Ti road bikes

Any of you chosen Ti over carbon for your road bike?

For one of them, aye.

I’m after my first road bike and a choice of Ti (used) or carbon (new). Distance and fitness is my aim.

The only answer to such a dilemma is to have one of each. If you can’t afford that you’ll have to settle for one. But which ever you choose soon after there will be a nagging doubt the other would have been better. And then you’ll have to think up some excuse to sell it.

You are not going to get your money back on a second hand carbon so the logical path is get the Ti one first.

Personally I’d go carbon though. But then you could do some light touring on a Ti. But everyone else has carbon. But then a nice steel might be better suited as an all rounder, and so on. Welcome to the fold.

I have a Planet x ti sportive with dura ace, I think I will never sell it and it would be fine as my only ever road bike. However a nice nano carbon with SRAM red looks mighty tempting for a bit of variety.

One of each here.

Ti for winter

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Clean & Shiny again[/url] by simondbarnes[/url], on Flickr

Carbon for summer

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Needs a pink saddle[/url] by simondbarnes[/url], on Flickr

+1 Planet x ti sportive

A bargain that is great to ride

buy yourself a Litespeed Sienna – a ti frame with carbon fork and carbon seat stays!

Recently swapped my PX Sportive for a racier carbon bike expecting it to be pretty harsh, but its just as comfy.

Ti is much harder wearing though and will retain its second hand value better.

one of each here too. Carbon is lighter and faster (Giant TCR) but the ti (Airborne) is a fantastic all round road bike, and I can see myself keeping it for a long time.

If I could only have one then it’d be a tough call but I’d probably end up giving the nod to ti.

I’m beginning to think for the same money the Ti might be the better buy for a first time roadie.

Yep, love it. 🙂

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Lynskey Cooper, Chorus 11 spd.

It’s not just about the material – I’d take a good ti frame over an average carbon fibre one or a good carbon fibre frame over an average ti. I have a Planet X Ti Pro Race – made by Lynskey – and it’s a lovely balance between a supple ride, think-and-it’s-there steering and great power transfer, but that’s not necessarily because it’s made of ti, it’s because the geometry’s right and Lynskey knows how to make really good ti frames.

Personally I’d rather have a good ti frame than an equally good carbon one because, I dunno, there’s something warm and organic about ti that plastic doesn’t really have. But of course, that’s a ridiculous and subjective and probably rationalising-the-extra-expenditure take on it.

I’d buy whatever rides best within your budget… Hmm, in reality I’d probably simply buy another Lynskey-made ti frame, but hey, what’s logic got to do with anything?

I’m loving the irony in someone saying that a ti bike is more organic than a carbon one.

Planet X Ti Sportive for distance, Planet X SL Pro Carbon for speed

I’d take a good ti frame over an average carbon fibre one or a good carbon fibre frame over an average ti

A good Ti frame costs a lot more than a good carbon frame though, pound for pound you will get a lot more going carbon.

Nah, the planet x Ti sportive isn’t any more expensive than a good carbon frame, and it’s lovely. I went for one as I was looking for a year round do it all road bike. Built it up reasonably tough and it’s fit the bill perfectly so far.

I’m loving the irony in someone saying that a ti bike is more organic than a carbon one.

Yeah, but you knew exactly what I was saying.

A good Ti frame costs a lot more than a good carbon frame though, pound for pound you will get a lot more going carbon.

Well, if you’re going to be precise about it – and this is single precision world after all – I actually did say that it makes rational sense to buy the best riding frame made from either carbon or ti within your budget and the OP’s comparing second-hand ti with new carbon, no?

Err, how was I being pedantic?, I was stating an opinion. The OP didn’t mention what frames he was considering or how old the SH Ti frame was.

Err, how was I being pedantic?, I was stating an opinion.

Who’s being pedantic now?

BWD, nice series of stealth editing.

Series?

Get a Brian Rourke 853 so it is…..
With Super Record…

I own a Lynskey Cooper and a Crvelo S3

The S3 builds up to 14pounds and the Lynskey to 16.7. If i am completley honest if i am just training i ofter ride the Lynskey fo the added comfort it gives on some of the shit roads in the South East..

Cervelo only sems to come out for racing these days. The Cervelo is marginally stiffer around the BB area so feels a bit more direct. But do you really need a super stiff frame unless your racing??

I fitted my race wheels to the Lynskey for a long day out last week and it rode even nicer that it does normally with hope hoops on…

For 90% of rding i don’t think you can go wrong with a Ti. Oh my S3 frame was £3300.. The Cooper 899!!!

That Brian Rourke is a nice looking frame.

Yes but I’ve just sold it 🙁

Simondbarnes just out of curiosity what size is that Specialized and how tall are you?

Simondbarnes just out of curiosity what size is that Specialized and how tall are you?

It’s a 54,I’m about 5’7″

If you want it, then I may sell it, fancy an SL3…

Thanks, but I was just looking at frame only. And like the OP still trying to decide between carbon and Ti.

I have two Ti road frames and no carbon ones

Get a Van Nicholas, great service, cheap as chips and perfectly good frames

+1 on Van Nicholas. I’ve got their Euros with Campag Centaur and some nice, classic silver Ambrosio wheels (none of your black rimmed, aero-blade-spoked, covered-in-stickers wheels for me).

I specced it with the main thought of creating a bike that could last me the rest of my life. I think to fully qualify, it really needs a nice Brooks Swallow saddle on it.

Carbon or ti? Nice problem to have.