Carbon or Alu for Wife?

I had a nice long post so will keep this short

I would like to get my wife a new roadbike and I would like her to enjoy riding it. She has been riding around on her Trek Mountain bike.

wife is very petite so options for bikes and demoing are very limited

Given that the difference in price was not an issue would you:

a) buy an inexpensive aluminum bike and see how she like it and go from there
b) buy a nice aluminum bike
c) buy an entry level carbon bike

based on my recent experience, where I opted for B, I would have been ahead if i had simply done C

any thoughts would be most appreciated

A.

Buy her an inexpensive aluminum bike. Let her ride it around for a year or a couple thousand miles. If the sport is to her liking, she will know what she wants when it's time to upgrade.

Investing in something pricey now – whatever the material – when she is not sure of her fit and how she wants to ride (hills? touring? crits? tris? commuting?) can end up wasting a lot of money. As a petite rider, fit is much more problematic than for someone who is average-sized.

Have you considered steel as a frame material? That would be my choice. Typically less pricey than carbon and more comfy than Aluminum. There are a handful of brands--Surly and Jamis come to mind--that offer relatively inexpensive steel bikes in smallish sizes.

Some of the nicer Alu bikes can be nearly as light as the full carbon bikes. If you buy a 3k Carbon bike with all the gadgets that you hate and a 1K Alu bike that you WANT to ride... I wonder which was worth more in the end, even if the Alu bike weighs 2 pounds more??

Good luck and let us know what bike she gets... pics are required!!!

Shannon

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Roadtrip

Some of the nicer Alu bikes can be nearly as light as the full carbon bikes. If you buy a 3k Carbon bike with all the gadgets that you hate and a 1K Alu bike that you WANT to ride... I wonder which was worth more in the end, even if the Alu bike weighs 2 pounds more??

Good luck and let us know what bike she gets... pics are required!!!

Shannon

---

My guess is that ride quality, rather than weight, is the biggest "pro" for carbon over aluminum. I'm speaking in generalities, of course. I'm sure there are comfortable Al bikes on the market and uncomfortable carbon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by indysteel

My guess is that ride quality, rather than weight, is the biggest "pro" for carbon over aluminum. I'm speaking in generalities, of course. I'm sure there are comfortable Al bikes on the market and uncomfortable carbon.

---

Agreed. I find my new carbon bike has a much smoother ride than the old aluminum one.

I don't know about other brands, but you can get a Trek carbon bike with good components for just over $2000.

But fit is most important. I got the new bike to get one that fit better. I was happy with the aluminum bike for years. Spending a bit more for carbon made sense for me because I'm on the bike for 4 hours at a time or more.

What does your wife want?

Yes what does your wife want? If you spend a lot of money will she be annoyed b/c she doesn't want to feel pressure? Or would she prefer something higher-end?

IMO a bike which shifts smoothly, brakes easily, rides comfortably and fits well makes all the difference in the world in wanting to ride (especially longer distances).

If price weren't an issue I would shop around until she found the "perfect" bike for her. Test ride different materials, sizes, geometries.

My first bike in recent years was a heavy, upright Navigator. Basically a mountain/comfort mix. I could not get up hills without wanting to go back home on that thing.

I ended up finding a used trek 1000 which is aluminum with carbon fiber fork. Tiagra/sora components. The brakes didn't work well, the shifters would drop my chain, and it didn't fit vvery well. I've since invested more $ into fixing the brakes (it really just needed new pads) and changing the stem for better fit. But with only a few hundred miles under my belt this summer I saw the bike of my dreams. Steel with carbon fork and campy chorus components, campy proton wheels. DH eventually agreed to the (extravagant) purchase and I LOVE this bike! I wish I had more time in the riding season and all I think about is bicycling :)

If price is not an issue -- does that mean if she DOES like riding -- she could get a better bike when she was ready? That being said, there are benefits to getting a better bike, IN ORDER for her to like it. I had a Fuji Provence for my first road bike, when I got my steel Luna it was so much better -- both in its responsiveness as well as the components. I later got a carbon Fuji RC Supreme -- which I also like. The Provence was so much more uncomfortable for me and I didn't really know it until I rode something better. Although I really liked riding, I wonder if I would have gotten as into it, if I hadn't gotten the Luna when I did. Just my two cents.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by warneral

I ended up finding a used trek 1000 which is aluminum with carbon fiber fork. Tiagra/sora components. The brakes didn't work well, the shifters would drop my chain, and it didn't fit vvery well. I've since invested more $ into fixing the brakes (it really just needed new pads) and changing the stem for better fit. But with only a few hundred miles under my belt this summer I saw the bike of my dreams. Steel with carbon fork and campy chorus components, campy proton wheels. DH eventually agreed to the (extravagant) purchase and I LOVE this bike! I wish I had more time in the riding season and all I think about is bicycling :)

---

I agree that components are also important. I had mostly 105 on my old bike with some Tiagra, including a horrible Tiagra front derailleur that needed frequent adjusting. Eventually it broke from being adjusted so often and was replaced with an Ultegra, which worked so much better.

If had to choose between a carbon frame with low quality components and an aluminum frame with better components, I would go with the latter (assuming fit was equally good with either choice).

The $2000 Trek Madone I mentioned earlier comes with Shimano 105, I think, which would be my minimum for Shimano. As it turns out, the bike I bought has SRAM Rival, which I'm quite happy with.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ny biker

I agree that components are also important.

The $2000 Trek Madone I mentioned earlier comes with Shimano 105, I think, which would be my minimum for Shimano. As it turns out, the bike I bought has SRAM Rival, which I'm quite happy with.

---

thanks everyone for all the great input

is there a preference for SRAM brifters for ladies over Shimano?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purdyd

thanks everyone for all the great input

is there a preference for SRAM brifters for ladies over Shimano?

---

Yes, ladies have preferences as do gentlemen, but there is no gender specific preference.

Some of us prefer Campy....

:rolleyes:

how petite is she?

i really can't stand the feel of aluminum. i love my steel bike. that said she should get the bike that fits her the best and that she likes the most. it took me a long time to find a comfortable bike and it ended up being a custom built frame. getting a bike that fits is the most important thing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by moonfroggy

how petite is she?

i really can't stand the feel of aluminum. i love my steel bike. that said she should get the bike that fits her the best and that she likes the most. it took me a long time to find a comfortable bike and it ended up being a custom built frame. getting a bike that fits is the most important thing.

---

5' 1 1/2" and she looked good on the trek 43cm frame

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maillotpois

some of us prefer campy....

:rolleyes:

---

+1.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purdyd

thanks everyone for all the great input

is there a preference for SRAM brifters for ladies over Shimano?

---

I tried SRAM for the first time last week, and I do think it's ergonomically better for my small hands than Shimano (and I have short reach Shimano brifters). I can't really comment on performance other than it worked perfectly for the ride I took around he block.

I have Shimano Ultegra (although the shifters are older 105's) on one bike and Sram Rival on another. The Sram shifters fit my hands better although the new Ulterga's, I believe are now flatter on the tops and adjustable. Someday I hope to get a set.

The shifting motion is different for each of them. I went from Shimano to Sram so it took some getting used to, but now the Sram is fine. I think I have a slight preference for the Shimano, but that is probably due to the fact that I started with that system.

If I had a choice between Sram or Shimano, I think I would get a new Ultrgra (or even Dura Ace :D ) group. (However, I would love to try a Campy Record group someday. But that is a long shot!)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purdyd

5' 1 1/2" and she looked good on the trek 43cm frame

---

How did she FEEL?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by malkin

How did she FEEL?

---

she wanted to buy it on the spot

but i want her to try at least try the specialized 44cm frame

thanks everyone for the feedback on SRAM versus Shimano brifters

does anyone have an issue with SRAM requiring more force to shift?

Fit her in aluminum, and start checking Craigslist. If nothing come up that fits, go entry level aluminum, you can sell at a small loss in the spring, if you want to keep your $$ reasonable.

I ride steel, period. But I didn't start that way, and prefer to financially ease into things...

I love my Shimano Ultegra short reach brifters. My hands are not that small (size medium glove), but overall, I am a small person. I have never been able to ride in the drops until I found the perfect combo of the short reach brifters and a short and shallow dropped bar. I never want to change... learning a new shifting pattern would mess up my brain.
The aluminum Orbea I had on my bike tour last May reminded me how much I like my carbon (and steel) bikes. Although the bike had the exact same geometry as my road bike, I felt jumbled every time I road over a teeny crack. And I was back to not being able to reach the brakes from the drops.

Often, when my husband wants to buy me gear, he will give me a picture of what I am going to get, and then we go to the store together and I pick out what I want.

Bikes are awesome. She will LOVE being on a bike. Personally, I love my carbon, and I am glad that I did a big upgrade after my aluminum hybrid. Granted, it always gets love and time, and it wasn't a waste. If you KNOW she is going to really enjoy riding, I am on the "buy the nicest thing you can manage and fits her," camp. She can "grow into" a nicer bike, and will appreciate being able to do that. Otherwise, you will end up buying more than one bike, and the cheap one will sit in the corner.

That's my opinion though....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purdyd

does anyone have an issue with SRAM requiring more force to shift?

---

Not at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purdyd

she wanted to buy it on the spot

but i want her to try at least try the specialized 44cm frame

thanks everyone for the feedback on SRAM versus Shimano brifters

does anyone have an issue with SRAM requiring more force to shift?

---

Have her try the Specialized or at least another brand to compare as geometries are different.

I have a Specialized Ruby with Dura Ace and Ultegra. I recently won a Dolce with SRAM. It does not take more force to shift with the SRAM. It is just different because you are using one lever to move the gears up and down as opposed to Shimano where you are using two. Going from one to another takes a bit of getting use to, but if she is beginning say with SRAM I have no complaints about using it.

Anything longer than 30 minutes or bumpier than a perfect surface rattles me like crazy on my aluminium bike. I ride it only for my work commute or little grocery runs. Otherwise, steel.

In addition to reach, SRAM generally has a shorter "throw" of the levers than Shimano b/c you only push the inner lever. That can make a difference for someone with small hands. The newer and/or fancier Shimano stuff (new Ultegra or DA / old DA) won't be as hard (forceful) of a throw for the large lever, but it still requires more effort than SRAM.

That said, I'm perfectly happy with Shimano, but I am not petite, nor do I have small hands.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kacie tri-ing

Bikes are awesome. She will LOVE being on a bike. Personally, I love my carbon, and I am glad that I did a big upgrade after my aluminum hybrid. Granted, it always gets love and time, and it wasn't a waste. If you KNOW she is going to really enjoy riding, I am on the "buy the nicest thing you can manage and fits her," camp. She can "grow into" a nicer bike, and will appreciate being able to do that. Otherwise, you will end up buying more than one bike, and the cheap one will sit in the corner.

That's my opinion though....

---

I agree 100%.

If she wanted to buy the first road bike on the spot - then she's likely going to love this sport. I fell in love in one short ride and I do wish I'd gone with better (and better fitting) bike the first time around instead of 'upgrading' twice in the first two years (all three were road bikes, so it's not like I couldn't have bought my last bike the first time around!). This is particularly important for people who might be a hard fit (like me) because bike shopping can be very frustrating. I say, go with the best fit on the best bike you can afford. She'll thank you for it!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GLC1968

I agree 100%.

If she wanted to buy the first road bike on the spot - then she's likely going to love this sport. I fell in love in one short ride and I do wish I'd gone with better (and better fitting) bike the first time around instead of 'upgrading' twice in the first two years (all three were road bikes, so it's not like I couldn't have bought my last bike the first time around!). This is particularly important for people who might be a hard fit (like me) because bike shopping can be very frustrating. I say, go with the best fit on the best bike you can afford. She'll thank you for it!

---

Ditto. And if she even has 1% of her brain that thinks racing might be fun, then definitely don't rule out a more performance/aggressive geometry frame. I ended up on a women's "comfort" bike, instead of the men's/unisex performance frame that I realized after only a few months would have been a more ideal fit with my body type and interest. Only a year after receiving my first road bike I am ready for an upgrade. This time to carbon (from aluminum...which really sucks on our rough, chip-sealed rural roads) and this time with better components (from Shimano 105 to SRAM Rival and lighter wheels and better brakes).

Just adding my two cents. I started out with a heavy aluminium-framed road bike, upgraded two years later to a 2kg lighter aluminium bike, then two years later upgraded to carbon (losing another 2kg again). if your wife's a confident cyclist then she may be fine going straight from a mountain bike to carbon. I personally would have found it too much of an adjustment. My carbon bike rides completely differently to my last two, and it's taken me more than I'd realised to get used to it. I love it though, don't get me wrong!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GLC1968

I say, go with the best fit on the best bike you can afford. She'll thank you for it!

---

Thanks for all the advice everyone. There is a Ruby Elite Apex on order with expected deliver in December

Nice bike!

A couple of the women in our Tuesday evening ride group have purchased those this summer, and they seemed to love them! I HAD the Specialized Sequoia. I say HAD, because upon getting fit for a custom-made bike I'm going to have built, our LBS owner noticed a crack in the frame :(
Thankfully, it was under warranty, and he and Specialized took good care of me with a 2011 upgrade - same frame, basically - but this one is the 'Sectuer'. About 500 miles on it so far, and it's nice! Definitely quicker on the downhills!:)

Steel is a nice option as well :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by purdyd

Thanks for all the advice everyone. There is a Ruby Elite Apex on order with expected deliver in December

---

Make sure she's got the right kit to wear for whatever your December weather brings!


Have fun!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by malkin

Make sure she's got the right kit to wear for whatever your December weather brings!


Have fun!

---

Why cant' she decide what "kit " to wear or what bike to buy?
I haven't been frequenting TE lately and this is partially why.

Well, I am no shrinking violet, but before I started riding, my DH surprised me by switching out some things on his old mountain bike so I could ride it, and buying me some basic shorts, a jersey, a pair of tights, and one long sleeved piece. He knew I was *thinking* about starting to ride, but frankly, I never would have done this myself. I was very surprised. Of course right away, I knew that my jerseys shouldn't have elastic at the hem or at the waist (can you believe that ten years ago jerseys had elastic in the waist?).
I am sure his wife had input into this decision. Just because someone does something for you doesn't mean you are a dependent, down trodden person who has no mind of her own.
Once in awhile DH will buy me cycling gear if he sees something on sale, on- line. While I've had to tell him what brands and styles are best for me, after a few misses, I appreciate it. I do the same for him.

I was just thinking she'd probably need a jacket if they live in the northern hemisphere or sunscreen if they live in the south...didn't mean to suggest that that a Y chromosome was needed for it...oh nevermind....