I have loads of them, I have carbon as my best bike now, the handbuilt steelie lives on the turbo.
Is a top end bike worth it?
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I have loads of them, I have carbon as my best bike now, the handbuilt steelie lives on the turbo.
adamangler
Veteran
- Location
- Wakefield
I meant an old 1980s cheap heavy thing with down tube shifters and nasty narrow bars. I have one and it's awfull compared to a modern carbon bike or an alloy bike
vickster
Legendary Member
Or a modern steel bike. I prefer to ride my Genesis (£400 frameset) over the carbon or Alu
raleighnut
Legendary Member
- Location
- One of the 'Elite'
Lets see
- 1980s build - check
- Downtube shifters - check
- Narrow Handlebars - yeah maybe
- Reynolds 531c frame handbrazed in Worksop
[QUOTE 4690546, member: 9609"]I only have the one bike, late 80s steel frame with down the tube shifters and I have never really rode any other bikes. What would I notice in a high spec carbon bike, sure its going to be a bit lighter but probably no lighter than my variance in my own fat belly and I can't say I notice that very much. What would blow my socks off with a state of the art bike?[/QUOTE]
Go and try one. Certainly cheaper to lose a pound off the belly than a pound off of the bike though.
In my road bikes I have 653 steel, Ali with carbon forks and a full carbon. They are all nice bikes to ride.
Go and try one. Certainly cheaper to lose a pound off the belly than a pound off of the bike though.
In my road bikes I have 653 steel, Ali with carbon forks and a full carbon. They are all nice bikes to ride.
Tin Pot
Guru
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
I've just bought a titanium rack for my steel bike, to enable me to carry more unnecessary crap. 
There's a moral there somewhere. Just not sure where.
There's a moral there somewhere. Just not sure where.
Salty seadog
Space Cadet...(3rd Class...)
Haha, Maslow's hierarchy of needs....
- Location
- London
yes, used by many companies for entirely cynical reasons.
I would have thought that quoting that would argue against a really really top end bike for those who have no need to win the Tour/feel that they have to impress anyone.
I would have thought that quoting that would argue against a really really top end bike for those who have no need to win the Tour/feel that they have to impress anyone.
I think very few people buy a bike just to impress, I feel they do it because they can afford to.
A man on lot wiser than myself (not hard) told me people often do not like what they cannot afford and see no reason why those that can would waste their money on it. I was talking cars with but the lines stuck in my head.
A man on lot wiser than myself (not hard) told me people often do not like what they cannot afford and see no reason why those that can would waste their money on it. I was talking cars with but the lines stuck in my head.
martint235
Dog on a bike
- Location
- Welling
[QUOTE 4690546, member: 9609"]I only have the one bike, late 80s steel frame with down the tube shifters and I have never really rode any other bikes. What would I notice in a high spec carbon bike, sure its going to be a bit lighter but probably no lighter than my variance in my own fat belly and I can't say I notice that very much. What would blow my socks off with a state of the art bike?[/QUOTE]
From experience, it would feel tighter and with less flex in it when you apply power which is really what carbon is all about: the lightest way to transfer the most power from the pedals to the road. However if you rode any distance on it, you'd also become, possibly painfully, aware of "road buzz" as the bike also transfers everything from the road to you.
From experience, it would feel tighter and with less flex in it when you apply power which is really what carbon is all about: the lightest way to transfer the most power from the pedals to the road. However if you rode any distance on it, you'd also become, possibly painfully, aware of "road buzz" as the bike also transfers everything from the road to you.
vickster
Legendary Member
Maslow needs to learn how to spell
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
There's a goldilocks classification, isn't there.
And just like the universe, we are each precisely at the centre.
- Too cheap: Cheap bikes that really aren't worth riding. Anyone riding these is a fool who doesn't really appreciate bikes properly, and is fooling themselves that their bike is adequate.
- Too expensive: These bikes are purely status symbols. Anyone riding these has all the gear and no idea, and pretentiously makes up spurious benefits.
- Just right: My bike.
And just like the universe, we are each precisely at the centre.
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- Location
- London
a certain truth in what you say but I was talking about super top end. And I think that there's little doubt that some folk buy stuff to impress/indulge in retail therapy, when they would be better off just getting in tune with the pastime they have chosen. Super top end stuff can also of course be more stressful/involve more maintenance, highly strung as it is. Not a problem for its intended use of course.
I think I can also, hand on heart, say that my two most expensive bikes are not my favourites. I should also point out that I'm not a racer so, personally, there are certain things I don't need.
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I would disagree on the road buzz bit, the stiffness in a well designed bike is where it needs to be, the flex likewise. From experience of longish ride on most types of bike I say my carbon is a comfortable as all the other bikes i have owned.
That said what type of carbon do you ride?
