Steel Frame vs Aluminum Frame w/ Carbon seat stays and carbon fork



Y

Ydm9

Guest
In general, how does the ride compare between a bike with
steel frame and a bike with an aluminum frame with carbon
seat stays and a carbon fork? I realize that there are many
variables that can affect the ride quality, so I'm just
asking in general. Just how much of the "road buzz" does the
carbon stays and fork filter out?
 
In article <[email protected]>,
ydm9 <[email protected]> wrote:
>In general, how does the ride compare between a bike with
>steel frame and a bike with an aluminum frame with carbon
>seat stays and a carbon fork? I realize that there are many
>variables that can affect the ride quality, so I'm just
>asking in general. Just how much of the "road buzz" does
>the carbon stays and fork filter out?

There is no "in general" answer to this, you have to compare
specific complete bicycles if you want to know how they ride
and even then most comparisons are highly subjective.

For most recreational riders, their discomfort on the bike
is a function of bad bike fit and lack of mileage - neither
problem is affected by frame material.
 
"In general", if you ride a 2003 Trek 2100 which has an
aluminum frame and DOES NOT have carbon seat stays and
compare it to a 2004 Trek 2100 which appears to be about the
same bike WITH carbon seat stays, how much difference is
there in ride quality?

[email protected] (Paul Southworth) wrote in
message news:<K5yec.2228$WC3.20905@ord-
read.news.verio.net>...
> In article
> <[email protected]>, ydm9
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >In general, how does the ride compare between a bike with
> >steel frame and a bike with an aluminum frame with carbon
> >seat stays and a carbon fork? I realize that there are
> >many variables that can affect the ride quality, so I'm
> >just asking in general. Just how much of the "road buzz"
> >does the carbon stays and fork filter out?
>
> There is no "in general" answer to this, you have to
> compare specific complete bicycles if you want to know how
> they ride and even then most comparisons are highly
> subjective.
>
> For most recreational riders, their discomfort on the bike
> is a function of bad bike fit and lack of mileage -
> neither problem is affected by frame material.
 
"In general", if you ride a 2003 Trek 2100 which has an
aluminum frame and DOES NOT have carbon seat stays and
compare it to a 2004 Trek 2100 which appears to be about the
same bike WITH carbon seat stays, how much difference is
there in ride quality? I would think there would be a
difference in ride quality.

Forgive me for not being specific about a general question.

[email protected] (Paul Southworth) wrote in
message news:<K5yec.2228$WC3.20905@ord-
read.news.verio.net>...
> In article
> <[email protected]>, ydm9
> <[email protected]> wrote:
> >In general, how does the ride compare between a bike with
> >steel frame and a bike with an aluminum frame with carbon
> >seat stays and a carbon fork? I realize that there are
> >many variables that can affect the ride quality, so I'm
> >just asking in general. Just how much of the "road buzz"
> >does the carbon stays and fork filter out?
>
> There is no "in general" answer to this, you have to
> compare specific complete bicycles if you want to know how
> they ride and even then most comparisons are highly
> subjective.
>
> For most recreational riders, their discomfort on the bike
> is a function of bad bike fit and lack of mileage -
> neither problem is affected by frame material.
 
ydm9 top-posted:
> "In general", if you ride a 2003 Trek 2100 which has an
> aluminum frame and DOES NOT have carbon seat stays and
> compare it to a 2004 Trek 2100 which appears to be about
> the same bike WITH carbon seat stays, how much difference
> is there in ride quality?

The only definitive way to tell would be to swap wheels,
seatpost and saddle between the two models (with identical
bar tape, too!), and even then fit would probably be the
most important "ride quality" issue.

My bike has carbon seat stays and it rides very smoothly,
TYVM, but I really doubt I'd notice if someone magically
switched 'em to aluminum. Maybe a 1-2
% difference in road vibration? Who knows...

Bill "but they look cool, and of course that's what REALLY
matters" S.
 
In article <[email protected]>,
ydm9 <[email protected]> wrote:
>"In general", if you ride a 2003 Trek 2100 which has an
>aluminum frame and DOES NOT have carbon seat stays and
>compare it to a 2004 Trek 2100 which appears to be about
>the same bike WITH carbon seat stays, how much difference
>is there in ride quality?

Near zero.

>I would think there would be a difference in ride quality.

Then there definitely would be a difference... to you.
 
In article <[email protected]>, ydm9
<[email protected]> wrote:

> In general, how does the ride compare between a bike with
> steel frame and a bike with an aluminum frame with carbon
> seat stays and a carbon fork? I realize that there are
> many variables that can affect the ride quality, so I'm
> just asking in general. Just how much of the "road buzz"
> does the carbon stays and fork filter out?

It's all marketing nonsense. I keep hearing about Aluminum
being "less good" for all day riding. And then I see a
hundred aluminum bikes on our yearly double century. Then
there's the guy that rides up to L.A. from Carson or
somewhere, kills everyone going up to Griffith Park, comes
back down to babysit the fat yuppers on their Waterfords
does it while riding a Nishiki in SPD sandals. Tires,
geometry and seats make a bike feel different. Material
makes bikes sound different.

Look at a double diamond bicycle frame. Explain to me how it
can move enough to matter without either stretching the
seatpost or compressing the seat stays--the direction where
the material is almost infinitely strong.

People just need to make peace with themselves about
choosing bicycles based on their self-image. For example I
ride italian iron because I'm of the "Breaking Away"
generation. It just looks more like a bicyle to me than a
sloped top fat tube aluminum bike. It suits me but I don't
need to pretend it's better from an engineering stand point
to be happy with the fact that it suits me.

Kurt
 

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