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Today, walk into any bike shop, and what you'll see is the overwhelming presence of carbon fibre bicycles in the showroom. And for a good reason, not merely from the promotional and pro team sponsorship angle.
A carbon bike provides a property which aluminium and steel bikes simply do not – the freedom to be very stiff where you need pedalling efficiency but also able to be compliant in the areas where you need a smooth ride. It becomes possible to selectively alter the orientation of the carbon layers to get the ride characteristics which are simply not possible by using metal. Do you want a racing bike which accelerates like a missile but does not hammer your back on a four-hour ride? It becomes possible through carbon. That’s the reason carbon remains a material on every bike from the World Tour bikes to the endurance bikes which go through 200km rides.
Let’s deal with the elephant in the room. Carbon is lightweight. One thing that you can be guaranteed of regarding a good carbon frame is that it will be at least a kilogram lighter than an equalα aluminium bike. But the thing is … weight is only half of the story. It’s where that weight is that’s important. Carbon lets you create frames that are lighter and firmer at the bottom bracket. That’s great when you realize that this equates directly to the bike’s acceleration and hill-climbing ability. It’s an effect that you can definitely taste once you experience it.
The old myth that carbon is delicate has got to bite the dust. Modern carbon fibre bicycles are designed to withstand some pretty severe mistreatment. True, they'll be damaged if subjected to sharp force, but so will aluminium, denting and weakening from repeated use. Carbon does not corrode, does not develop stress fractures from thousands of cycles, as alloy does. And if taken care of, it will outlast the desire for the rider to retain it. Look at it now and then, don't clamp it wrong in the works stand, and it will last you for years.
Not all carbon is created equal. The entry level of carbon sees more layers of lower-quality fibres with a lot more resin, resulting in a heavier, less agile bike. As you pay more, you'll notice better-quality materials that translate to increased stiffness and reduced weight. Though you may find yourself in a local bike shop, you can ask plenty of
questions, and it will pay more regard to what you are asking, not the logo on the down tube.
A carbon fibre bicycle would be a good choice if you're an avid cyclist and looking to upgrade. The technical differences have been refined over the years, and the costs are low enough that you're not just paying a premium to have the carbon fibre. Whether you're road biking to compete in some local crits or just to attack the Strava KOMs on the weekend, there's a carbon fibre bike that's suited specifically to your riding style.
