Carbon v Alloy Commute (to impress the females)

[lejogger]

Over the past few months, I have bumped into a young lady who works in the same department where I get showered in the mornings on a daily basis. She often coos about my Boardman CX and all winter I've promised that when the weather gets better I'll come in on the Team Carbon - as that will undoutedly get her drooling if the CX is a turn on.

On a serious note though, I did wonder after a year of riding the same route on the CX and theoretically being able to handle the course to an optimum level, how much difference would the commute on the best bike be, especially as a one off ride.

It's not just a bike v bike exercise however, it's also a laden bike v laden rider challenge.I obviously carry my suit and tools in a rucksack rather than in a pannier and rack bag when on the carbon.
What would win??!

Well today was the day...

...and...........

.......the carbon won. By miles.

Over 4 minutes quicker than yesterday over 9.2 miles. The first mile was over a minute quicker on its own. It has two short climbs and a technical descent which is where the nimble, lightweight bike comes into its own. On the flat and straight descents there's very little difference in the cruising speed, but getting up a hill (even with a heavy rucksack) is just a breeze in comparison.

Anyone else carried out any similar trials?

Oh and yes... she was very impressed

 

[400bhp]

Well I commute in on my hybrid Carrera or my CAAD9 racer. Over an average 9.5 mile commute, I probably average a mile an hour faster on the CAAD (2-3 mins).

 

[lejogger]

Well I commute in on my hybrid Carrera or my CAAD9 racer. Over an average 9.5 mile commute, I probably average a mile an hour faster on the CAAD (2-3 mins).

That sounds about right to be honest. It also probably very much depends on the terrain of your commute. My ride into work is more uphill than my ride home, so unless there's a gale I always clock a faster return leg. However I imagine the difference between the times of the two bikes will be greater on the way out than the way back.

 

[mickle]

Chicks dig carbon. Who would have thought?

 

[BSRU]

The other day I did a comparison between me on a heavy hybrid with panniers against a rider on a new/very clean looking carbon Boardman with a small rucksack, I won, , lucky for them I was not on my road bike

 

[lejogger]

...heavy hybrid with panniers...lucky for them I was not on my road bike

I think that's the key isn't it? I ride every week in the club with guys who ride lots of miles but always on carbon. Even in the winter they stick race blades on lightweight bikes because they're scared of taking the knock or not keeping up.

The carbon is a luxury machine that you don't genuinely feel the full benefit of unless you have done your time on something a bit more rugged. I completed a whole winter of club runs on the CX with a laden rack bag (I certainly wasn't the only one on a 'proper' winter bike) and I commute on the CX all year round.
As long as you're not disadvantaging yourself by not having as finely tuned set up on a carbon bike that you don't use very often then after a week of commuting on your tractor not only do you feel the benefit of less weight, better handling and better aerodynamics, but psychologically you know how much easier everything is going to be before you've even set off.

Obviously however there is carbon and then there's carbon... Would I feel a similar difference between my TC and say the bike that Wiggo will ride in TdF that I do between my TC and the CX?

 

[BSRU]

I think that's the key isn't it? I ride every week in the club with guys who ride lots of miles but always on carbon. Even in the winter they stick race blades on lightweight bikes because they're scared of taking the knock or not keeping up.

The carbon is a luxury machine that you don't genuinely feel the full benefit of unless you have done your time on something a bit more rugged. I completed a whole winter of club runs on the CX with a laden rack bag (I certainly wasn't the only one on a 'proper' winter bike) and I commute on the CX all year round.
As long as you're not disadvantaging yourself by not having as finely tuned set up on a carbon bike that you don't use very often then after a week of commuting on your tractor not only do you feel the benefit of less weight, better handling and better aerodynamics, but psychologically you know how much easier everything is going to be before you've even set off.

Obviously however there is carbon and then there's carbon... Would I feel a similar difference between my TC and say the bike that Wiggo will ride in TdF that I do between my TC and the CX?

As much as I enjoy my heavy hybrid when I change to the road bike I feel like I'm floating on air.

 

[Moodyman]

I alternative between four different bikes and whilst they all vary in the enjoyment - the two road bikes being the most enjoyable- the times are much closer.

Over my 12 mile commute, the difference between the fastest and slowest bike is about 3-4 minutes - assuming same effort level and luck with traffic lights

 

[Andrew_P]

I was much faster coming out of the winter after using my Boardman CX and getting back on the Roubaix. Since getting some raceblade longs for the Roubaix I think I am going to retire the CX and sell it. The CX was always going to be my winter bike mainly for the guards and secondly for disc brakes. Cannot see me using it much now the QR guards have proved themselves, and I can live with rim brakes in the wet.

 

[lejogger]

I was much faster coming out of the winter after using my Boardman CX and getting back on the Roubaix. Since getting some raceblade longs for the Roubaix I think I am going to retire the CX and sell it. The CX was always going to be my winter bike mainly for the guards and secondly for disc brakes. Cannot see me using it much now the QR guards have proved themselves, and I can live with rim brakes in the wet.

Do you not feel like you'll prolong the life of the Roubaix by keeping it for best/summer riding though? How much sooner before you have to buy a new gruppo for it that will probably alone cost as much as a CX!

 

[Andrew_P]

Do you not feel like you'll prolong the life of the Roubaix by keeping it for best/summer riding though? How much sooner before you have to buy a new gruppo for it that will probably alone cost as much as a CX!

I have come round to the way of thinking that a best bike is for riding. It was a 2010 with 105 group. and it won't all kaput together Cassette & chain is £50 the most wear parts Calipers will not go, front probaly 20k+ shifter the same . I would rather replace as needed and not be sat on the CX (still a good bike btw) wishing I was riding the other one..

The other thought process is that doing 400-600 miles a month commuting saves at least £150 a month fuel even without wear and tear on the car, tyres etc, add the health benefit I am up on the deal.

So anything that needs replacing I do it guilt free, well almost lol

 

[GrasB]

I decide which bike to commute on given the prevailing weather conditions & training schedule. If I've got a low effort training day I'll almost always use the 'bent, when a hard ride is scheduled & it's windy then the fixed is the weapon of choice. As LOCO said, bikes are for riding & at the end of the day this 'saving the best bike for good days' is a load of self-fulfilling psychological BS. Get a power meter & see what's really going on, the majority of riders find that their PE being lower for the same power on your best bike, simply because they think it's going to be an easier bike to ride.

 

[fossyant]

It's nothing to do with frame material - your CX bike will have tractor tyres, the road bike not, plus it will be a fair bit lighter.

I only commute on one bike anyway.

 

[lejogger]

The other thought process is that doing 400-600 miles a month commuting saves at least £150 a month fuel even without wear and tear on the car, tyres etc, add the health benefit I am up on the deal.

So anything that needs replacing I do it guilt free, well almost lol

That must be a thirsty car you have there! I'm saving just under £5 a day in fuel by commuting on the bike based on around 18/19p per mile. Some days I have meetings out and about and have to drive so it's not every day that I'm pedalling, but on average I'll save between £50-£100 a month. (Just fuel).
I probably spend that 4 times over in treats for myself for being a good boy and cycling to work so often!!!

For me it's just not practical to commute every day on the carbon. I don't leave a suit etc in work, so I have a full pannier plus a rack bag with spares and tools. I get a sore back and neck if I commute for a couple of weeks wearing a rucksack.
I happily accept that if I put the luggage weight on the cx i'll be slower, but commuting is about getting to work with your gear ready for a day at work, not about trying to top your best time like a TT. I do have to remind myself of this on a regular basis though!
IMO the CX is an excellent 'do everything' bike, from club rides to commuting to touring, I use it for 95% of my riding... and that riding on the CX makes me a stronger rider on the carbon when I choose to dust it off.

 

[lejogger]

It's nothing to do with frame material - your CX bike will have tractor tyres, the road bike not, plus it will be a fair bit lighter.

I only commute on one bike anyway.

Yes... I guess the title should be Racing bike v commuter or something similar. The time saved is all down to weight and handling...

Oh, and...
Road - Continental Ultra Sport 700x23
CX - Continental Grand Prix 4 Season 700x23