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Alloy Vs. Carbon Frame Question

  • This topic has 11 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated 11 years ago by cyclebeatz.
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  • June 17, 2015 at 7:54 pm #24262
    cyclebeatz

    Hi there,

    I am about to buy my first road bike and normally I
    wanted grab a carbon bike until I saw this video about it:

    Is this 100% sure about what he say in this video?
    I mean carbon breaks , alloy breaks and steel too right?

    It’s easy to show some movies and pictures about broken carbon stuff
    and telling then the stuff is shit. It would be the same to snow broken
    alloy or steel parts who broken while cycling right?

    If carbon is so shitty why its used everywhere in mountain bikes?
    I mean, these bikes need to be very strong for all these crazy stunts
    and mountain rides right? If there breaks something, then its hospital time…

    Is it not all about what kind of carbon it is?
    and not the matter of fact that it is carbon?

    Same with steel there are good ones and bad ones
    and if someone use bad ones then they break faster as usally….

    Here is a test I found – carbon vs. alloy:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xreZdUBqpJs

    I am just curious and new to the cycle world
    and want be 100% sure I do the right thing.

    The test looks pretty interesting and shows that
    alloy breaks faster then carbon…

    And then there are videos where you can see
    how easy carbon can breaks:

    I think its not because its carbon that its all breaks same easy way – its about what kind of
    stuff is used and how strong the carbon is in the frame or whatever part of the bike or I am wrong?

    It must be like this.. Why else company’s would
    use a weak stuff who breaks after one impact?

    it could be the end if someone would use a carbon frame
    and jump from a mountain and break his head.

    Ofc alloy is much cheaper and there are some frames
    who are also so lightweight as carbon and the money can be
    saved for other things as buying overpriced carbon frames.

    I think, there are different types of carbon. Weak and powerful frames.
    Carbon is not carbon if I see it right and you can get a cheap carbon frame
    or a expensive frame who is very very strong.

    I would like to read what the experts say about this.

    I has read some very scary crash stories in the first
    video at the very top from people who had crashes on carbon fiber frames.

    Here are some other videos I found on YouTube:

    cyclebeatz

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  • June 20, 2015 at 12:55 pm #850743
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    cyclebeatz

    Thanks for the really nice
    Thanks for the really nice answers guys!

    Well I has read some horror stories about carbon and
    was a little bit scary if it’s really so bad like I has read / watched
    on different websites and forums…

    Just for the record – I want a road bike and don’t want make stunts with it
    or use it as mountain bike. Only for cycling the roads.

    But like everyone, I want be on the save side. If you guys would read and see some horror stories and movies about exploding carbon bikes it’s only natural that peoples who are new in the cycling world would be worried about, what if I ever have a crash? What if I ever ride fast downhill and hit a little stone who will made explode the carbon wheels / frame?

    Now I know it’s like I has guessed b4 – It’s not about the fact that its
    Carbon its sh*t and will fail, its about the fact that there are
    different quality’s of carbon – strong and weak carbon.

    I just wanted to be sure I don’t make a error if I would buy
    me a Carbon bike. And has asked you before I do it.

    I am sure most of you has experiences for many many years.

    June 19, 2015 at 12:12 pm #850741
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    alotronic

    All of the above. I have a
    All of the above. I have a steel, ti, carbon and alloy bikes and they all have benefits and tradeoffs. I was suspicious of carbon at first after decades of metal bikes it feels weird to be on a plastic bike – but it’s good too (my fastest bike). I am consciously more careful of it as don’t want drop anything heavy and sharp on it and I *believe* that carbon will shatter rather than deform.

    So if you are prone to paranoia then get a metal bike as you will – generally – be able to see the damage.

    Don’t forget to enjoy your new bike!

    June 19, 2015 at 11:51 am #850739
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    Simon E

    Nixster wrote:It’s not about

    Nixster wrote:
    It’s not about what it’s made from it’s about how well it’s made.

    All materials have their limitations. A good designer will take these into account in the frame design. A well designed frame in whichever material will not be the cheapest of its type. Hence the ‘cheap carbon is not as good as top end aluminium’ comments, although these days the overlap in price between decent carbon and top end aluminium is a lot greater than it used to be, especially when you’re looking at complete bikes.

    Ultimately, for a first bike, go for a reputable brand and buy whichever bike fits you, your needs and your budget and don’t fret about what it’s made from.

    +1.

    Don’t believe the hype but neither should you set too much store by scare stories.

    June 19, 2015 at 8:28 am #850737
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    Nixster

    It’s not about what it’s made
    It’s not about what it’s made from it’s about how well it’s made.

    All materials have their limitations. A good designer will take these into account in the frame design. A well designed frame in whichever material will not be the cheapest of its type. Hence the ‘cheap carbon is not as good as top end aluminium’ comments, although these days the overlap in price between decent carbon and top end aluminium is a lot greater than it used to be, especially when you’re looking at complete bikes.

    Ultimately, for a first bike, go for a reputable brand and buy whichever bike fits you, your needs and your budget and don’t fret about what it’s made from.

    June 19, 2015 at 7:53 am #850735
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    Yorkshie Whippet

    It all depends on your
    It all depends on your budget.

    There are lots of people smashing happily around on the likes of Planet Pro Carbon frames that came fully built for £1000. There again Madison Genisis Team rode steel frames for the Pro Tour Series last year. (Not sure what they are on now).

    As said before, all materials will fail. Back in the days, I snapped enough silly lightweight alloy handlebars and wheel rims whilst mtbing. I’ve also snapped a steel frame during my time. But I’d not knock someone for riding on either material.

    Another thing to consider is how many Youtube videos are of people quite happily ride carbon bikes with no cares in the world and have no problems with the frame?? A lot of people will turn to the internet to rant about how shit something is because it was pushed over it’s design limits and they thought it should have been stonger. “Oh I spent a £1k on a carbon bike, jump a 20 foot gap and it snapped on landing, poor me, avoid “X Brand” they are crap…….” Just imagine watching a 6hr ride where nothing happens.

    Decide on what characteristics you want from a bike, light, springy comforatable, stiff, areo… and then look at what’s available in your price range. Weigh up if you want a good frame and cheaper parts or good parts with a cheaper frame.

    June 18, 2015 at 4:52 pm #850733
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    wellcoordinated

    Go titanium it’s the only
    Go titanium it’s the only way.

    June 18, 2015 at 1:49 pm #850731
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    jackhannaford

    I hear that Alu / Steel will
    I hear that Alu / Steel will hold up better over time but I’ve only owned aluminium bikes.

    Get an Alu bike, carbon fork and some decent wheels for the price of a full carbon bike.

    June 18, 2015 at 1:42 pm #850729
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    2 Wheeled Idiot

    I knew it was going to be
    I knew it was going to be that nutter durianrider before I even clicked on the link, I ignore this guys advice in principle….. He believes 30 (or something like that) bananas a day is good for him =))

    June 18, 2015 at 1:30 pm #850727
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    Poptart242

    If I stamped on a fork
    If I stamped on a fork sideways I’d expect it to snap. Not sure what any of these videos prove.

    Simple: Cheap carbon frames are usually not as good as decent aluminium frames. Depending on your budget, and if you’re concerned about crashing (and you seem to be?) then go alu so that you can replace/repair it more cheaply.

    June 18, 2015 at 1:25 pm #850725
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    Judge dreadful

    Alloy warps and bends, and
    Alloy warps and bends, and eventually fails ( over a long period of time). Carbon fails suddenly, usually without much warning, but usually only if there’s been an issue at manufacture (cheap Chinese Carbon etc.), or if you shock it by crashing, or if you clamp the frame, not the seat post, in a work stand, all in my experience / humble opinion (of course).

    June 18, 2015 at 1:15 pm #850723
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    BobbyG

    Calm down dear
    Calm down dear <:P

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