Road race bikes - Anyone ditched carbon?

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Road race bikes - Anyone ditched carbon?

50 posts & 35 voices | Started 7 months ago by scratch | Latest reply from BIGMAN

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crazy-legs - Member

Why are Condor making steel race bikes if its such a bad idea?
And they have been winning Elite races on them!

There'll always be a market for steel / handbuilt exotica or even mid-range stuff. Some people just like it and not everyone who buys a road bike races.
And the Elite guys sponsored by Condor (Rapha - Condor - Sharp) are all on carbon.

My road bike is alu but it weighs less than 17lb which is lighter than a lot of cheaper carbon bikes and it still holds its own. I won a 2/3/4 crit a few months ago on it actually and I've had some reasonable results in road races and other crits.

Posted 7 months ago #
snowpaul - Member

Ti does break - been there.... broken aluminium too but never a steel frame - not tried carbon yet.

Reckon a steel frame is for the long haul as easier to weld / swop a tube out / add braze ons etc but for racing - probably go aluminium / carbon and replace when they age / get damaged

paul

Posted 7 months ago #
billyboy - Member

Road Race Bikes are all dangerous to the rider, no matter what substance they are made of.

I've seen broken Ti road bikes.
I've seen broken Alu road bikes.
I've seen broken Carbon road bikes.

Can't remember seeing a broken steel one ....possibly because there are so few about!!!!!!

Posted 7 months ago #
aracer - Member

Reckon a steel frame is for the long haul as easier to weld / swop a tube out / add braze ons etc but for racing - probably go aluminium / carbon and replace when they age / get damaged

See http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/road-race-bikes-anyone-ditched-carbon#post-3075229

Posted 7 months ago #
simonb512 - Member

I'll put my 2p in, but I know people will disagree and/or call me an idiot.

It's also down to how you ride. If you're a sprinter like me then having a carbon frame is good, but arguably alu would be better as it's probably less flexy.

That being said my current alu frame flexes horrendously when I put the power down (to the point where the wheels start to rub). Yet I'm building up a carbon Dolan at the moment for next season, but I like to sell up and get a new bike per season so if it doesn't work out its only one season.

If you're a spinner then carbon is great/fine and dandy.

Posted 7 months ago #
crazy-legs - Member

If you're a sprinter like me then having a carbon frame is good, but arguably alu would be better as it's probably less flexy.

You can build carbon any way you want to make it stiff or compliant.
Chris Hoy seems to get by fine on a carbon bike and I'm guessing he puts out more power than you do.

Posted 7 months ago #
Mike_D - Member

^ WHS. Also, go find an old Alan if you think aluminium bikes are inherently stiff

Posted 7 months ago #
MrSmith - Member

if you want a steel race bike then don't go for a heavy lugged stovepipe mercian or BJ but get something oversize from the likes of rourke, enigma or if you can stretch the budget a pegoretti or zullo.

there are a few people racing the hillingdon/crystal palace races on steel frames but they are of the modern lightweight oversize type.

Posted 7 months ago #
simonb512 - Member

He does, but cheaper carbon frames seem to have this problem and I imagine he doesnt use the cheap frames and infact probably has a more custom frame.

Posted 7 months ago #
BIGMAN - Member

Not all of them are riding Leggero's...

Did you see the tour or britian? And the IG index crits?

Posted 7 months ago #
Ramsey Neil - Member

TDF bikes arenot allowed to weigh less than 6.8kg which can be achieved with any of the mentioned frame materials with lightweight components bolted on . The fact that all the pros ride carbon tells you what is the best material performance wise . Given that most carbon frames from the big manufacturers come with a good warranty I think you would be foolish to go for anything else .

Posted 7 months ago #
JoB - Member

i ride and race a steel frame, when i'm riding i love my steel frame, when i'm racing i wish i had a carbon one

Posted 7 months ago #
ahwiles - Member

...The fact that all the pros ride carbon tells you what is the best material performance wise...

nah, a carbon frame can have a much more surface area for logos - that's all.

it's all about branding/sponsorship, bigger logos are better, so the pros ride CFRP frames.

see?

(but you wouldn't if he was riding a skinny steel/ti frame)

Posted 7 months ago #
TheDoctor - Member

The fact that all the pros ride carbon tells you what is the best material performance wise

Er NO! the pro's ride what they are TOLD/PAID to ride, there is very little choice in that!

i ride and race a steel frame, when i'm riding i love my steel frame, when i'm racing i wish i had a carbon one

Do you REALLY think you would notice the difference?? Material choice is secondary to build and fit, far more performance differences in those two than what you build it out of!

Posted 7 months ago #
BIGMAN - Member

We're not talking about Pros here tho are we. Just your average jo bloggs.

I admit i have a high end carbon race bike but... I also own a steel race bike i would race at places like crystal palace and other town centre crits. You want somthin you don't mind crashing that you can see damage.

Personally i will be buying one of these soon just for crit racing...

http://www.condorcycles.com/Frame/10650-Condor-Super-Acciaio-Frameset/flypage.tpl.html

Posted 7 months ago #

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