Are Carbon Road frames really worth the extra cost?
01-26-22, 10:17 AM
#101
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
I've toyed with starting a thread that asked people to discuss their frame material preferences just on esthetic grounds without arguing with the esthetic judgments of others, but I couldn't figure out an OP that wouldn't look like an invitation to a troll-fest. I got interested in the subject because you and I had a very polite conversation where I thought it was fascinating that our esthetic tastes were very nearly the opposite, that which I find beautiful and elegant, you find bodged and crude and that which you find beautiful in design due to its advancement, I find cold and inelegant. Not surprisingly, you prefer carbon and I prefer steel. I would be lying if I said that the aesthetics of a steel frame wasn't a huge factor in my preference.
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01-26-22, 10:56 AM
#102
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Originally Posted by Rdmonster69
Here's what it really boils down to right ? A polite conversation for starters. And aesthetics spans the whole gamut of tastes. For me if it has two wheels and I can do something stupid on it I'm in. I like almost all of em. Carbon, steel, Ti.... My Aluminum experience has been overall positive. I tend to buy first and ask the community later. Luckily I have impeccable tastes and even better luck : )
The reason I ended up not starting the thread is when I started writing why I preferred the esthetics of steel, I couldn't think of a way to do it without implicitly or explicitly saying why I don't like aspects of the esthetics of carbon and aluminum, and I didn't want to end up starting another of those threads where everybody gets defensive and offensive. It might start politely, but pretty soon everyone's rusting and assploding all over the place. Weirdly, I think this could be a polite conversation in person, but on the internet, everyone piles in, reacting to whatever trigger word gores their oxen.
That's a fun post, BTW.
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01-26-22, 11:30 AM
#103
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
Don't bother engaging that nonsense.
The notion that any of the frame materials commonly used don't have both advantages and disadvantages as compared to the others is just silly.
The notion that any of the frame materials commonly used don't have both advantages and disadvantages as compared to the others is just silly.
01-26-22, 11:51 AM
#104
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Originally Posted by prj71
It's not nonsense. It's the truth. I've witnessed both.
I meant the post you were quoting was nonsense not worth arguing with.
Carbon has its advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum has its advantages and disadvantages.
Steel beats them all (just kidding).
Last edited by livedarklions; 01-26-22 at 12:04 PM.
01-26-22, 05:47 PM
#105
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
I meant the post you were quoting was nonsense not worth arguing with.
Carbon has its advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum has its advantages and disadvantages.
Steel beats them all (just kidding).
Carbon has its advantages and disadvantages.
Aluminum has its advantages and disadvantages.
Steel beats them all (just kidding).
01-26-22, 05:52 PM
#106
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Yes it does and I am not kidding...Steel is the best material for making bike frames...Carbon is inferior...Aluminum is second best to steel...
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01-26-22, 06:18 PM
#108
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Yes it does and I am not kidding...Steel is the best material for making bike frames...Carbon is inferior...Aluminum is second best to steel...
Let's start up a gofundme page to buy you a sense of humor.
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01-26-22, 06:18 PM
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Womp womp.
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01-26-22, 06:19 PM
#110
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Originally Posted by WhyFi
Womp womp.
Brass trombone or carbon?
01-26-22, 06:21 PM
#111
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Originally Posted by Bald Paul
Personally, I prefer frames made of Unobtanium.
That's pretty much the entire new bike supply right now.
01-26-22, 06:32 PM
#112
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
I heard a rumour that INEOS are moving to steel frames this season after consulting with wolfchild
Yeah? Well, I just magnetized my frame so all I have to do is lift it by a rope and it'll point north. Try doing that with one of your PVC tube jobbies!
Hey look, carbon lugs!
Yup, it's time to go full-stupid.
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01-27-22, 02:29 AM
#113
Rhapsodic Laviathan
Originally Posted by MinnMan
snore
Originally Posted by PeteHski
I don't see a reason not to go carbon unless you can't afford it or simply prefer a *insert frame material of choice here* frame for whatever reason.
Carbon just happens to be a great material for making light/stiff/comfortable bike frames. Only real downside is relatively high cost.
Carbon just happens to be a great material for making light/stiff/comfortable bike frames. Only real downside is relatively high cost.
01-27-22, 06:35 AM
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Originally Posted by Jax Rhapsody
the cost is mainly why I said what I said. Carbon is good for many things, but sometimes the justifiable reasons don't justify getting one- unless it's just your preference, or whatever reason.
01-27-22, 06:57 AM
#115
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
Yes it does and I am not kidding...Steel is the best material for making bike frames...Carbon is inferior...Aluminum is second best to steel...
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01-27-22, 07:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Rdmonster69
Titanium anyone ? ....this should be prefaced with in my opinion
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01-27-22, 07:19 AM
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I've busted steel, aluminum, and magnesium on rides but never a carbon frame on a ride (that's the airlines' job). So there, Wolfbaby, carbon is better.
N = 1
N = 1
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01-27-22, 09:50 AM
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Originally Posted by GhostRider62
I've busted steel, aluminum, and magnesium on rides but never a carbon frame on a ride (that's the airlines' job). So there, Wolfbaby, carbon is better.
N = 1
N = 1
I just checked. Once you subtract the water, I'm primarily constructed from carbon.
N=2.
01-27-22, 10:02 AM
#119
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
You didn't even mention cost, but we appear to agree on cost being the main issue with carbon for most people.
I'm not sure you're actually agreeing there. I'm getting from Jax Rhapsody the idea that for most people, the supposed advantages of carbon are not going to be noticeable and relevant to the way they ride. Obviously, that implies those advantages aren't worth paying extra for, but it doesn't imply that carbon would therefore be the superior choice if costs were equal.
Just to be clear, the PVC remarks before were my perhaps poor attempt to parody the anti-carbon rhetoric, so I hope you didn't think I was trying to troll you. I was rather hoping for a similarly absurd attack on steel from your direction.
Like I said before, I find these "debates" more comical than informative.
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01-28-22, 05:00 AM
#120
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
I'm not sure you're actually agreeing there. I'm getting from Jax Rhapsody the idea that for most people, the supposed advantages of carbon are not going to be noticeable and relevant to the way they ride. Obviously, that implies those advantages aren't worth paying extra for, but it doesn't imply that carbon would therefore be the superior choice if costs were equal.
Just to be clear, the PVC remarks before were my perhaps poor attempt to parody the anti-carbon rhetoric, so I hope you didn't think I was trying to troll you. I was rather hoping for a similarly absurd attack on steel from your direction.
Like I said before, I find these "debates" more comical than informative.
Just to be clear, the PVC remarks before were my perhaps poor attempt to parody the anti-carbon rhetoric, so I hope you didn't think I was trying to troll you. I was rather hoping for a similarly absurd attack on steel from your direction.
Like I said before, I find these "debates" more comical than informative.
01-28-22, 05:29 AM
#121
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
You didn't even mention cost, but we appear to agree on cost being the main issue with carbon for most people.
01-28-22, 05:48 AM
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I didn't realise Jax had a post interpreter, lol!
01-28-22, 06:38 AM
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Originally Posted by PeteHski
I didn't realise Jax had a post interpreter, lol!
Here's my secret agenda, I agree with him and disagree a bit with you. It's a friendly disagreement, but his perspective on this is extremely similar to mine.
I think you're looking at this like an engineer, and there's a lot of objective measures by which carbon fiber is slightly superior, but there's a lot of cost to get those fairly slight advantages. We haven't even touched on the environmental consequences of mass production of frames from a material
that can't be scrapped or recycled. Basically, your judgment that these advantages are worth it is just as subjective as any other.
I will say that I'm under the impression that there is an issue with hidden defects and damage that's worse with carbon frames. All other things being practically equal, I'm picking the material that is easier to check for issues. Is that wrong?
Last edited by livedarklions; 01-28-22 at 06:46 AM.
01-28-22, 11:16 AM
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I like my crabon bicycle. It fits me well, and is suited to the riding I do.
It's very light; I'm old. I find it easy to haul up/down stairs, or in/out of the car on rare occasions.
I am not askeered of it asploding.
It was worth the extra cost ... to me.
The End.
It's very light; I'm old. I find it easy to haul up/down stairs, or in/out of the car on rare occasions.
I am not askeered of it asploding.
It was worth the extra cost ... to me.
The End.
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01-28-22, 01:28 PM
#125
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Originally Posted by rickster1
Hi everyone, I'm new to the site and was wondering are carbon road frames really worth the extra costk
