#16
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Hampsten's prices for custom carbon models are on a par with comparable factory bikes. One would have the same challenge of finding something to try out no matter the material anyway, right? Steve would make sure it fit right!
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#17
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Used prices for any frame material drops like crazy. Just follow some of the ads here.
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#18
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Quote:
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#19
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Carbon bike
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Used Carbon Look 595 Ultra is how I plan to get into my first carbon bike...would be nice reduce some weight to a noticeable difference! Prices are more reasonable for used. I have enjoyed steel and aluminum frames for many years and as a tall rider carbon is not always an option on some frames. Glad to see others have gone this route with success. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Last edited by Volksbike; 08-16-2018 at 02:45 PM. |
#20
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It has not made me dump my steel bikes, but I can see why people thought this was the bees knees when the 585s were new. To me it is like refined steel with more dampening. The rest--stiffness or whatever--disappears in the noise, but I do appreciate the dampening on the torn up roads around here. Sometimes I miss the exquisite connection with the road you would get on a perfect Italian steel bike (the old joke--run over a quarter and tell if it was heads or tails facing up) but Imma getting old, and I like the comfort now. |
#21
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My observation, the Treks and Specs of the world are very very well liked, well known commodities and values hold up.
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#22
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In my experience, when people complain about bikes losing their value, they're often comparing the used price to MSRP, but not to the street price. Shops regularly have end-of-season sales, and give meaningful discounts to racers, club riders, and loyal customers. As a hypothetical example, suppose a shop is offering a 33% discount on new bikes as part of an end of year clearance sale. A bike that has a $5,000 MSRP would sell for $3,350. Someone who bought a bike at MRSP at the beginning of the year, and rode it for 1000 miles and tries to sell it might only get $2,500 for it. The person selling it may think "oh no, my bike used for 1 seasons is selling for a 50% discount because it is used", but in actuality the used bike is only selling at 25% discount to the same bike new. |
#23
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I own carbon and titanium and alloy bikes. and I would disagree that they feel the same. In my case, they certainly do not even when they have the same groupset, saddle, handlebars and wheels. Why? Because: 1) the geometries are very slightly different, and 2) i think it is because of the difference in the material.
Now, how can I tell? Many ways actually. But the most telling is that I cannot ride my carbon bike for more than 60 miles and not feel fatigued. After about 60 miles, even bone in my body shudders when I hit any small imperfection on the road. In essence, the carbon bike is great for up to rides of 60 miles. It reacts, at least it seems like it, immediately to any force on the cranks. The bike feels stiff but not stiff to tire me out (at least for under 60 miles). And it feels fast, really fast. I actually love it. What is the bike? 2017 Cannondale Supersix HiMod Evo. I also have a Look 695 which actually feels different than the cannondale but I do not have too many miles on it to come to any substantitive conclusion. Now, I have a 2012 Ti Desalvo (with a 44 mm HT, larger diameter Ti tubes) and a 2004 Seven Ti/carbon bike (old school skinny Ti tubes). Suffice to say that with the same wheels and groupset as my carbon bikes, not only do these two Ti bikes ride differently from the carbon bikes but also different from each other. I like all my bikes. But where I plan to ride and for how long dictates which bike I pick. Now given that I have never ridden what people call the creame de la creame, of carbon bikes i.e., Crumpton, I would not ever pick a carbon bike as my only bike. Mind you, I have ridden a Parlee Z5 and found that it did not ride as well as my Cannondale Supersix Evo HiMod. So, if you put a gun to my head and asked me to choose among all my bikes, I would pick my Ti DeSalvo. My advice to you: Spend a few hundred dollars and ride a few carbon bikes for long distances. Then decide. A spin around the block for even 20-30 miles will tell you little. Good luck! And enjoy the hunt! Quote:
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#24
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It is possible to rent or buy a used carbon to check it out.
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#25
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I agree. You could set up both my steel bike and carbon the exact same and I could tell you which one is which. All materials ride differently. My aluminum frame also had a specific ride. However I disagree about carbon being less comfortable. I think its as comfortable BUT there is a ride to steel that I really love and sometimes I rather ride steel than carbon. Same with aluminum. When I sold my alum bike I said, I never want to ride alum and I have really missed aluminum, I really enjoy the ride of that as well. |
#26
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I too am a fan of a steel Pegoretti and am very happy with a Colnago C60. Were I looking at a new carbon bike today I would take a hard look at Sarto and the new Bianchi Specialissimo. I feel the Colnago is very stable descending as my Peg is. I think a comparison from steel to carbon is difficult for me to articulate. I like them both and they are different for sure. I am more likely to leave the steel bike home in the rain. Hah.
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#27
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For comparison, I rode a Z5 for ~20k miles. I like my Ridley Helium SL and BH Ultralight a lot more. Evo Himod was maybe a little better than the Z5.
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#28
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My wife -- who is notoriously hard to please in the bike fitting/comfort department (as a former professional dancer and a licensed massage therapist with an extensive anatomy and personal training background, she has ridiculously sensetive proprioception...and fitter Paul Levine has referred to her numerous times as "The Princess & The Pea") -- rented a stock Trek Domane last summer and was ready to buy it then & there. She liked it as much if not moreso than her custom Strong, which had previously been the only bike she is (was?) ever comfortable on.
Last edited by Bob Ross; 08-16-2018 at 07:55 PM. |
#29
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Would love to try some more carbon road bikes, in due time.
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#30
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I call BS that there is no difference between other materials and carbon. Carbon rides better than any steel or aluminum bike, is stiffer than any steel bike, and is lighter than any metal bike. (all else being equal). Owned carbon: Calfee, Look, Bianchi. There is a reason all of the pros ride carbon bikes.
I've probably said all this before but the carbon Vs. debate is starting to look like the climate change "debate" which is basically ridiculous. Carbon is lighter and stiffer and rides better. Believe it, or delude yourself. I'm sorry. it's true that some steel frames come close, but overall, no. |
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