Thinking of getting a £1K road bike (prob. Boardman), should I go for carbon or steel?
Carbon. And for £1K the Boardman carbon looks like a cracking deal too. [url= http://www.boardmanbikes.com/road/road_team_carbon.html ]Boardman Website[/url] I also don't know what off the peg Steel road bikes you can get for £1K.
Steel on road bikes tends to be rather niche nowadays and IMHO Carbon, Ti & Alu are much better frame materials unless you are paying top end whack for a lovely custom machine in an exotic blend.
why not aluminium?
steel frames stuggle to get under 1700g
carbon frames are very much dependant on the desginers skill. Hence a 1k bike could well be a bit pants.
Ive got a canondale CAAD frame, very steel like in its handling, much more comforable than other road bikes ive tried.
I'd go aluminum and carbon fork and seat post.
Only if it's your first road bike as you'll crash a bit until you're a master then go carbon and enter sportives etc.
If you're already into road bikes-go carbon.
sorry, I meant carbon or aluminium...doh!
Carbon is a nicer ride
May depend on little on how much you are going to use it and state of the roads etc where you ride.
I have ridden carbon road bikes for about the last 4 years and have had 3 of them they all ride differently but all of them including even my stiffest and superlight Tour level frame (Felt F1) provide a much more comfortable and compliant ride than my previous top end triple butted aluminium job.
The difference when you first ride a carbon frame is substantial - really like riding on a magic carpet.
That said if you riding is limited to perhaps 2-3 hours rides then alu may not cause you too much fatigue. Although personally I would say the benefits of carbon are there from the off and not just on longer endurance rides.
No looking back for me once I switched to carbon. I also prefer carbon over Ti from a ride perspective although accept Ti provides the classic timeless look etc
full carbon for £1200?
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got the DuraAce special silly deal fro MRs Stoner last year for £900 and its a superb bike