Yet another reason to avoid carbon frames

[djnotts]

Old, cheap, steel.

Hardly fashion-driven!

[Mick F]

The main advantages of carbon are for the manufacturer - higher selling price and built-in obsolescence.

This has a ring of truth about it.

[Gmtanderson]

Some of my comments slightly tongue-in-cheek, altho I do change bikes quite frequently, if less so than in the past. I certainly don't follow fashion dictates. My most oft ridden bike since I acquired it about a year ago is an early 90s hand built 531 tourer, altho I do not tour! Next an original '95 Fire Mountain.
My carbon ktm was ex-demo, nearest I have bought to "new" for about 15 years. Chosen because carbon triples thin on the ground. I always let someone else take the big depreciation hit!
I would however very much like carbon with room for big tyres and guards and triple-like low gearing. My lung.capacity is very limited and I need all the help I can get on hills.
Carbon rigid on my "modern" steel Kona Blink with 2" tyres also helps my damaged wrists.
I do modify nearly all my bikes for gearing and comfort, but once done I have tended to move to the next project. I bore easily!
This practice is lessening. Health dictates that almost certainly less than 18 months of cycling (and indeed living) left to me so the 5 bikes I have will see me out!
Many of my fellow local CTC riders use carbon and I have come across no premature failures.

I have the tightest of tightest clothes! another advantage is the lightness, stiffness and also less vibration. Some people don’t have 4K to spend on a bike and some do. It isn’t all manufacturing nonsense to sell the bikes at a higher price. Like I say it depends on what you want from a bike, if I’m riding a heavier less aero steel bike I will have to put in more watts to hold the same speed and that’s just science.

[reohn2]

TBH aerodynamics and bikes is bonkers because a crosswind,which is inevitable on most rides,can negate aero to the point of reversing it,and anyway fat lads are faster downhill

[Gmtanderson]

As with anything it’s all personal preference, I’m in my late twenties and absolutely love belting about as fast as I can with my heart beating out of my chest like I’m about to have a cardiac arrest. For me carbon does it best, I like the lightness, stiffness and aerodynamics. I would also like a nice steel bike for pottering around on and using as a pub bike, something with a tanned brown leather seat and cool bar tape

Enjoy what you enjoy, if you want go balls to the floor fast get a carbon machine, if you want to read the daily express and wear a neckerchief get a steel bike

Love, love and love.

The frame is a very small component of total drag. Maybe get some tighter clothes.

The main advantages of carbon are for the manufacturer - higher selling price and built-in obsolescence.[/ have the tightest of tightest clothes! another advantage is the lightness, stiffness and also less vibration. Some people don’t have 4K to spend on a bike and some do. It isn’t all manufacturing nonsense to sell the bikes at a higher price. Like I say it depends on what you want from a bike, if I’m riding a heavier less aero steel bike I will have to put in more watts to hold the same speed and that’s just science

This was what I was trying to reply to sorry for the wrong post!

[Mick F]

Aerodynamics ............

Try a Moulton TSR.

[reohn2]

The main advantages of carbon are for the manufacturer - higher selling price and built-in obsolescence.

This has a ring of truth about it.

+1

[djnotts]

The main advantages of carbon are for the manufacturer - higher selling price and built-in obsolescence.

This has a ring of truth about it.

+1

The obsolesence is increasingly in the components, not the carbon frames, which with moderate care are I am sure good for at least 10 years. Even one of the early Planet X super lights that I had and must now be 12 - 15 years old is doing big fast rides with the friend to whom I sold it as a return favour.

[Brucey]

…. Hardly fashion-driven!

especially the bar tape....?....



cheer

[paddler]

…. Hardly fashion-driven!

especially the bar tape....?....



cheer

Hooray!

[djnotts]

…. Hardly fashion-driven!

especially the bar tape....?....



cheer

"The workers' flag is red and black ....."

[jimlews]

…. Hardly fashion-driven!

especially the bar tape....?....



cheer

"The workers' flag is red and black ....."

Never mind the bar tape... what are the bars? Make, model etc. They look a bit like the '50s Philippe.

[gxaustin]

I think many who knock carbon bikes do so without any real world experience.Some people don't like modern bikes full-stop.Some don't like Allu bikes.There are cyclists out there who like the old fashioned curved forks and skinny steel frames,even on a new bike,they are never going to like an aero carbon bike.What some see as a natural progression in technology others see as heresy

Maybe I'm unusual then.
I love my self build skinny tubed 853 steel bike, curved forks and all. It absorbs shocks really well, fits me and handles well too.
I also love my Carbon road bike. It fits well and is somewhat lighter than the 25" steel bike. It has push in BB and this must have done at least 15,000 miles with no discernable play.
Both have Ultegra 11sp. Interestingly the cassette went straight on the 20 year old Mavic Cosmos wheels. How's that for future proofing?

[rfryer]

As with anything it’s all personal preference

Absolutely. It's just that a lot of people's personal preference is based on quite limited personal experience and knowledge and is influenced heavily by manufacturers' marketing.

And a lot of people's personal preference is based on quite limited personal experience and knowledge and influenced heavily by familiarity with decades old technology, which while solid, reliable and economical, may be far less fun to use than the latest toys.

[JohnW]

20200814_114340.jpgHardly fashion-driven!

Who built the frame?