Topic: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Jim
CA
Member Since:
08/27/2005 Total Posts: 640
6.7 Years Ago
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OK - I need some help here. I think I know something, so I will state what I think I know. But, I don't know WHAT I don't know. So, I need your help.
I am looking for another road bikes for use in group rides, and distance rides.
I have been riding an all aluminum frame w/ Carbon fork. They are nice on the stiff side, but I am tending to tire on long rides.
I tried a Specialized Tarmac S-Works, this bike combines aluminum with carbon as frame materials to provide a combination of stiffness and weight savings. It also had a carbon fork, seat stay and chain stay. The bike felt great going up hill, but going down, it was very twitchy, and did not handle well at all. :o( I was very sad as it was a screaming deal, and I soooo wanted it.
Next I tried a Pinarello Paris, this was an aluminum frame, with carbon fork and seat stay. The handling was 5 times better. I felt confident, perhaps too confident as I went too fast and blew through a stop sign I missed. (lucky me no cars) I felt the guy was asking a bit too much for a used bike, so I didn't buy, and it may not be much different from my current road bike.
I have recently been eyeing the Ti bikes. Some are all Ti, and some Ti, comes with Carbon. However I have heard the trade off here is that you gove up an extremely durable material in (Ti) for a bit more shock absorbtion (Carbon). Or, should I just go with all carbon. Or, Aluminum with carbon forks and seat stay area.
Here's what I want and my question....
I want a bike that is somewhat light 16-18lbs, will do well with a larger rider +200lbs, has great power transfer on climbs, and doesn't beat your body up on the downhill or long rides. That's all! Suggestions???
JC2
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Gerry
CA
Member Since:
12/19/2005 Total Posts: 270
6.7 Years Ago
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Great question Jim and as you probably know...it's what feels good to you that counts, so I'll just offer up what I am comfortable with riding. My background is with steel, my most comfortable bike up till now was an 1986 Colnago with the XLS tubing which was stiff when needed but flexed going up hills.... since retiring that bike, I have rode another steel Colnago (Master light); a Titanium; an aluminum by Trek, but none of them were as comfortable as the '86. However, the Trek Madone 5.9 that I bought in January surpasses everything that I have ever rode. I didn't know that I was tired and somewhat sore after long rides until I rode the Madone and felt ready to go again. It is very stable especially downhill, as you remember the 40mph that I clocked in Jackson Hole... at the bottom of that hill was a real cattle guard that I couldn't stop or slow down so we just floated over it...no problems.
The power transfer is incredible and efficient, I am even increasing in speed while climbing gradual grades... It feels almost like ridng a cadilac instead of a yugo for my 230 something sized body.
I just love that bike!
As I've been told... not all carbon bikes and the same much like all steel bikes aren't the same....
I'll have with me over in Napa when I do that air quality ride Sept 7 - 9...maybe we can meet in Calistoga and you can ride it....
for what its worth,
gerry |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Jim
CA
Member Since:
08/27/2005 Total Posts: 640
6.7 Years Ago
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Michael - I have been very confident on my Felt - Aluminum, is just rattles ya up some.
Gerry - Unfortunately I will not be able to ride over there, I will be in Santa Cruz for the Big Kahuna 1/2 IM Race. Have a great ride though. I have eyed the trek 5.9, perhaps I will give it a try.
Any other opinions???
JC2 |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Chris
NH
Member Since:
01/19/2004 Total Posts: 852
6.7 Years Ago
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I read this topic like 3 times and could have sworn it said "Free Marital Advice". heh :-) |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Jim
CA
Member Since:
08/27/2005 Total Posts: 640
6.7 Years Ago
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Hey Chris - Are you offering or seeking?? ;o)
I may be seeking some. We are off on a 5 day back packing trip this weekend, and that never goes over well.
Stepahnie - Thanks for your opinion, I have had that bike on my E-Bay watch list a few times, but I know nothing about them.
Jim |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Jim
CA
Member Since:
08/27/2005 Total Posts: 640
6.6 Years Ago
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Interesting Aaron.
I see quite a few steel bikes around (some not cheap at all), I have eyed a Salsa a few times. Great components. I was just nervous about the steel aspect.
I do a lot of riding in the rain during the winter, and have often taken my aluminum bike off the rack only to get splashed by water stuck in the frame.
My concerns about steel are: rust, weight, and stiffness. Are my concerns un warranted?
JC1.5 |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Jim
CA
Member Since:
08/27/2005 Total Posts: 640
6.6 Years Ago
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Thanks Ron - I did spend quite a bit of time this year on core, and it has helped, I feel it more in my neck and arms.
I bet you are on to something with the fit issue. I have not had a professional fitting done, and I have heard others say what a HUGE difference some slight adjustments can make.
Thanks - Jim |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Jim
CA
Member Since:
08/27/2005 Total Posts: 640
6.5 Years Ago
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I continue to look for the right ride, but in the meantime, I am going to have a professional fit done on my existing ride and wait until the right fit/deal comes along. The bike is starting to feel a bit better. |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Gerry
CA
Member Since:
12/19/2005 Total Posts: 270
6.5 Years Ago
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Hi Ron
I wouldn't short the Madone.....I recently switched from chrome molly and Ti and love the carbon... it is a tough material that isn't that brittle..a kid we helped sponsor rode (cat 2) a trek carbon for the past two years and had plenty of spills in crits and never busted his frame... like other materials, their actual composition differs from manufacture and even model ie not all carbon is the same.
Hope that helps, FWIW
Addendum...I rode the Madone in to work this morning after riding the Ti for the past two weeks....the Madone is so sweet, stiff but gentle, great power transfer, and goes so fast that I was having a hard time seeing as it was traveling faster than my light ;-) |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Jim
CA
Member Since:
08/27/2005 Total Posts: 640
6.5 Years Ago
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Now this is the type of feedback I was lookig for. Thank you guys.
WOW Gerry - Are you saying you went faster than the speed of light?
NICE!
Jim |
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Re: Frame Material Advice!!!!
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Gerry
CA
Member Since:
12/19/2005 Total Posts: 270
6.5 Years Ago
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My 5.9 Madone is less than a year old now so I don't know about the bracket set... mine is the last before the sloping top tube....One has just to figure that Trek , over the course of the Armstrong era, has spent the most amount of money and research into the frame, components etc and therefore, have the state of art technology that has trickled down to us, the regular folk. We are benefiting from all of the R&D if we just take advantage of it.
I could be wrong, but I believe the Trek frames are warrantied for their lifetime, the kid that we were co-sponsoring had a "crack" in the head tube, so I took it to the LBS (not where the bike was bought), they contacted Trek... Trek sent out a new frame overnight... components were switched.. old frame sent back to Trek...old frame x-rayed, cracks were in the paint, not the frame...keep the new frame...that is service.
Again, I am amazed at the efficiency of the Trek frame as well as the rideability. I am not going to kid anyone, I am 52 yrs old; 5'11'; 244lbs; and that SOB gets down the road like no other bike I've had the pleasure to ride ('86 Colnago SLX; 1999 Colango Master Light X; 2000(?) Colnago Titanium). I even accelerate going up hills (gradual)!!!!!!!
Enjoy
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