not an issue?

I am sure this question has come up 1000 times on this board already, but I could not find it by digging around... apologies for asking many of you to repeat yourselves...

Thanks for being a part of this great community...

~Notto

2ndGen

If money were no issue, for me, carbon.
I love aluminum for what it is...a workhorse.
I'll always keep an aluminum road bike.
But I need a carbon bike bad.
And I've earned one.
And I deserve one.

Not that money is an issue anymore since a high end aluminum frame will cost more than a low end carbon frame.
It's when apples are compared to apples performance-wise that the price of carbon shoots up way past aluminum.

If money were no issue, right now, it'd be either a custom built Parlee or Calfee, or a Cannondale SuperSix EVO Ultimate.

jamesdak 

Are you talking frames or wheels or both?

Notto

Primarily frames I guess... but input on alum v. carbon wheels is interesting as well..

BTSyndrome

I have just two years of riding in.
First bike -custom Steel.
Sec. bike -Cervelo S1

I have never sat on or rode a carbon bike, and don't ever plan too.
I figure if I don't know what I'might be missing, I'm not really missing anything.
I Love the ride of my metal bikes.

RT

I've always wondered how carbon feels when compared to Alu, but as you said, the workhorse quality of Alu is what keeps me on a metal bike. And I don't own a torque wrench.

jrobe

I ride on some older country roads that can get pretty rough in places. I have an aluminum Cervelo and a carbon Cervelo. Anyone could ride these 2 frames for 30 seconds on some of these roads and immediately tell the difference. The aluminum frame is literally a rattletrap compared to the smooth ride of the carbon frame. The difference in comfort is amazing especially on a 3-6 hour ride. The amazing thing is that the carbon frame is also stiffer and more responsive. I can't see any downside to the smoothness of the carbon ride. My old aluminum CAAD9 was exactly the same as the aluminum Cervelo.

I also have a steel Bianchi frame and this frame is much closer to the carbon frame than the aluminum.

I wouldn't buy another aluminum frame unless I was really trying to save money or if I was racing the bike and couldn't afford to replace the carbon frame if I destroyed it in a crash. On the other hand, I have seen plenty of bent aluminum frames that were beyond repair also.

FasterNearGirls

Is a Neuvation FC100 carbon frame with alloy BB, Head Tube and Seat Clusters, considered low-performing? It's certainly affordable. I love it but don't have much to compare it to.

DC_United_Fan

I commute on Steel, train on Aluminum and race on Carbon. They all have their purposes in life. I will say the carbon soaks up small amounts of disharmony that would rattle the aluminum and the fillings in my teeth. Given the going in proposition that money should be no object, I would choose carbon all day long and twice on Sunday. But since money is an object, I don't see me forking out that kind of cash for a carbon training rig any time soon.

patentcad

I have two Cervelos myself you know.

RT

And a wicked handsome bench.

tagaproject6

Why would anyone consider it "low-performing"? I don't think so. It may not be high-end compared to the more exotic brand name carbon bikes, but I don't think it is in the low end of the spectrum.

FasterNearGirls

Thank you for your comforting words, taga!

sijray21

First primary bike is a tarmac (low-end entry carbon). I then built a BB30 cannondale CAAD9 frame for races last winter. I LOVE the aluminum. The tarmac is heavier. While the tarmac is stiff, the CAAD9 feels stiffer and more responsive. The geometry is almost identical, so the only differences are the bottom bracket and the frame material.

The carbon bike is now used for longer rides, commuting, training, and low-effort recreational rides. The aluminum bike is for races, fast rides, and training. I primarily use the aluminum bike and have even given thought to selling the carbon. If I were to go carbon again I would get a higher-end model. I've liked the test rides on higher-end carbon bikes. So... to answer the original question I would definitely get a higher end carbon if money were of no concern... who wouldn't?

deacon mark

I ride on country roads in Illinois no question that carbon soaks the rattles much better. I had an Alu bike with carbon fork then went to a full carbon Motobecane IM Spirit and a Bottecchia, they both ride like a dream and soak up the rattles. Never an Alu bike would I ride hopefully the carbon will not just blow up.

bostongarden

You eventually will know what you are missing, and, then, will want carbon.

X-LinkedRider

I have only used my Aluminum Allez about 4 times since getting my Carbon SuperiorLite. Nothing against the Allez, the difference is rides is just so much that it makes it very difficult to even want to ride the Alumn when I know how nice the carbon rides.

danvuquoc

Whatever keeps you happy man...

Adrianinkc

+1 got the same problem.

hhnngg1

Carbon, no question if cost not an issue. Framebuilders today make some great frames with great looks with carbon.

But if cost is an issue, absolutely aluminum. Nothing wrong with it whatsoever.

FasterNearGirls

Nano-tubes. Oh wait. We're not there yet.

bonz50

cost no object, carbon here as well... but cost is an object in reality for most people... so it really becomes more of a question of higher end AL or lower end carbon... only a few co's make AL bikes with DA or Red from the factory, most (not all) stop at 105ish level components... would I rather spend ~$3k on a CAAD10 1 or would I rather have a SuperSix 3 for the same cash?? I'll take the SS 4 and upgrade the crank to force and shifters to Red then call it a day, thank you very much... as light as the DA caad? maybe, maybe not, but the ride quality would be worth it to me if I could afford a $3k bike...

rmr1923

so what's the durability of carbon frames compared to aluminum?

2ndGen

Awesome!

I'll get a carbon bike when (if?) I outgrow my aluminum bike.
I really really wished they would design a great aluminum bike that could take on carbon head-to-head in performance.
I like the ideal of metal for a bike more because of it's increased chances of surviving a crash more.

Although, the Cannondale SuperSix EVO is said to be stronger than a CAAD9. So, what to do, what to do...

2ndGen

Absolutely.

"If" I had a set amount to spend on a bike and that put me in the lower carbon/higher aluminum range, aluminum hands down.
If my CAAD9 was the only bike I could have forever, I wouldn't pine so much for anything else. It does everything well enough for me.