Carbon as a commuter?

[simon the viking]

Further to my thread about saving money in a big tin.... I (think, unless I've lost track of how much has gone in tin) am halfway towards a Giant Defy 4 - Alloy with a carbon fork but was going to keep saving and go for the Defy Composite at about twice the price.

I'm not asking if Giant are any good because the brand may change (Cube, Moda etc) I'm just using Giant as a will power thing to save, What I am asking is I only really use my bike for commuting most days 15 miles round trip 75 - 90 miles a week (and odd solo cafe' jaunt when I'm off on a week day and wife and Little-un are out) Is that a complete waste of a Carbon beauty and would that kind of use (nasty pot holed commuter roads) destroy it? (I am keeping the Viking for severe winter conditions) and If I had a collision would the frame be written off more easily an alloy?

This is a genuine question as I want to know if I should carry on saving past Autumn (when I could afford the Defy 4) to Spring (2014) to afford the carbon

Thanks in advance for any input.....

 

[400bhp]

For me, the frame material doesn't matter on a commute. They don't wear any quicker than the next material. Carbon and aluminium don't rust so no issues there.

It's more about component wear and cost of replacement, plus the practicalities of the bike for suitable commuting.

Components that wear down relatively quickly are chain, cassette, brake pads, headset, bottom bracket and handlebar tape. Very broadly, the greater the cost of the above components the more it's going to cost you to replace because the parts broadly wear down at the same rate regardless of cost. So, I wouldn't want to be spending much money on the above parts. E.g. a Shimano Tiagra cassette costing £20 will wear down no quicker than an Ultegra cassette costing 3 times as much. Rims will wear on wheels too, although there probably is some relationship between price and longevity here (albeit buying a like for like heavy more expensive wheel, rather than a lighter more expensive wheel). Derailleurs last a long long time and so do brake calipers and front chainring so going for any type is going to be broadly OK.

Suitability wise, then you've got to think about the ease of adding mudguards, rack, panniers (or whatever you need). I don't know the differences between the two bikes and your needs for carrying things so can't really comment.

 

[vickster]

Most carbon bikes have no fixings for mudguards and racks

Yes, you have to be very careful if you crash a carbon bike, any sort of impact could well write it off, while an alu one might be scratched or dented, but still have integrity

However, if you want a carbon bike, buy a rucksack, get some Crud guards and don't crash (remember this may be harder to avoid in the wet or other slippy conditions)

Many will say that a good alu, carbon forked frame is as comfortable as a carbon frame

 

[manalog]

Further to my thread about saving money in a big tin.... I (think, unless I've lost track of how much has gone in tin) am halfway towards a Giant Defy 4 - Alloy with a carbon fork but was going to keep saving and go for the Defy Composite at about twice the price.

I'm not asking if Giant are any good because the brand may change (Cube, Moda etc) I'm just using Giant as a will power thing to save, What I am asking is I only really use my bike for commuting most days 15 miles round trip 75 - 90 miles a week (and odd solo cafe' jaunt when I'm off on a week day and wife and Little-un are out) Is that a complete waste of a Carbon beauty and would that kind of use (nasty pot holed commuter roads) destroy it? (I am keeping the Viking for severe winter conditions) and If I had a collision would the frame be written off more easily an alloy?

This is a genuine question as I want to know if I should carry on saving past Autumn (when I could afford the Defy 4) to Spring (2014) to afford the carbon

Thanks in advance for any input.....

I use my Focus Cayo Ultegra in all weather conditions (120miles /week) purely commuting now, not had a problem since 2008. As long as you keep it nice and clean I can't see any prblem using a Carbon Bike, the problems you will encounter are expensive parts like casette. rims/wheels and chain. Just get a reasonable commuting wheels and use your best wheels at the weekend. Im sure carbon wont disintegrate in the rain/snow and sunshine :-)
Gerry

 

[simon the viking]

In reply to panniers and mudguards - I use rucksack so don't need pannier and don't have mudguards on the Viking (I do sometimes regret this style choice) so either bike would suit my needs

 

[400bhp]

Hacienda 71 commutes all year round on a carbon jobbie. I think he uses crud roadracer mudguards.

Just to add my experience.

I used a CAAD9 tiagra for all year round commuting for 18 months or so and it was absolutely fine. Because the parts were tiagra and the wheels were Shimano R501 they were quite cheap to replace.

The decision to get a more focussed commuting bike came because I got sick to the back teeth of the bike having no mudguard eyelets and little clearance for mudguards. I was chopping and changing between SKS raceblades and crud roadracers. Both have their merits but both have too great a disadvantage when using the bike constantly 6 days a week (5 commuting, then one leisure weekend ride). The cruds are too flimsy and the SKS coverage isn't enough.

So now I have an aluminium tiagra specced bike with proper mudguard eyelets and clearances, along with my (aluminium) caad9 with some good wheels and a bit better specced groupset that I use for the odd dry commute and wekeend runs.

 

[400bhp]

In reply to panniers and mudguards - I use rucksack so don't need pannier and don't have mudguards on the Viking (I do sometimes regret this style choice) so either bike would suit my needs

Not having mudguards on a commute bike

 

[400bhp]

I use my Focus Cayo Ultegra in all weather conditions (120miles /week) purely commuting now, not had a problem since 2008. As long as you keep it nice and clean I can't see any prblem using a Carbon Bike, the problems you will encounter are expensive parts like casette. rims/wheels and chain. Just get a reasonable commuting wheels and use your best wheels at the weekend. Im sure carbon wont disintegrate in the rain/snow and sunshine :-)
Gerry

o

Not as simple as that. You then have another problem running 2 cassettes on one chain and different wear rates.

 

[Andrew_P]

12000 commuting miles on my carbon 2010 Specialized Roubaix.

Winter it gets ugly but effective Raceblade Longs. I always use a rucksack, in the summer will convert to a saddle bag for my tools and tubes. In the summer I do not mind getting wet as long as I am warm.

I only commute for fun and fitness, not to save money. I would guess it saves a bit of cash but the cost of keeping everything running is higher the better groupset you run and dependent on how well you look after the bits to get maxium life from them. This winter has been really harsh looking like I won't get much more than 1700 miles out of my chain. Tiagra cassette 19.99 vs 105 31.99 vs Ultegra 44.99. The reality is you could choose to run cheaper groupsets, wheels & consumables during the winter as in general you wont be belting around half as much but the grit and muck is a killer for bike parts

Without any doubt the more you enjoy the bike the better chance of it getting used..

 

[cyberknight]

Imho..
Keep the viking as the commuter/ winter bike and get the best you can afford for nice rides.
You can add cruds without spoiling the look to much and if you do not want a full time rack you could go for a seatpost rack or a large saddle bag that are easy to remove if you want to get the weight off your back.
As you can see by my strava times that i have been posted on my carrera with panniers + gaurds its not just about the bike ..

 

[aces_up1504]

I am going with Alu.

It will do everything you need for its use. Carbon is overkill

 

[bianchi1]

Cycling should make you feel good. If riding to work on a carbon framed bike feels better that an alu one..do it. There are only so many hours in the day for cycling, you may as well make the most of them.

 

[simon the viking]

Not having mudguards on a commute bike

I know............................ I do have to clean it a lot!

 

[simon the viking]

I am going with Alu.

It will do everything you need for its use. Carbon is overkill

My head says the same.... my heart says otherwise

 

[simon the viking]

Imho..
Keep the viking as the commuter/ winter bike and get the best you can afford for nice rides.
You can add cruds without spoiling the look to much and if you do not want a full time rack you could go for a seatpost rack or a large saddle bag that are easy to remove if you want to get the weight off your back.
As you can see by my strava times that i have been posted on my carrera with panniers + gaurds its not just about the bike ..

I only use a ruck sack (or bum-bag only for tools and wallet if on a cafe ride) for dinner and shirt so will never need panniers but I might go for the cruds (like you showed me?) before next winter on whatever bike I'm riding