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Carbon Frame Upgrade from High End Alu Frame, Worth it?

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  • March 31, 2015 at 2:29 pm #23634
    greenlight

    Hello All,

    First time post on this fantastic forum after following for many a year.

    After growing up riding many bikes through my youth, I finally jumped on the road cycle band wagon a few of years ago with the fantastic Canyon Ultimate Al 105. What can I say, an incredible bike (thanks road.cc for pointing me in its direction) and one that I really enjoy riding on a daily basis (within reason) through all weathers with the odd century and many a ride out and back into Sussex.

    However after years of being bombarded by the cycling press I am starting to wonder what I might be missing out on Carbon wise. With my 30th coming up in the next few months I thought I would reward myself with the carbon steed that everyone seems to bang on about and seem to acquire with abandon over they’re aluminium brethren.

    HOWEVER I am in two minds as to whether an upgrade to a circa £1700 pound (most likely Canyon or Rose) carbon road bike will really be money well spent given that my current ride hits the scales at 8kg dead (105 and ksyrium equips) and seems to tick all the boxes. In short is Carbon REALLY that much of a revelation over a good quality Alu frame and worth the outlay or am I just being duped by all that marketing hype?? Yes the frame would be a few hundred grams lighter, but that in itself can’t be the deciding factor surely?

    Part of me thinks I could spend the same money and get an outrageous set of wheels and a high end group set rather than a mid-range carbon frame with a step up one wrung in group set and wheel set.

    Thanks in advance.

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Viewing 15 replies - 16 through 30 (of 32 total)
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  • April 1, 2015 at 11:27 am #839687
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    rnarito

    I’ve got both aluminium and
    I’ve got both aluminium and carbon frames and they’re both great bikes. I guess it depends on what you plan on doing the most. If you have alpine climbs in mind, then a carbon frame would be the way to go, but if most of your riding is done on the flat then aluminium will work just fine.

    April 1, 2015 at 11:20 am #839685
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    edster99

    Wheels, and also some really
    Wheels, and also some really high quality tyres (320TPI). I would recommend getting some tubs – they will be lighter, ride nicer, and enhance your whole riding experience. High quality tubs are a joy to ride.

    April 1, 2015 at 11:00 am #839683
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    SPAM Naval

    i’ve recently bought a Canyon
    i’ve recently bought a Canyon Ultimate AL SLX (Ultegra 11 speed) and its an incredible bike (light, comfortable, confident). If I had to choose a bike for a long weekend ride with the club between that and my Scott CR1 Pro, i’d choose the Canyon…so stick with the AL, and invest in wheels and see how you get on

    April 1, 2015 at 5:40 am #839681
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    Nzlucas

    Go to your LBS and do a test
    Go to your LBS and do a test ride, or convince a mate to borrow his bike for a longer ride. Then decide for yourself. Carbon will be comfier but you only get the weight savings as you approach the £2k mark (but you get lower end kit and stock wheels can sometimes be terrible).

    No one has mentioned a power meter, wheels are good but if you want to take training to another level get a PM.

    April 1, 2015 at 5:37 am #839679
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    Nixster

    Law of diminishing returns
    Law of diminishing returns applies really. You’ve already got a good bike, to get a much better bike you’d have to spend much more money, more than your budget I’d suggest.

    Whereas to get much better wheels, not so much money. Simples.

    Lots of carbon wheel options in your budget though!

    March 31, 2015 at 6:37 pm #839677
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    greenlight

    Well that seems pretty
    Well that seems pretty definitive! Must admit I wasn’t expecting such a landslide of opinion in the wheel direction. Thanks all for your sage advice, I think I hear a pair of Spadas beckoning………

    March 31, 2015 at 6:32 pm #839675
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    Stef Marazzi

    I’ve ridden a lot of Carbon
    I’ve ridden a lot of Carbon bikes, Giant TCR, Supersix, Planet X Pro Carbon, Trek Madone. My wife just bought the Ultimate AL, and it is a staggeringly good bike. I would keep it and upgrade the wheels and get a carbon seat post and saddle with carbon rails. Its a fantastic ride. Soft riding, but when you stomp on the pedals it shifts! Keep the Canyon.

    March 31, 2015 at 5:18 pm #839673
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    Manchestercyclist

    I’ve got a kinesis alloy
    I’ve got a kinesis alloy bike, and often get comments from clubmates complaining of the flex in their carbon frames. Don’t waste your money mate, get some decent wheels instead.

    March 31, 2015 at 5:16 pm #839671
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    FullGas

    What the heck happened to
    What the heck happened to n+1? 8}

    Seriously, I have both AL and CF bikes, and I wouldn’t take the AL bike on longer rides. The reason is simple, CF takes a lot of road buzz making my ride a lot more comfier. And I didn’t stop with the frame. Every upgrade I did install CF parts whenever I could, wheels, saddle, seatpost, and handlebars. It costed, but I don’t regret even a bit.

    But hey, don’t take my word for it. Just go to your LBS and look for a test ride to see it for yourself.

    March 31, 2015 at 4:00 pm #839669
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    bobbypuk

    Keep the aluminium frame and
    Keep the aluminium frame and spend the money on a trip to warmer climes for you and your bike.

    March 31, 2015 at 3:53 pm #839667
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    2 Wheeled Idiot

    no.
    Spend the cash on some
    no.
    Spend the cash on some nice new clothing or wheels+tyres. this will have more an impact on your enjoyment than anything else.

    March 31, 2015 at 3:35 pm #839665
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    sincadena

    Gone back to racing on alloy,
    Gone back to racing on alloy, ive got a kinesis aithein and a bmc rm.. both with the same kit & geometry (with ultegra 6800) the bmc is lovely, but I actually prefer the alloy, it feels better, and if i trash it its not going to cost the earth. if you’re happy with what you have then stick with it. let’s face it carbon isn’t really going to make that much of a difference, as to say loosing 5kgs of body weight 😉

    on the other hand if your existing bike is trashed….

    March 31, 2015 at 3:09 pm #839663
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    Yorkshie Whippet

    Are you really unhappy with
    Are you really unhappy with the bike you have?
    Yes= Carbon
    No= wheels

    Simples!

    March 31, 2015 at 3:09 pm #839661
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    jontysa

    Wheels are the most important
    Wheels are the most important upgrade you can make to your bike, no question, especially if you have a top quality frame which fits you, which you do. You will notice the difference way more than anything else.

    March 31, 2015 at 2:59 pm #839659
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    dave atkinson

    i’d blow some wedge on a set
    i’d blow some wedge on a set of shiny wheels, myself. and maybe one of those nice VCLS ‘posts that Canyon do

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