Narrowed my choice to alu and carbon, finish kit is about the same and there's 300 quid difference. Is carbon the way to go?
I'd say it was more about geometry and 'feel' than a pure material choice?
Ride both, buy the one you prefer.
had both, liked both. Alu=harder ride but generally more responsive (talking at the lower end of the budget) - I love my new carbon esp for longer rides but doesn't seem to accelerate as well up a steep climb 🙂
I've been happily doing centuries(ish) on two aluminium frames now. The first had pretty chunky seatstays but seemed fine, the second (a CAAD9) has very skinny seatstays and has thus far been very comfy, even on some dodgy roads with a very thin saddle.
Thats not to say carbon isn't comfier, I wouldn't know, but if the aluminium bike is a similar weight then I wouldn't be in a hurry to buy carbon.
Generalisations are not good and mk1fan and wwaswas have it.
Don't expect carbon to be comfier necessarily. Some racier bikes are designed to be very stiff so that they don't flex when sprinting. Even the carbon Boardman Team is supposed to be quite stiff as opposed to comfy.
Ride both, buy the one you prefer.
+1
Carbon doesn't necessarily mean better (for you or in general).
I have just made the transition from Alu to carbon. Before I test rode the Carbon one I didn't think I'd notice the difference but the carbon frame is a million times better in every way. The Carbon frame is so comfy and the acceleration is amazing due to the stiffness.
I'd imagine all frames are not the same but it's definately worth trying both to get a feel.
I ride a road bike that has a alu front triangle with carbon seat & chain stays, most excellent it is too
I also ride an alu front/carbon rear stay bike and a full carbon mutha.
For me, the full carbon mo-fo is by far the comfiest...............for me (near identical geometry, despite being from different manufacturers)
hmmm, some interesting opinions there. The material is only a component in how the bike will ride - it's all in the design.
I have a Cube Agree GTC Race - people say it's a good bike, it's full carbon, and it is a good bike - poops all over the planet x full carbon I had. However, I also have a BMC SLC 01, and it's stiffer, lighter, stronger, more compliant and rides completely differently, and in a way I much much prefer.
Then having ridden a Cannondale CAAD 9, the ride of that dicks all over both the cube and planet x in my opinion, but still isn't a patch on the BMC.
So, the net of that is that one aluminium frame will ride differently to another and likewise any carbon.
Best thing you can do is find a store with a choice of brands and ride a few - don't set the budget until you have (ok, set the upper limit, but definitely not the lower).