Carbon rear triangle? Carbon rear seat stay? Should I care?

[Craig]

I've been looking around for a new road frame for the past few months and
every single frame seems to have some carbon thrown onto it somewhere or
another. Carbon seat stays, carbon chain stays. All the blurbs claim that
this wonderful bit of carbon will make the frame a dream to ride! Reducing
road vibration, smoothing out the bumps, etc. What gives??? Any truth in
advertising or is this all the more to sell a few more frames?

I remember an article that Sheldon Brown wrote back around the turn of the
century (no not circa 1900, although Sheldon may own a few bikes that old,
circa 2001.) debunking frame material legend and myth.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[John Rees]

"Craig" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:l4eMc.33341$Sh.30177@lakeread06...
| I've been looking around for a new road frame for the past few months
and
| every single frame seems to have some carbon thrown onto it somewhere
or
| another. Carbon seat stays, carbon chain stays. All the blurbs claim
that
| this wonderful bit of carbon will make the frame a dream to ride!
Reducing
| road vibration, smoothing out the bumps, etc. What gives??? Any
truth in
| advertising or is this all the more to sell a few more frames?

Many will agree that the most important issue is that the bike fits you.
Then come other things like good wheels, components and whether it's a
colour you like. At the bottom of the list is frame material. Because
if you aren't sure of the difference, you will likely not notice a
difference between any of them.

All- aluminium seems to be the cheapest way to make a bike frame, and
very good aluminium ones can still be found. Saving money here allows
better stuff elsewhere, like in the wheels for exmaple.

Whatever you do, stay away from Bamboo !

 

[Arthur Harris]

"Craig" wrote:
> I've been looking around for a new road frame for the past few months and
> every single frame seems to have some carbon thrown onto it somewhere or
> another. Carbon seat stays, carbon chain stays. All the blurbs claim
that
> this wonderful bit of carbon will make the frame a dream to ride!
Reducing
> road vibration, smoothing out the bumps, etc. What gives???

That's been the fad for the last 1-2 years. Just another marketing ploy
(like "S" shaped stays) to convince folks they need a new bike.

Art "My SL frame turned 20 in May" Harris

 

[jim beam]

my experience of owning several different brands of carbon forks & seat
posts is that they /do/ give a more comfortable ride. presumably carbon
seat stays would be the same - i tested a giant tcr and it was almost
freakily smooth on rough surfaces. personally however, if i were buying
a mixed material frame, i'm not sure i'd want a frame with carbon chain
stays - i want them stiff.

would i spend a lot of extra cash for a frame with carbon stays?
probably not. a carbon seat post works brilliantly and is a lot cheaper.

Craig wrote:
> I've been looking around for a new road frame for the past few months and
> every single frame seems to have some carbon thrown onto it somewhere or
> another. Carbon seat stays, carbon chain stays. All the blurbs claim that
> this wonderful bit of carbon will make the frame a dream to ride! Reducing
> road vibration, smoothing out the bumps, etc. What gives??? Any truth in
> advertising or is this all the more to sell a few more frames?
>
> I remember an article that Sheldon Brown wrote back around the turn of the
> century (no not circa 1900, although Sheldon may own a few bikes that old,
> circa 2001.) debunking frame material legend and myth.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.
>
>
>
>

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

craig-<< I've been looking around for a new road frame for the past few months
and
every single frame seems to have some carbon thrown onto it somewhere or
another. Carbon seat stays, carbon chain stays. All the blurbs claim that
this wonderful bit of carbon will make the frame a dream to ride! >><BR><BR>

The stuff of the marketing department, not the racing or riding department.

MANY framesets out there that don't have carbon ends or plugs on them. Still
many framesets in steel and some very economical frames in all carbon(Calfee
Luna).

Also Torelli.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

 

[H. Morgan]

On 24 Jul 2004 13:28:41 GMT, [email protected] (Qui si parla
Campagnolo ) wrote:

>craig-<< I've been looking around for a new road frame for the past few months
>and
>every single frame seems to have some carbon thrown onto it somewhere or
>another. Carbon seat stays, carbon chain stays. All the blurbs claim that
>this wonderful bit of carbon will make the frame a dream to ride! >><BR><BR>
>
>The stuff of the marketing department, not the racing or riding department.
>
>MANY framesets out there that don't have carbon ends or plugs on them. Still
>many framesets in steel and some very economical frames in all carbon(Calfee
>Luna).
>
>Also Torelli.
>
>Peter Chisholm
>Vecchio's Bicicletteria
>1833 Pearl St.
>Boulder, CO, 80302
>(303)440-3535
>http://www.vecchios.com
>"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"



A good frame is a good frame, whether built from steel, aluminum,
titanium, carbon, or a mix. There are bad frames to be found made of
every material. I am truly a fan of my 2 titanium frames, and I have
carbon bits all over them. A heavier rider may find my bikes too
flexible.
There is no one answer to a question like this.
My apologies, Peter, for replying to your post as if I am disputing
your comments, I simply deleted the rest of the thread already.

 

[Russell Seaton]

I have no opinion on whether carbon seatstays or chainstays or
seatposts or stems or handlebars or cranks or rims or saddles or
frames or forks make any difference to a bike's ride. But lots of
people, including me, think carbon fiber on a bike looks cool. And
that is mighty important for a bicycle. Its best if the bike's owner
thinks the bike is cool and likes it. The bike is more likely to get
ridden and the ride is likely to be more enjoyable.

So the question to ask with regard to carbon is whether you like it.
If you do then get a bike with carbon on it and enjoy the ride.


"Craig" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<l4eMc.33341$Sh.30177@lakeread06>...
> I've been looking around for a new road frame for the past few months and
> every single frame seems to have some carbon thrown onto it somewhere or
> another. Carbon seat stays, carbon chain stays. All the blurbs claim that
> this wonderful bit of carbon will make the frame a dream to ride! Reducing
> road vibration, smoothing out the bumps, etc. What gives??? Any truth in
> advertising or is this all the more to sell a few more frames?
>
> I remember an article that Sheldon Brown wrote back around the turn of the
> century (no not circa 1900, although Sheldon may own a few bikes that old,
> circa 2001.) debunking frame material legend and myth.
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Qui si parla Campagnolo]

ship-<< A good frame is a good frame, whether built from steel, aluminum,
titanium, carbon, or a mix. There are bad frames to be found made of
every material. >><BR><BR>

BUT a decent frameset of aluminum, say, is not improved with a carbon butt end.
Nor is ti or steel.
That is marketing.

ship-<< My apologies, Peter, for replying to your post as if I am disputing
your comments, I simply deleted the rest of the thread already. >><BR><BR>

No need to apologize!! This is a discussion group afterall.

Peter Chisholm
Vecchio's Bicicletteria
1833 Pearl St.
Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535
http://www.vecchios.com
"Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"