Postby europa » Fri Jan 26, 2007 11:04 am
Modern carbon bikes are safe - they don't take the punishment of steel, nor of aluminium, but we're talking crash damage, not riding around damage. Good carbon frames haven't been around long enough to know whether they'll last as well as your old Cannondale. Most horror stories with carbon relate to the older technology or to people who didn't realise that carbon often/usually breaks from the inside out, to people who kept riding the thing after a crash. However, to claim that going to carbon is a great step up from anything else is just elitist bulldust - a good frame is more than just the material. What you will be getting, is a bike with more refined geometry (one would hope), certainly more modern thoughts on geometry. You will probably be getting a bike that is lighter, but we're still talking less than a full bottle of water. You'll probably be getting a bike that is more comfortable - the early aluminium bikes suffered a harsh ride which carbon can be used to reduce, but as you describe your old girl as 'much loved', I'd have to wonder if that is an issue.
Gears. I'm guessing you've got down tube shifters. If so, going to brifters is a big step forward. Modern gear systems change quickly and silently, so you will notice a big improvement there. The braking will probably be a lot better ... things have improved over the years.
However, 105 is the baseline racing gear (it's good stuff, don't let me give you the wrong impression, you'll be happy with it). Seeing you love your old bike, how about giving her a birthday and treating her to a modern groupset. You may need to have the rear triangle reset and that may be an issue with aluminium, but it may not be either (nor may you need it, I don't know). That way you'll be able to go one step further to Ultegra (no need to go to DuraAce unless you are racing) and shout her a new set of wheels while you're at it. Cripes, you could even try Campy. Just another option.
Richard