Carbon or Alloy?

Moe · 12 Jul 2015

I am going to buy a new road bike in the next couple of months and I have two in mind.... BUT cannot decide which is best..... The carbon one, well, it's carbon and has internal cables! The alloy one has disc brakes and been in a wet climate, would be better.... Here are my two choices....

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/cannondale/synapse-alloy-disc-105-womens-2015-road-bike-ec071056

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/fuji/supreme-25-2015-womens-road-bike-ec069057

The price between does not play a part........Please, can you lovely people give me advice on which one I should go for??

RMurphy195 · 12 Jul 2015

Do you want to ride "all-day" or fast?

Have you checked the gearing is suitable for you (I found recently that getting gearing low enough for me was a tad difficult)? If yo haven't already considered this aspect, maybe a quick read of this https://cyclingabout.com/gear-ratios-how-to-select-touring-bike-gearing/ might help

Drago · 13 Jul 2015

No one can tell you which one will ride the best with you on them.

Bicykell · 13 Jul 2015

The good news is that you are the judge of what is best for you.
The bad news is......you are the judge that is best for you.

Be that as it may, I am also asking for advice here and going round in circles, trying to decide what I want and what is best. One bike shop says steel has had it, carbon and alloy (and titanium up the posh end) are the only materials to go for.
Another says steel is real. I had a go on a steel charge plug 5 and found it whippy and entertaining. Didn't buy it though......
Have a go with disc brakes and find out for yourself. They are definitely the way things are going, yet the (two) bikes I had a go on with disc brakes did nothing for me compared to the quality of the ride and my comfort on the bike.
At the moment, both bikes on my short list have carbon frames and calliper brakes. But that's me. I'm riding an alloy frame at present.

Both bikes look good. Nobody makes a bad bike and survives long in this market. Best of luck!

jack smith · 13 Jul 2015

Carbon always seems a better ride comfort and speed wise to me but both bikes are very similar value for money wise go with what you prefer the look of or test ride them and see what rides best for you, personally ive never had any rim brake issues in the wet and i ride fast in some horrid weather.

Drago · 13 Jul 2015

I've never owned a carbon bike due to being well in excess of the industry standard max rider weight, but I've ridden quite literally dozens (when I was able to blag test bikes via work) and there's no way that most of the low end carbon ones ride any better than mid or high end frames made from alternative materials at a similar price. This is why our OP needs to go try both because simply being made from a composite material does not automatically make one of these bikes more comfortable, faster, or generally 'better' than the other.

vickster · 13 Jul 2015

Drago said:
No one can tell you which one will ride the best with you on them.

+1

Or the one that isn't black...oh dear :whistle:

Moe · 13 Jul 2015

My heart says the Fuji but my brain says the Caonnondale!

vickster said:
Or the one that isn't black...oh dear

But I like black..... It's slimming! :laugh:

vickster · 13 Jul 2015

If you can't decide, go ride them. I reckon you'll be able to tell, which if either, is the one

I don't dislike black in general just on bikes...and cars!

Citius · 13 Jul 2015

Out of those two choices - if I was you - I'd get the Cannondale.

vickster · 13 Jul 2015

One thing, being female, have you ridden with 105 shifters before and are you comfortable braking from the hoods? Personally (and I'm not a petitie woman), the hood shape simply doesn't work for me and I can't get enough leverage to brake effectively. Definitely something to check on your testrides, try doing an emergency stop from a reasonable speed - obviously checking there are no cars, cyclists etc behind or near you!

Moe · 14 Jul 2015

RMurphy195 said:
Do you want to ride "all-day" or fast?

I like to go fast but also I like long rides... All those numbers and ratios don't mean a great deal to me, the bike I have now is compact I know that much, I'm guessing the ones I have narrowed down are not?? I don't want to go and end up with a bike that is no good for me.... :sad:

vickster · 14 Jul 2015

Both have compact double groupsets from my understanding - 50/34 on the front and either 12-28 or 11-32 on the back (the latter will make hills easier :smile:

)

How fast is fast - I'm sure you'll be able to ride at 20-25 on the flat no both if that's your aim :smile:

What do you have at the moment?

Moe · 14 Jul 2015

vickster said:
Both have compact double groupsets from my understanding - 50/34 on the front and either 12-28 or 11-32 on the back (the latter will make hills easier )

How fast is fast - I'm sure you'll be able to ride at 20-25 on the flat no both if that's your aim

What do you have at the moment?

This is what I have at the moment 48 cm...
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/mekk-pinerolo-al-10-sora/

vickster · 14 Jul 2015

Same at the front, will just get a couple more gears at the back :smile:

If you want different gearing, especially for hills, go for the 11-32 on the Cannondale

Why are you wanting to change? The carbon will give you something most different I guess...but the red is much nicer :whistle:

Carbon or Alloy?

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