Alloy v carbon difference

[Trigger369]

For those of you that have alloy bikes and then changed to carbon bikes . What did differences did you notice straight away . As in ride feel and things .
Just asking as I'm going for a carbon bike next . Many thanks

 

[cyberknight]

So much depends on tube profiles, set up , geometry etc
You can have hard and soft frames in both

 

[Drago]

It's such a subjective questions it's not even worth asking.

 

[cyberknight]

For me i went from alloy to carbon in the same brandand yes the carbon was lighter and a bit more comfy but i always knew the alloy bike was a stiff bruiser.Nowdays with so much built in things like the trek domane and spesh roubaix the lines are so blurred .

 

[vickster]

What alloy bike...what carbon bike?
What do you think when you ride them?

 

[Cycleops]

This might be of interest ;

View: https://youtu.be/h3RG5dztrXM


The differences might not be so great as you think,

 

[Globalti]

I've ridden a couple of shockingly stiff old alloy bikes but many more that felt lovely. Same with carbon. It depends on how they are built.

Why don't you sign up for the Cyclist magazine track day near you, then you can try many different carbon bikes and a few alloy too.

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/2650/cyclist-track-days-2019-buy-your-tickets-now

 

[vickster]

I've ridden a couple of shockingly stiff old alloy bikes but many more that felt lovely. Same with carbon. It depends on how they are built.

Why don't you sign up for the Cyclist magazine track day near you, then you can try many different carbon bikes and a few alloy too.

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/news/2650/cyclist-track-days-2019-buy-your-tickets-now

OP is in Northern Ireland however

 

[Trigger369]

I suppose ile have to just ride a carbon to find out then .

 

[Globalti]

There's a guy on the Cyclist track day video who flew over from Dublin. If you take bike choice seriously enough it's a valuable and enjoyable day out riding top of the range bikes. I bought my hooligan bike after being blown away by it at the first track day.

 

[vickster]

I suppose ile have to just ride a carbon to find out then .

Of course, you're not going to buy without doing so surely...did you say that CRC are closeby?

 

[vickster]

There's a guy on the Cyclist track day video who flew over from Dublin. If you take bike choice seriously enough it's a valuable and enjoyable day out riding top of the range bikes. I bought my hooligan bike after being blown away by it at the first track day.

I don't think the OP is looking at 'top of the range', was looking a thing Ribble from another thread...£1500 budget IIRC

It's far better to ride bikes you are actually interested in / able to buy imo. It's a bit like tyre kicking a super car when you're looking for a family hatch

 

[Banjo]

There's a massive difference in alloy frames. My alloy Felt is much more forgiving than previous alloy bikes I have owned.

No reason not to have a carbon frame but I think the tyres have more affect on the ride than the frame material

 

[Yellow Saddle]

The joys of pressfit BBs on carbon bikes is something to behold.

 

[Mo1959]

Must be a lot to do with the construction. A Forme I used to own felt decidedly harsh but a Cube Peloton in the same price range rides much nicer. I think my carbon bikes are smoother again, but maybe just trying to justify spending more pennies!