Which Carbon Frame?

Napoleon wants a carbon frame and needs some advice as to which we think is the best and also he wants to know how long a carbon frame will last? That’s a bit like asking “how long is a piece of string?” We do our best to convince him to follow his dreams and get a hold of a carbon frame

Question: Hi, I was planning to buy a new carbon frame to up grade my old frame but I want to know the best carbon frame around the market and what is the life span of a carbon frame. Do they deteriorate or become brittle after a couple of years.

Hi Napoleon,
Good idea, get a carbon frame, it can’t be beaten. As to the best carbon frame on the market, that is a difficult one as there are so many available, the most expensive isn’t all ways the best, but it’s a good guide.

Like all frames, carbon will deteriorate, but this depends on how you treat it. Carbon can be damaged fairly easily in comparison to alloy, titanium or steel. If the carbon weave is broken against something sharp then it will just unwind. All frames wear out in the end, steel goes soft after a few years and alloy goes brittle and can snap in time. Carbon can go soft, but no one seems to be talking about it. You ask do they get brittle after a couple of years, well no, I’ve had my Time frame for over three years and it is as good as it was the day I built it up.

Cervelo

Carbon is stiff and light which is what we want, who wants a frame for life? You would get bored of it or it will start to look old fashioned and you will want to replace it anyway. If you want a frame for life then get a Titanium frame!

Our favorites are Time, Scott, Look, Specialized and Pinarello; we also like the Trek Madone, Cervelo Soloist and the De Rosa King. All these bikes are expensive, but are at the cutting edge of the carbon technology.

De Rosa

At the top end of the frames available there isn’t much too choose between them on the quality front. Your choice should come down to the correct size and whether or not you like the color, in the end it could come down to something like how it looks. Best of luck.