Is there anything that compares to steel in terms of ride quality?
09-25-08, 04:54 PM
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Is there anything that compares to steel in terms of ride quality?
I'm in the market for a new bike. I have always ridden steel. Has the technology with carbon advanced to a level that the ride quality equals that of steel?
Thanks in advance everyone!
Thanks in advance everyone!
09-25-08, 05:38 PM
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09-25-08, 05:52 PM
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09-25-08, 05:54 PM
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When are people going to learn its not the material that solely dictates the ride of a bike. It depends on the geometry of the tubes. You can have stiff titanium, soft aluminum, and bone jarring carbon along with any other combination.
09-25-08, 05:56 PM
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I'm quite glad to say I have never touched a carbon bike, but I am curious as to how light they are and would like to test ride one just for kicks, but my next bike will probably be Ti and something will be done to my steel bike, but what I'm not exactly sure.
09-25-08, 06:02 PM
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I rode a 585 for about 20 miles (switched with a riding partner) and I felt it was very much more muted than the feel of any steel bike I've been on - a product of the vibration dampening material. It was way stiffer in the BB area as well and outclassed every steel bike that I've been on in that area.
09-25-08, 06:05 PM
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I rode a 585 for about 20 miles (switched with a riding partner) and I felt it was very much more muted than the feel of any steel bike I've been on - a product of the vibration dampening material. It was way stiffer in the BB area as well and outclassed every steel bike that I've been on in that area.
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09-25-08, 06:10 PM
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09-25-08, 06:15 PM
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I rode a Reynolds 531 (I know, I know..its old school) Trek a few weeks ago and it was too springy. My Columbus SL/P Schwinn Peleton has much less springiness but it retains that steel feel.
09-25-08, 06:18 PM
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Have ridden/owned steel, alu, ti, carbon, bamboo.
My butt's on carbon fiber but bamboo is every bit as great.
My butt's on carbon fiber but bamboo is every bit as great.
09-25-08, 06:20 PM
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09-25-08, 06:29 PM
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I'll also add that my Pegoretti feels 10x nicer then my steel Colnago. It's all about whats better for the rider not better quality.
09-25-08, 06:39 PM
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09-25-08, 08:35 PM
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My bike with Easton Scandium does not feel anything like steel. Much stiffer and much more "road feel" aka vibration. As mentioned above, material alone is not the determining factor.
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09-25-08, 08:52 PM
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I have both steel and carbon and I'd take carbon any day.
09-25-08, 10:30 PM
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I have steel, carbon and aluminum framed bikes. The ride quality of each is...different.
The steel is the most compliant, feels most organic in a turn, but flexes when cranking big watts. The carbon is a lot lighter, the best on a hill or on a long ride. The aluminum is the most responsive, best in a sprint. They all feel good, but a little different.
Strangely enough, I think in my case the aluminum actually dampens road vibrations a little better than the carbon, but it's a specialized allez with the zertz inserts; maybe they actually work.
The steel is the most compliant, feels most organic in a turn, but flexes when cranking big watts. The carbon is a lot lighter, the best on a hill or on a long ride. The aluminum is the most responsive, best in a sprint. They all feel good, but a little different.
Strangely enough, I think in my case the aluminum actually dampens road vibrations a little better than the carbon, but it's a specialized allez with the zertz inserts; maybe they actually work.
09-25-08, 10:40 PM
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The ride of my new aluminum Specialized is not any worse than my old steel Univega. It's lighter over the bumps, and its handling qualities and feel are so far and away superior that any difference in ride is purely academic. There's just not enough there to be worth caring about.