Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
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Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby AlMac » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:40 pm
Does anyone have experience riding Carbon v Aluminium generally on MTBs and if so did you think there was any substantive benefit in going to Carbon?
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby alchemist » Wed Aug 17, 2011 8:56 pm
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby ldrcycles » Wed Aug 17, 2011 9:00 pm
Don't know how helpful that is but that's the experience i've had .
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Aug 17, 2011 11:37 pm
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby Mugglechops » Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:58 pm
With the same components it weighed the same. It also felt a little flexy in the front end.
I sold it before I broke it, I just never trusted it.
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby trailgumby » Fri Aug 19, 2011 8:55 am
Given that you want flex tightly controlled for duallies, that reduces the choice to aluminium.
Although, he did hint recently that he was looking closely at a Yeti Big Top 29er (a hardtail), which has a carbon rear triangle. The Yeti Oz distributor Paul Rowney has a reputation for outstanding customer service that from all accounts is well earned.
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby gcouyant » Fri Aug 26, 2011 7:55 am
AlMac, the Anthem frame in carbon is excellent. It feels more precise and tougher than the hydro formed alloy frame and I measure nearly 200g lighter. Given that you live in Perth and are looking at trail work and some XC racing then it's a solid choice. As long as you are happy with the dynamics because it's a pretty quick handling bike compared to most other XC makes and models. The head is good and rigid so make sure that the fork you run compliments this. A bonus here is that you can climb all over the front end with confidence and let the rear dance around in the awful pea gravel you guys are cursed with.....AlMac wrote:I'm considering going to a Carbon MTB for my next XC full suspension rig, most likely a Giant Anthem. It'll be for general trail riding, with some race enduro, but primarily trail work.
Does anyone have experience riding Carbon v Aluminium generally on MTBs and if so did you think there was any substantive benefit in going to Carbon?
In the past, carbon frames varied markedly from manufacturer to manufacturer though today, we're getting past the "fad" stage where Sales rushed a product to market without proper understanding of the manufacturing techniques. I guess another thing to consider is frame warranty but certainly the carbon Anthem is out there in enough numbers to have earned a reputation as being robust. Be aware that most manufacturers warranty applies to the original purchaser only.
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby AlMac » Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:48 pm
Tough call. Better get some riding done.
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby fringe_dweller » Sun Aug 28, 2011 7:21 pm
If you can manage it, get a ride on a demo from your LBS and see if you like how it feels. Compare it with other bikes and make your choice.
Grant
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby AlMac » Thu Sep 15, 2011 5:52 pm
I went riding and went carbon in the end.AlMac wrote:Better get some riding done.
It wasn't carbon v aluminium so much as the complete component and spec package for the dollar. I was offered a 2011 Anthem X Advanced SL1 at pretty much the retail price of the 2011 Anthem X1 Aluminium. So it made a lot of sense, and there were some specs I didn't like in the Anthem X range this year that would have easily eaten up any price difference between aluminium and carbon in my case. If I had to wear the full price gap, then I would have gone aluminium.
I don't suffer carbon phobia, so that didn't come into it. I came to the conclusion that on any well built frame, whatever the material, if you hammer it it's going to get damaged and potentially fail.
The Giant carbon frame has a life time warranty.
SantaCruz have said their carbon is as strong, or stronger, than their aluminium.
Trek have successfully used it on their downhill rig.
And if you still aren't convinced, you can always watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_O9PLorYPA
Once I've had a chance to do a reasonable amount of riding I'll post back some thoughts on the ride.
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby gcouyant » Thu Sep 15, 2011 6:12 pm
Sensational choice! You will no doubt rediscover just how exciting the tracks around Perth can be - and just how much fun it is to be out on a good Mountain Bike. You'll also have the native orchids going nuts too so plenty of photo opportunities to contrast that luscious carbon finish on the SL frame.AlMac wrote:I went riding and went carbon in the end.AlMac wrote:Better get some riding done.
It wasn't carbon v aluminium so much as the complete component and spec package for the dollar. I was offered a 2011 Anthem X Advanced SL1 at pretty much the retail price of the 2011 Anthem X1 Aluminium.
Congrats!
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby jbchybridrider » Sat Oct 15, 2011 12:44 pm
Acceleration on hills is awesome.
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Re: Aluminium v Carbon riding experiences
Postby AlMac » Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:30 am
Reasonable amount of riding thoughts.AlMac wrote:Once I've had a chance to do a reasonable amount of riding I'll post back some thoughts on the ride.
Frame has held up well. No more damaged than my AL frame. Rocks pinging up into the bottom of the down tube from Perth's wonderful pea gravel trails make nice dulled pinging sounds off carbon.
I would hope that my next upgrade is to swap out worn running gear in and keep this frame.
Rides lovely.
Fast, smooth and precise. It's a very point and shoot experience.
Climbing is excellent - I enjoy uphill more than ever.
But, these are characteristics of the frame design, more than it being carbon. The carbon doesn't create these characteristics, but it has been used very well to enhance them.
So the carbon provides an incremental improvement to what is already a very good frame design (if you are after fast point and shoot). It's still great in AL, just incrementally better in carbon.
Would I have just as much fun on AL - yes I would and my mates riding with me do.
I think it looks great. Naked carbon look - will it ever go out of style? Not in my book.
But, there are some things which are bigger improvements than carbon which I would look for first and in my view offer a lot more than carbon does in the improvement chain:
1. Tubeless wheel system and low pressure. Getting tyre pressure into the low 20s is a huge ride gain for me. I'll probably drop it a little more.
2. Full Suspension, is the other great ride improvement. Obviously for the hits, but even more so for the way the back wheel tracks and holds the dirt.
3. Thru axle on the front. The way it firms up the steering on the front fork is a huge improvement. QR is hopefully dead.
So, carbon is another incremental improvement.
Sorted carbon should improve an already sorted AL frame design, but don't expect any quantum leap.
You need to not to be allergic to the thought of carbon on MTBs - you need to trust that it'll be fine or you won't be happy riding it. And for some of us, that's a bridge too far.
As I said at the outset, I got an awesome deal on a 2011 bike. 2012 would have got me into the fantastic new XT groupset and 2 x 10, but really riding isn't about applying the brakes and changing gears. So I took a bit of an XT compromise, got a great price and a great bike.
I'd happily do it again.
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