Just pulled trigger on a cafe century carbon flat bar hybrid
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Which is about the same as a good aluminum flat bar road bike. Not that there is anything wrong with that. The carbon frame will likely have a better ride. Just disappointed they couldn't throw in a carbon seatpost and handlebar to complete the deal--but you can always get that afterwards. I personally dislike the triple crankset and the old style square taper bottom bracket.
Last edited by Bbike4ever; 08-13-14 at 09:51 AM.
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Which is about the same as a good aluminum flat bar road bike. Not that there is anything wrong with that. The carbon frame will likely have a better ride. Just disappointed they couldn't throw in a carbon seatpost and handlebar to complete the deal--but you can always get that afterwards. I personally dislike the triple crankset and the old style square taper bottom bracket.
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I read a good analysis of frame materials a while back and they opined that there is minimal weight difference between aluminum and CF frames. Most will never notice the difference. Going strictly by feel my wife's aluminum framed bike feels lighter than my carbon framed bike. It is a smaller framed bike but it has a steel kickstand too which weighs quite a bit so that should make up for differents weight due to frame size. Perosnally to me the aluminum/carbon frame weight comparison almost is a wash unless you are striving for grams worths of savings.
That said, I have an older carbon hybrid that weighs 21lb with what I have on it. My buddy runs his compact frame aluminum hybrid without any accessories at all--not even saddle bag. He contends/brags that his bike is lighter than mine. Maybe so but my bike rides much more smoother. I love my bike but is it like some of the newer carbon hybrids that weight 18lbs? I sure as heck wish my bike were 3lb lighter and am pretty sure I can appreciate that kind of weight drop.
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Where is this analysis? There is a big difference in weight between aluminum and the better CF frames. It is only on the low end that there isn't a significant difference. Differences in the better bikes are not measure in grams but pounds.
That said, I have an older carbon hybrid that weighs 21lb with what I have on it. My buddy runs his compact frame aluminum hybrid without any accessories at all--not even saddle bag. He contends/brags that his bike is lighter than mine. Maybe so but my bike rides much more smoother. I love my bike but is it like some of the newer carbon hybrids that weight 18lbs? I sure as heck wish my bike were 3lb lighter and am pretty sure I can appreciate that kind of weight drop.
That said, I have an older carbon hybrid that weighs 21lb with what I have on it. My buddy runs his compact frame aluminum hybrid without any accessories at all--not even saddle bag. He contends/brags that his bike is lighter than mine. Maybe so but my bike rides much more smoother. I love my bike but is it like some of the newer carbon hybrids that weight 18lbs? I sure as heck wish my bike were 3lb lighter and am pretty sure I can appreciate that kind of weight drop.
Edit: not sure you want to use these light race parts for a hybrid though. Rather get rugged and durable parts.
Last edited by Cafe; 08-13-14 at 05:13 PM.
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It's more than just the frame. That bike has Kenda Kwest tires and an adjustable stem. Solid stem and the right tires would easily drop a pound or more. I saved half a pound on my Brompton just by getting the Kojak tires. All sorts of ways you can shave weight off a bike.
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The point was that for the average rider the performance difference in weight between a good carbon frame and a good aluminum frame was minimal. They recommended opting for stuff that has more immediate impact like better wheels and aerodynamics. Far be it for me to judge though since I too opted for a carbon frame...
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Bad news café, I looked again and I don't know if you can remove the decals. You can feel the texture of the decal but I couldn't find and edge to peel.
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Still no pics of your bike? Would like to see some normal pics of those decals. I'll post pics...but my bike won't be up and running until after I upgrade to the ultegra crankset etc.
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I fully expected I would be changing the saddle but find it isn't that bad. Maybe I have low expectations?
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I guess if your comfortable then why change it. I think maybe putting matte black vinyl decals over the existing decals is the way to go for me. Give it a nice understated look without voiding the warranty.
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It's more than just the frame. That bike has Kenda Kwest tires and an adjustable stem. Solid stem and the right tires would easily drop a pound or more. I saved half a pound on my Brompton just by getting the Kojak tires. All sorts of ways you can shave weight off a bike.
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That is exactly my point. It may be a carbon bike for $900 but the rest of the bike isn't what I would want. Heck, I would take an Escape RX over the Cafe Century any day. If I spend close to a grand, I would want a 2x10 speed not 9. I would definitely pay the premium for the RX or even the RX Composite. To upgrade the drivetrain, seatpost, seat, handlebar, stem--that's a lot of dough and work. If you want "rugged and durable", that is not carbon though.
Last edited by Bbike4ever; 08-14-14 at 02:47 PM.
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It's more than just the frame. That bike has Kenda Kwest tires and an adjustable stem. Solid stem and the right tires would easily drop a pound or more. I saved half a pound on my Brompton just by getting the Kojak tires. All sorts of ways you can shave weight off a bike.
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It is a 3x9 cassette not a 2x9 and a triple over double crank is a preference. The upgrades you mention would save a pound or two but who cares for a recreational tour rider and its definately not worth another $650 to me for the Escape to save a pound or two. If it were I could do the work for a small fraction of the extra $650.
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That is exactly my point. It may be a carbon bike for $900 but the rest of the bike isn't what I would want. Heck, I would take an Escape RX over the Cafe Century any day. If I spend close to a grand, I would want a 2x10 speed not 9. I would definitely pay the premium for the RX or even the RX Composite. To upgrade the drivetrain, seatpost, seat, handlebar, stem--that's a lot of dough and work. If you want "rugged and durable", that is not carbon though.
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Hey, if you are happy with the bike you paid for, that is all that matters. I do like that the frame is carbon and that the wheelset is respectable. Everything else I am not too thrilled with. It is an flat bar road bike wannabe or an expensive recreational hybrid. Please don't be offended if I don't like the bike. If people don't like my two bikes, hey, that's OK. Different strokes for different folks.
Heaps of people prefer a 9 speed to a 10 speed because they say the life difference for the chain and rear cassette is staggering and similarly, his Triple Crankset gives him a granny gear which also appears to be exactly what he needs.
All told, this bike looks to be better than every Trek FX, that is not a 7.7FX and heaps of people praise the FX line all the time.
Even with his adjustable stem, now he gets to fiddle around and work out what angle works best for him, so he can buy the exact fixed angle stem, without having to guess.
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I feel you are being a bit harsh here.
Heaps of people prefer a 9 speed to a 10 speed because they say the life difference for the chain and rear cassette is staggering and similarly, his Triple Crankset gives him a granny gear which also appears to be exactly what he needs.
All told, this bike looks to be better than every Trek FX, that is not a 7.7FX and heaps of people praise the FX line all the time.
Even with his adjustable stem, now he gets to fiddle around and work out what angle works best for him, so he can buy the exact fixed angle stem, without having to guess.
Heaps of people prefer a 9 speed to a 10 speed because they say the life difference for the chain and rear cassette is staggering and similarly, his Triple Crankset gives him a granny gear which also appears to be exactly what he needs.
All told, this bike looks to be better than every Trek FX, that is not a 7.7FX and heaps of people praise the FX line all the time.
Even with his adjustable stem, now he gets to fiddle around and work out what angle works best for him, so he can buy the exact fixed angle stem, without having to guess.
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Just curious,but what is it about the 10spd you prefer?
Oh,and I'll also just leave this right here:
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Last edited by dynaryder; 08-14-14 at 04:56 PM.
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I guess I can't win for stating an opinion. 9 speed preference for longevity of the chain? I tell, I own a 9 speed and a 10 speed and that is not even a consideration. Not even. That's like saying people prefer platform pedals because cleats wear out. Or that performance tires don't last as long as the Kenda special. You cannot argue ruggedness and durability when you opt for a carbon bike.
I have to admit to having no personal experience with either 9 or 10 speed setups, since I'm rocking a 7 speed setup.
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As far as carbon, my seatpost has already cracked. Maybe I torqued it too much at the clamp but no way would aluminum have even made a fuss about it. Expensive MTBs are carbon, sure, but what about low end carbon? The Alfa Romea 4C has a carbon fiber structure. Strong? You bet. But cheap carbon is a totally different ball game. My Marin hybrid, I consider cheap carbon, and yes I worry about it. Check it for cracks often. Cringe when I don't see a large expansion joint/bump and hit it going hard.
Edit: another plus about 10 speed. Better shifters available! My Shimano R770 are far and away better shifters than the R440.
Last edited by themishmosh; 08-14-14 at 05:22 PM.
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The extra gear is huge. I can have a tighter spacing of gears such that I can almost always find the perfect gear for what I'm doing. My 9 and 10 speeds are set up similarly but I sometimes find on my 9 speed that I want to be in between gears. I would love an 11 speed! Mileage wise, I don't find 9 speeds last any longer than 10 speeds although you are right about the cost difference. In life, I blow so much more on stupid things that $20 more a year isn't even going to make me care one iota.
As far as carbon, my seatpost has already cracked. Maybe I torqued it too much at the clamp but no way would aluminum have even made a fuss about it. Expensive MTBs are carbon, sure, but what about low end carbon? The Alfa Romea 4C has a carbon fiber structure. Strong? You bet. But cheap carbon is a totally different ball game. My Marin hybrid, I consider cheap carbon, and yes I worry about it. Check it for cracks often. Cringe when I don't see a large expansion joint/bump and hit it going hard.
Edit: another plus about 10 speed. Better shifters available! My Shimano R770 are far and away better shifters than the R440
As far as carbon, my seatpost has already cracked. Maybe I torqued it too much at the clamp but no way would aluminum have even made a fuss about it. Expensive MTBs are carbon, sure, but what about low end carbon? The Alfa Romea 4C has a carbon fiber structure. Strong? You bet. But cheap carbon is a totally different ball game. My Marin hybrid, I consider cheap carbon, and yes I worry about it. Check it for cracks often. Cringe when I don't see a large expansion joint/bump and hit it going hard.
Edit: another plus about 10 speed. Better shifters available! My Shimano R770 are far and away better shifters than the R440
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With my limited knowledge, I was thinking that the Derailleurs were the all important part and shifters were just an afterthought, but as I said, I do have quite limited knowledge about these things.
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Cover up the Motobecane and putting a non-adjustable stem on that bike and people will be asking you what your great looking bike is. It seems like a more than fair price for the product you received. I've been eying the BD Ti Motobecane.... they have a 2013 in my size on sale :-/ I'd be more than happy to pay $75 for my local LBS to put it together and go over it.