Bianchi Eros Donna/Veloce or Giant TCR 3?

[mimitabby]

On the other hand, he got hit by a car on a 12-year-old steel Allez this spring, and the frame is bent and unfixable, so the permanence of steel is also possibly a little exaggerated in some quarters.)

When the steel bends, it is absorbing some of the shock that would have gone right to the rider in a carbon fiber; it has to do with the physics of the density of the material. Carbon fiber won't protect you that way.

[xeney]

Oh, I am pretty sure he was no longer on the bike by the time it bent!

I love my steel frames, don't get me wrong, but I kind of think there are just as many ridiculous claims made about steel as there are about carbon fiber and aluminum and everything else. For one, the idea that if your steel frame gets broken or bent you can just have it fixed -- most frame shops are going to refuse to do that, and they will advise you to buy a new frame.

And we've had two steel forks fail.

[7rider]

Anything made by man (or woman) can fail.
To not buy a bike because something *could* happen means you won't buy a bike. Steel can fail (there's a thread on roadbikereview.com about a very expensive steel Soma that failed at a chainstay right now). Aluminum can fail. Carbon can fail. Even titanium - if you run it into a car hard enough, as my LBS found out, can fail.
Life takes a leap of faith. Have a little faith in the R&D department of your favorite bike manufacturer. They don't *want* to send out anything that isn't safe. They won't do it. It's generally regarded as bad for business.
So..rougedog, if the lively feel of a carbon bike suits your taste, go for it. If the compliant ride of a steel bike suits your taste, go for it. Chances are very good that either of those bikes will see you through many happy years of cycling.

[mimitabby]

well, it depends.
someone I know had a whole "stable" of bikes in his garage and there was a fire.
when he got back in there there was only one bike standing, his titanium.
well, it wasn't standing; the frame was still intact. he rebuilt it and called it smokey. his aluminum and carbon fiber bikes were literally toast.

[Trekhawk]

well, it depends.
someone I know had a whole "stable" of bikes in his garage and there was a fire.
when he got back in there there was only one bike standing, his titanium.
well, it wasn't standing; the frame was still intact. he rebuilt it and called it smokey. his aluminum and carbon fiber bikes were literally toast.

I love my carbon bikes so I think I will risk the possibility of it being destroyed by fire. If a fire gets to my bikes (they live inside) then I think I have far greater worries than the loss of my bikes.

[SouthernBelle]

I think you need to look to the warranty. I know the giant carbon frame and fork has a lifetime warranty. Plus good insurance is a plus.

I think if you wreck hard enough it doesn't matter what material you are riding.

[KnottedYet]

I've never ridden a titanium bike. How does titanium feel? I mean, for someone who just likes to ride, not race.

I keep going to the Bianchi pictures.... man, those really are pretty bikes! And Campy...

I'm hoping to get a Campy Veloce compact double (on sale at Nashbar for $140) and use the Bikejournal coupon (15% off) next week. Pay day is a'coming and I've already spent my check!